Texas A&M extended Mike Elko to six years through 2031 paying over $11 million annually after 10-0 start, tripling his original $7 million salary.
The Aggies generate $266.4 million in total athletic revenue, second in SEC only to Texas.
Texas A&M athletes banked $50.5 million in NIL deals during 2024-25 fiscal year, more than doubling the previous year’s $19.4 million.
The university still pays Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million buyout through 2031 after catastrophic 6-7 final season.
Know more about the Texas A&M Aggies players biography and net worth by clicking on their name.
| Quarterbacks (QB) | Running Backs (RB) | Wide Receivers (WR) |
| Blake Bost | Israel Benjamin | Cyrus Allen |
| Peyton Gay | Ronnie Crosby III | Jabre Barber |
| Jaylen Henderson | Amari Daniels | Ashton Bethel-Roman |
| Paxton Land | AJ DiNota | Jacob Bostick |
| Dylan Mayers | Preston Landis | Ernest Campbell |
| Dallas Novicke | Le’Veon Moss | Moose Muhammad III |
| Miles O’Neill | Rueben Owens II | Micah Tease |
| Marcel Reed | EJ Smith | Noah Thomas |
| Conner Weigman | Ramarian Tillman | Jahdae Walker |
| Terry Bussey | ||
| Izaiah Williams |
Top 10 Highest Paid Texas A&M Football Staff 2024-2025
| Rank | Name | Position | Annual Salary | Contract Length | Total Contract Value |
| 1 | Mike Elko | Head Coach | $11,000,000+ | Through 2031 | $66,000,000+ |
| 2 | Jay Bateman | Defensive Coordinator | $1,000,000 | Through 2026 | N/A |
| 3 | Holmon Wiggins | Co-OC/Wide Receivers | $950,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 4 | Josh Henson | Offensive Line | $650,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 5 | Trooper Taylor | Tight Ends | $600,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 6 | Brent Pry | Co-DC/Safeties | $600,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 7 | Sean Spencer | Defensive Line | $500,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 8 | Ishmael Aristide | Defensive Backs | $500,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 9 | Justin Johnson | Running Backs | $425,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
| 10 | Tony Jerod-Eddie | Co-DL/Special Teams | $400,000 | Through 2025 | N/A |
Jay Bateman’s $1 million defensive coordinator salary ranks 45th nationally among assistants.
Texas A&M’s conservative coordinator pay reflects Elko serving as de facto defensive coordinator, similar to Brent Venables at Oklahoma, saving $1.5-2 million annually versus hiring elite DC.
Holmon Wiggins earns $950,000 as co-offensive coordinator, Texas A&M’s highest-paid assistant.
The Aggies’ total assistant pool of approximately $6.5 million ranks last in SEC, trailing Alabama ($9.2M), Georgia ($16.8M), and even Vanderbilt ($7M+), demonstrating Jimbo’s buyout constraining Elko’s staff budget.
Texas A&M Football Program Revenue Breakdown 2024-2025
| Revenue Source | 2024 Amount | % of Total | Conference Rank | National Rank |
| Football Revenue | $145,000,000 | 54.4% | 2nd SEC | Top 8 |
| SEC Media Rights | $50,000,000 | 18.8% | Tied SEC | Top 15 |
| Ticket Sales | $48,000,000 | 18.0% | 2nd SEC | Top 8 |
| Contributions/Donations | $38,000,000 | 14.3% | 4th SEC | Top 12 |
| Other Revenue | $9,400,000 | 3.5% | N/A | N/A |
| Total Revenue | $266,400,000 | 100% | 2nd SEC | 2nd National |
Texas A&M generated $266.4 million in total athletic revenue for fiscal year 2024, ranking 2nd in SEC behind Texas ($331.9M) and 2nd nationally.
Despite paying Jimbo Fisher’s buyout, the Aggies finished with $22.7 million surplus after $243.7 million in expenses.
Kyle Field’s 102,733 capacity generates $48 million in ticket sales, 2nd-highest in SEC behind only Texas.
The Aggies’ passionate fanbase maintained sellouts through Jimbo’s disappointing final seasons, demonstrating donor loyalty that sustained $38 million annual contributions despite on-field struggles.
Texas A&M Top NIL Earners & $50.5M Athlete Windfall
| Player Name | Position | Est. NIL Value | Top NIL Deal | Total Deals |
| Marcel Reed | Quarterback | $1,500,000 | ENG Aviation/Aggie Unlimited | 6+ deals |
| Shemar Turner | Defensive Tackle | $800,000 | Regional partners | 4+ deals |
| Shemar Stewart | Defensive End | $750,000 | Multiple brands | 3+ deals |
| Jaydon Blue | Running Back | $600,000 | Local businesses | 3+ deals |
| Taurean York | Wide Receiver | $550,000 | Regional deals | 2+ deals |
Marcel Reed’s $1.5 million NIL valuation makes him SEC’s 4th-highest paid quarterback behind Texas’s Quinn Ewers ($3.5M), Georgia’s Carson Beck ($1.6M), and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart ($1.5M).
His ENG Aviation private jet partnership made him first college QB signing with aviation company.
Texas A&M athletes banked $50.5 million in NIL deals from July 2024-July 2025, more than doubling previous year’s $19.4 million.
Male athletes received $48.3 million (96%) while female athletes earned $2.2 million (4%), demonstrating football’s overwhelming NIL dominance.
The Aggies plan distributing $18 million across football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball under House settlement revenue sharing.
Combined with NIL’s $50.5 million, Texas A&M’s total athlete compensation approaches $70 million annually, trailing only Texas’s estimated $75+ million total.
How Much Does Mike Elko Make at Texas A&M?
Mike Elko’s new contract pays over $11 million annually through 2031, tripling his original $7 million salary after 10-0 start.
His six-year extension includes escalators tied to CFP appearances, though exact bonus structure remains undisclosed by university.
Elko’s original contract included $3.8 million buyout if Texas A&M fired him without cause, ranking 75th nationally.
His restructured deal reportedly increases buyout protection to $40-50 million range, reflecting Texas A&M’s commitment after 18-5 record (.783 winning percentage) in two seasons.
Texas A&M simultaneously pays Jimbo Fisher $76 million buyout through 2031. The Aggies owe Fisher approximately $7.2 million annually for eight years following December 2023 termination, creating unprecedented situation where one school pays two head coaches over $18 million combined.
Texas A&M vs Texas: Which Program Spends More?
Mike Elko’s new $11+ million salary trails Steve Sarkisian’s $10.6 million by minimal margin, though Texas pays additional performance bonuses pushing Sarkisian potentially above $12 million.
Elko’s rapid raise from $7M to $11M+ demonstrates Texas A&M’s championship urgency competing with in-state rival.
Total athletic revenue heavily favors Texas at $331.9 million versus Texas A&M’s $266.4 million, a staggering $65.5 million gap (25% advantage).
Texas football generated $204.7 million revenue alone, exceeding Texas A&M’s entire athletic department by substantial margin.
NIL spending shows mixed picture. Texas A&M’s $50.5 million total athlete compensation exceeds Texas’s reported figures, though Texas football receives estimated $22 million from Texas One Fund versus A&M’s distributed model.
Combined with revenue sharing, both programs allocate approximately $35-40 million football-specific compensation.
FAQs
How much does Mike Elko make at Texas A&M?
Mike Elko earns over $11 million annually after November 2025 extension through 2031, tripling original $7 million salary. His deal includes CFP-tied escalators and upgraded assistant coach salary pools.
How much is Jimbo Fisher’s buyout?
Texas A&M owes Jimbo Fisher $76 million total through 2031, paying approximately $7.2 million annually. The buyout ranks college football’s largest ever, costing A&M while simultaneously paying Elko’s increased salary.
How much NIL money do Texas A&M players get?
Texas A&M athletes banked $50.5 million in NIL deals during 2024-25 fiscal year, more than doubling previous year. Quarterback Marcel Reed leads with $1.5 million through ENG Aviation and Aggie Unlimited collective.
How much does Texas A&M make from football?
Texas A&M football generated approximately $145 million during fiscal year 2024, ranking 2nd in SEC. Total athletic revenue reached $266.4 million with $22.7 million surplus despite Jimbo Fisher’s buyout.
