What year was the first football player paid 1 million dollars?

The first football player to be paid 1 million dollars was Jim Brown, who signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns in 1968 but was not actually paid that amount until 1970 when the first million-dollar contract was officially recognized in the NFL context. The significance of reaching this milestone highlights the growing commercialization and financial investment in professional sports during that era. As player salaries began to rise dramatically in the following years, this moment marked a pivotal shift in how athletes were compensated, paving the way for the lucrative contracts seen today. The confusion around the specific years likely stems from the contract signing versus actual payment, but it is clear that 1970 is the year that solidified Jim Brown's legacy as the first player to break the million-dollar barrier in professional football.