Xavien Howard: Contract| Salary| Wife| Career Earnings| How old is

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 27: Xavien Howard #25 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Hard Rock Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Introduction

Xavien Howard is one of the most high-profile cornerbacks in recent NFL history, known for his ball-hawk instincts, interceptions, and contract negotiations. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at his current and historical contracts, salary details, career earnings, personal life (relationship status), and age. Whether you’re a fan, sports writer, or financial analyst, this fits all you need to know about Xavien Howard as of 2025.


Early Life & Football Beginnings

Xavien Howard was born on July 4, 1993, in Houston, Texas.
He played high school football at Wheatley High School in Houston and later committed to Baylor University, where he played for the Baylor Bears (2012–2015).

At Baylor, Howard’s standout play as a defensive back helped him gain attention, culminating in being drafted into the NFL in 2016.


NFL Draft & Rookie Deal

In the 2016 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Xavien Howard in the second round, 38th overall.

His rookie contract was a 4-year deal worth approximately $6.13 million, with a signing bonus near $2.65 million and guarantees of about $3.83 million.

During his first seasons, Howard gradually evolved from a rotational role into a full-time starter, building his resume as a lockdown corner.


Contract Extensions & Major Deals

2019 Extension

After proving himself in the early years, Howard inked a major extension in 2019. The deal was:

  • 5 years

  • $75.25 million total

  • Average value: ~$15.05 million per year

  • Guarantees: $27.19 million at signing (or in that ballpark)

This extension signaled Miami’s confidence in Howard’s talents and locked him in as a key defensive piece.

2022 / 2022–2026 Contract

In 2022, the Dolphins and Howard agreed to a new extension or restructuring that effectively set up a 5-year, $90 million contract (2022 through 2026).

Key features:

  • Signing bonus: $13.77 million

  • Guarantees: Roughly $36.30 million at signing

  • New money added beyond his previous deal, boosting his average annual value (AAV) to about $18 million or more.

  • The extension carried void years or structure to ease salary cap impact for Miami.

As of 2025, his contract details per public salary/cap trackers include:

Year Base Salary Cap Hit Notes
2024 $15,400,000 Cap hit ~$25.9M High cap burden year
2025 $13,650,000 Cap hit ~$22.9M Still significant
2026 $15,150,000 Cap hit ~$24.4M Final year of extension

However, things changed in 2024. The Dolphins released Howard in March 2024, designating the cut as a post-June 1 release to lessen immediate cap burden. The move allowed Miami to spread the dead money over two seasons.

After his release, Howard remained unsigned for the 2024 season, sitting out the entire year.

In August 2025, Howard signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts with reported value up to $5 million including incentives.


Salary & Cap Figures

Let’s dig deeper into his salary and cap considerations.

Salary

  • His 2025 base salary under the old Dolphins contract was $13.65 million

  • For 2026, the base was slated at $15.15 million

  • Signing bonuses and prorated portions of bonuses inflate his guaranteed money and cap hit.

Cap & Guarantees

  • At the time of the Dolphins extension, about $36.3 million was guaranteed at signing.

  • Over the life of the contract, his total guarantees reached about $67.3 million per OverTheCap.

  • OverTheCap lists his career earnings through his time with Miami at $89,153,038.

  • His contract history and earned money: many years with large dead money and cap allocations.

When the Dolphins released him in 2024, they took on significant dead money charges in subsequent seasons.

Comparisons

Various sources (Spotrac, SalarySport etc.) show slight variations in his earnings totals (e.g. ~$86.6 million in eight seasons per SportsKeeda) due to difference in which bonuses or incentives are counted.


Career Earnings Summary

By aggregating contracts, bonuses, and earnings over his career, here’s a snapshot:

  • Over the life of his Dolphins tenure, Howard reportedly earned $89,153,038 (according to OverTheCap)

  • Spotrac shows a figure of $90,594,446 as career earnings through that contract era.

  • Some media reports suggest $86.59 million over eight seasons.

Discrepancies are typically due to whether incentives, unearned portions, or restructuring elements are counted.

If he plays (or played) in 2025 for the Colts under his one-year deal, his total career earnings will further increase.


Performance & Legacy on Field

To understand why Howard commanded such contracts, let’s look at his on-field resume.

  • Over his NFL career (through 2025), Howard recorded 342 total tackles, 29 interceptions, 95 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and 4 defensive touchdowns.

  • He earned 4 Pro Bowl nods (2018, 2020–2022) and was First-team All-Pro in 2020 and Second-team All-Pro in 2018.

  • He led the NFL in interceptions twice: in 2018 and 2020.

  • He’s also known for his reputation as a ball hawk — teams feared targeting his side.

Even with injuries and occasional declines, his elite-level peak justified his high-value contracts.


Age & Current Status

As of 2025, Xavien Howard is 32 years old (born July 4, 1993).

After being released by Miami in 2024 and sitting out the full season, he signed with the Colts in August 2025 on a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

Given his age and time off, his role with the Colts (or any team) is likely as a veteran presence rather than full-time corner.


Personal Life: Wife, Partner & Family

Wife / Partner
There is no widely confirmed public record of a wife for Xavien Howard. He tends to keep his romantic life private, and media sources refer to the mother(s) of his children rather than a spouse.

Children & Family
Howard is a father to four children, which he sometimes highlights in social media posts.

The identity of the mother(s) and whether he is married is not broadly documented. Some sources hint at co-parenting relationships, but no clear public figure is cited as his wife or spouse.

Legal / Personal Controversies
It is worth noting that Howard has faced legal allegations in recent years. In particular:

  • A lawsuit claimed that Howard sent a sexually explicit image to a teenage boy of his mother because she had refused to have an abortion, as part of a dispute. He denied wrongdoing.

  • The suit also alleged other nonconsensual sharing of content.

These matters are ongoing and should be considered allegations until resolved in court.

Because these topics are sensitive and partly legal, one should tread carefully when referencing them publicly.


Summary: Xavien Howard at a Glance

  • Age (2025): 32 years old.

  • Draft / Early Career: 2nd-round pick, 2016, Dolphins.

  • Major Contract: 2022 extension, 5 years, ~$90 million with ~$36.3M guaranteed at signing.

  • Salary / Cap: Base salaries in 2024–2026 ranged from ~$13.65M to $15.15M; cap hits also high in those seasons.

  • Career Earnings: Around $89 million+ with Miami per OverTheCap; some sources list ~$90.6M or ~$86.6M

  • Performance: 29 career interceptions, 342 tackles, multiple Pro Bowls, two interception leader seasons.

  • Current Status: Released by Dolphins in 2024, signed 1-year deal with Colts in 2025

  • Personal / Family: Father of four children. No confirmed wife in public sources.

  • Controversies: Accusations of nonconsensual sharing of explicit content are part of active legal proceedings.

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About Gurmeet 16572 Articles
Gurmeet Singh is a sports blogger and professional content writer from Jammu, India, with over seven years of experience, including work with Google. Passionate about sports and storytelling, he creates engaging, SEO-optimized content that informs and inspires readers worldwide.

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