Feb 7, 2020; Tampa, FL, USA; General view of the NFL Shield logo on the field before Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL has informed every team that this year’s salary cap will be set at $182.5 million, a 7.9 percent decrease from last season, per multiple reports Wednesday.
Last year’s salary cap was $198.2 million before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc with league revenues.
This year’s cap was set in conjunction with the NFL Players Association based on 2020 results and 2021 projections as owners anticipate a significant rebound in attendance from the capacity restrictions last season. Attendance in 2020 was slashed 93 percent due to the pandemic.
Read More: NFL teams reportedly expect salary cap to soar in 2022
An NFL-NFLPA agreement to spread out the players’ losses over three years allowed the cap to be higher than expected.
Last month the league and NFLPA set the floor at $180 million, up $5 million from their previous agreement.
The new league year begins March 17.
Read More: NFL salary cap tracker: Where each team stands in 2021
–Field Level Media