Many fans are curious about Matt Leinart's financial success in April 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What Is Matt Leinart's Net Worth?

Early Life and High School

Following his recovery in the 2008 offseason, Leinart returned to Cardinals play. However,Kurt Warnerended up taking over his role as starting quarterback, pushing Matt to the position of backup for his remaining seasons with the Cardinals. Warner went on to lead the team to its first-ever Super Bowl. After Warner retired in 2010, most speculated that Leinart would regain his starter position. This didn't happen, however, as Leinart continued to play poorly. He was eventually released by the Cardinals in September.

Matt Leinart is a retired American football player and current TV analyst who has a net worth of $12 million. Matt Leinart played as a quarterback in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Oakland Raiders. He played for the Cardinals from 2006 to 2009, the Texans from 2010 to 2011, the Raiders in 2012, and the Buffalo Bills in 2013. Prior to this, he was a star college football player with the USC Trojans, winning the Heisman Trophy and the Orange Bowl in his junior year. In 2017, Leinart was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is considered somewhat unique for being a left-handed player and is 6'5″. He was the 10th pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Matt's biggest contract was the six-year $51 million deal he signed with the Cardinals in his first year. Today, he is a studio analyst for Fox Sports' college football TV coverage. He also does work for the Pac-12 network and is a recurring guest on various podcasts.

As we stated a moment ago, Matt's biggest career contract was the six-year $51 million deal he signed in 2006, ahead of his first NFL season with the Cardinals. He was released by the Cardinals ahead of the 2010 season, so he did not earn the full $51 million. He earned $14 million from this first deal. Matt ultimately earned a total of $18 million from his NFL salary during his career.

Matt Leinart was born on May 11, 1983, in Santa Ana, California. He had the condition strabismus, or crossed eyes, and underwent surgery when he was three to correct it. Leinart was also given special glasses to wear, making him an easy target of school bullies. To cope with the situation, he turned to sports. As a student at Mater Dei High School, Matt lettered in both football and basketball. In his junior year, he led the football team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division I co-championship. Leinart was recognized for his accomplishments by being named the Gatorade California high school football player of the year.

It was in his junior year that Leinart established himself as one of the great college football players, leading the Trojans to an undefeated season and claiming the Heisman Trophy. In the postseason, USC took a 55-19 victory over the also undefeated Oklahoma at the Orange Bowl, where Matt threw for five touchdown passes. He earned MVP honors for his performance. Leinart repeated his success in his senior season, once again leading the Trojans to a perfect regular season. The team advanced to the Rose Bowl, ultimately losing to Texas. Matt ended his collegiate career as USC's all-time leader in touchdown passes and completion percentage.

Leinart graduated from high school as one of the top college football prospects in the country. He went on to choose the University of Southern California for college, where he played under coachPete Carrollwith the Trojans. After redshirting in 2001, Matt spent his freshman year understudying senior quarterbackCarson Palmer. He subsequently had his breakthrough year as a sophomore, when he was named the Trojans' starting quarterback. In the season opener, Leinart made his first career pass, a touchdown, in a 23-0 victory over Auburn. The Trojans went on to finish the regular season with an 11-1 record. Moreover, the team made it to the Rose Bowl, where Matt was named the MVP of the game.

In the 2006 NFL Draft, Leinart was chosen 10thoverall by the Arizona Cardinals. He subsequently signed a six-year contract with the team. In his debut in the fourth game of the season, Matt threw two touchdown passes. Later, in a game against the Minnesota Vikings in late November, he set an NFL rookie record with 405 passing yards. Leinart finished his first season with the Cardinals with a 4-7 record across 11 starts. Early in his second season, after beginning as the starting quarterback, Matt was placed on injured reserve due to a fractured collarbone. His season ended prematurely as a result.

In summary, the total wealth of Matt Leinart reflects strategic moves.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.