Mark Ingram, Sr.
During his heyday, Mark Ingram Sr. was one of the most talented men on the field. Football fans loved him, and teams wanted them on his side. As a result, he played for the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. And while his active sports career helped to fund his lavish lifestyle, he struggled to make ends meet when he eventually retired in 1996. So, he had to find money somewhere.
In the end, he landed himself in prison for half a decade and dealt with a $250,000 fine after playing his part in a money laundering scheme and being convicted of fraud.
Lawrence Taylor
If you look at his sporting statistics, Lawrence Taylor was a football legend. His time with the New York Giants will go down in history, and fans still fondly remember the '80s and '90s when Taylor served as their linebacker. But it seems as though Lawrence didn't know how to cope with life after football, as he went into a downward spiral in retirement. In fact, he would spend thousands of dollars each day on illicit substances and the company of women.
To make matters worse, he was then fined for tax evasion and had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten better since, and his personal life has been shrouded in controversy.
Travis Henry
Many rising football stars dream of playing for the big leagues. They dream of playing for some of the biggest teams in the world, becoming famous, and bringing in a hefty paycheck each week. This became a reality for former running back Travis Henry - but he didn't get to see much of his fortune. After having 11 children with 10 different women, Travis found himself dealing with hefty child support payments after retirement.
At one point, he was shelling out $200,000 a year on child support - and he didn't have that kind of cash. To make matters worse, he was later sent to prison for three years for trafficking illicit substances.
Deuce McAllister
Deuce McAllister was a New Orleans Saints legend. The running back built up an impressive fan base and was a popular player during the late 1990s and early '00s - but he knew that his time on the field would come to an end, so he started to make arrangements for his retirement. With $70 million to his name, Deuce eventually retired in 2008 and bought a car dealership for his next move.
Unfortunately, he bit off more than he could chew and was eventually sued by Nissan for defaulting on important payments to keep the dealership running. As a result, his home was seized.
Bernie Kosar
If you were a fan of the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, or the Miami Dolphins during the 1980s and 1990s, you'll probably know Bernie Kosar. He was one of his era's most famous quarterbacks and once pulled in $19 million to line his pockets. However, retirement wasn't good for him. He chose the wrong people to look after his money, he had to pay out for an expensive divorce, and his investments were questionable.
At one point, Kosar had just $44 to his name and a giant debt of $18.9 million hanging over his head. He ultimately had to file for bankruptcy just to stay afloat and start again.
William Perry
There was once a time when William Perry was at the top of his game. He was one of the most famous NFL players of the 1980s - and not just on the field as a defensive tackle. He was also extremely likeable and marketable, making him the ideal candidate for brand and sponsorship deals and advertising campaigns. And while this income helped him while he was still playing, it started to dwindle when he retired.
By the time 2011 came around, Perry was broke and living in an assisted-living facility. To help pay for his bills, he even had to auction off his most prized possession - his Super Bowl ring.
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens was a familiar face in the NFL from 1996 until 2010, and it's fair to say that he earned a hefty fortune during this time. And while he tried to be sensible with his money to set himself up for retirement, things just didn't end up the way that he wanted them to. For starters, he decided to invest in real estate during the recession which essentially made his purchases worthless.
To make matters worse, his financial advisors stole from him, and he had to pay out to multiple women seeking child support. In the end, he was left with nothing to his name.
Tiki Barber
Not many people can say that they make $25 million in a decade, but that's exactly what Tiki Barker made during his 10-year career in the NFL. The starting running back for the New York Giants was hugely popular, and this popularity landed him a commentating spot for NBC when he retired. And while he seemed set for retirement, that all changed when he left his pregnant wife for an intern at the company.
The public scrutiny surrounding his actions led to him being dismissed by NBC, and the child support fees from his former partner also put pressure on his financiers. Although he tried to make an NFL comeback, nobody wanted him.
Ray Rice
Some famous football players retire of their own accord when they know that their bodies can't handle the beating every week, but others are forced into retirement - and this was the case for former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Although he was at the top of his sporting game in 2014, a video of him punching his partner ruined his career and called for his immediate suspension from the NFL.
Alongside this, big brands such as EA Sports and Nike rescinded their contracts with him, leaving him with no income and a lot of legal fees to pay. Although he successfully won his appeal with the NFL and received back pay as a result, he later donated it all.
Charlie Batch
The number of Super Bowl rings often determines a football player's success in the sporting world - and Charlie Batch had a lot. He was an important member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped lead the team to victory on countless occasions, but most fans will agree that he was more equipped to deal with the competition than he was with his own investments. After all, Batch made some bad real estate investments after retirement.
From struggling to pay the mortgages on his investment properties to defaulting on loans entirely, it wasn't long before Charlie had a cloud of debt hanging over his head. Ultimately, bankruptcy was the only option for him.
Mark Brunell
Throughout his almost 20-year professional football career, Mark Brunell made a fortune. His contracts with the likes of the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers put millions of dollars in his bank account, and his talent as a quarterback made him extremely popular with fans and brands alike. Because of this, he should have been set for retirement - but he made some poor investment decisions that worked against him.
From buying expensive real estate that didn't pay him back to buying 11 Whataburger locations, he soon went bankrupt with $25 million of debt underneath him. Now, he works as a football coach in a Florida high school.
Vince Young
Going from zero to hero must be a lot for new football players. One day, they're aspiring football players, and the next minute, they're signing multi-million-dollar contracts with some of the biggest teams in the league - and everyone knows their name. And while some football players can deal with these big changes, Vince Young went a little too hard on the spending during his heyday. One year, he spent $300,000 on his own birthday party.
Vince's frivolous spending only got worse the longer he stayed within the NFL, and his wild partying ways also resulted in multiple children who required child support. As a result, he went broke.
Michael Vick
Although Michael Vick was once a huge name in the NFL, that all changed when his contracts were suspended immediately and he lost everything overnight. But what happened? Well, Michael was found guilty of financing a dog-fighting ring that left him overcome with legal fees and problems. As a result, he lost all of his sponsorship deals and spent a huge portion of his former income paying everything that needed to be paid.
He had no choice but to declare bankruptcy in 2008, but things looked on the up for Michael in 2015 when he was signed to the NFL once again. Now, he seems on better footing.
Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp is one of the most famous men in the NFL world. The former defensive tackle made a fortune during his impressive career, and it's believed that he made $40 million just from the game - which doesn't include everything else he earned from brand deals, advertisements, and appearances. With this in mind, he should have been able to survive retirement. But it turns out that he just couldn't control his spending.
Warren loved buying expensive properties that didn't make financial sense, and at one point, he was the owner of 240 pairs of Air Jordan sneakers. Alimony and child support was the final nail in the coffin for his finances.
Dermontti Dawson
Fans of the Pittsburg Steelers will know Dermontti Dawson. This talented star played with the famous team for a whopping 13 years and proved to everyone that he was an asset on the field. And while this led to an impressive net worth and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he didn't really know what to do with this fame and fortune. So, he put most of it into a real estate portfolio.
Although real estate can be a lucrative business, Dawson put almost all of his money into housing just before the 2008 recession. When there was finally light at the end of the tunnel in the real estate market, he'd lost $70 million.
Clinton Portis
On paper, Clinton Portis was hugely successful. He was one of the best running backs the NFL has ever seen, and his debut seasons were some of the most iconic of all time. And when he retired in 2009 with a net worth of $43.1 million, we bet he thought that he would be sitting pretty for the rest of his life. However, he put his trust into the wrong people.
His shady financial advisors made him pour his money into dodgy investments, and before too long, he also owed the IRS a huge chunk of cash. So, his cash pile dwindled.
Raghib Ismail
Nicknamed 'Rocket', Raghib Ismail made an impressive mark while studying and playing at the University of Notre Dame. In fact, he had a whole host of teams vying for his attention. And while he was expected to go far, he made the strange decision to sign with the Toronto Argonauts instead. This still worked out financially for him, but he didn't invest this money wisely before he retired from football.
Some of his strangest investments include a religious movie, his own music label, a new beauty treatment, and even a restaurant dubbed to be the next Hard Rock Cafe. In the end, he went broke.
Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas had a strange introduction into the pro football world. Although he was originally drafted to the big leagues in 1995, he was then dropped back down to semi-pro before making his way back up again. He was determined to prove his worth on the field, and this definitely worked in his favor. And while this resulted in a hefty fortune, he lost almost all of it within a few years.
Unitas decided to throw his money at anything, investing in everything from a real estate agency to a bowling alley, and he just couldn't keep up with the debt. Before too long, he had no option but to declare bankruptcy.
Adrian Peterson
The addition of Adrian Peterson to the Minnesota Vikings served as a turning point for the NFL. Although professional football players had always been well-paid, the signing of Peterson saw one of the biggest and most expensive contracts in NFL history. He was also extremely talented, and his football career coupled with sponsorship deals and endorsements ultimately meant that he was once worth almost $100 million. This didn't last long, though.
Adrian stayed in the NFL for longer than many thought he would, and it's said that this is because he went broke after dealing with tax problems, debt, and uncontrollable spending.
Chris McAlister
Like the other former football players on this list, there was once a time when Chris McAlister was at the top of his game. He played with the Baltimore Ravens and had signed on the dotted line for a $55 million contract. But when his professional career came to an end, his finances took a tumble. He struggled to make sound investments and he had to deal with multiple legal battles over child support.
By the time 2011 came around, McAlister claimed that he was no longer financially available to buy basic necessities. In fact, he'd had to move back in with his parents.
Luther Elliss
For the majority of his pro football career, Luther Elliss was a firm favorite among Detroit Lions fans. The defensive linesman proved his worth on the field from 2000 until 2009 - and it's believed that he retired with a respectable $11.6 million net worth. Of course, this should have been enough to keep him going and allow him to make some sensible investments, but life just didn't go that way for him.
Elliss bought everything from expensive real estate to internet companies, and his 12 children - four of which were adopted - also required a lot of money from his pocket.
John Elway
Quarterbacks are always the stars of the football field, and this was also the case for John Elway during the peak of his career. The Broncos player was a key addition to the team during the 1990s, and he did extremely well financially. However, after retiring from the sport he invested a whopping $15 million of his fortune into a company that later came out as a Ponzi scheme. As a result, he lost over half of his investment.
Thankfully, this didn't clear him out completely, and he used that experience to become more financially stable and invest in businesses that were more legitimate. So, he's no longer broke.
Muhsin Muhammad II
During the '00s, all eyes were on Muhsin Muhammad II. Fans and coaches alike could see that the wide receiver had a huge amount of potential, and he was able to showcase this potential as part of the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers. But after 14 seasons in the NFL, Muhsin decided that his time was up and opted to retire as a professional footballer. At the time, he had a fair fortune in his bank.
However, he was notorious for his lavish lifestyle and overspending, and it wasn't long before his credit card debt got out of control. To pay it back, he had to sell his house.
Archie Griffin
At collegiate level, Archie Griffin was a force to be reckoned with. He was such an impressive talent on the field that he had coaches lining up to sign him - and it wasn't long before he made his NFL debut. However, the hype around the young player didn't quite live up to how he actually performed, and he had a fairly unremarkable career before retiring. This earned him a pretty penny, though.
But while Archie bagged himself a small fortune as a pro football player, he went broke shortly after. He made poor investment decisions and just didn't have the help around him to control his finances.
O. J. Simpson
Even those who don't follow football know who O.J. Simpson is. But before he went to prison, Simpson was a hugely talented football player who used his talents to help out the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills. He was also a huge name in popular culture with friends in high places, so it should come as no surprise that he was super rich during the height of his career.
However, he was later forced to pay over $33 million of his money to the families of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. Of course, he then also served nine years behind bars.
Dick Lane
Dick Lane was often called the 'Night Train,' and it's fair to say that he made his mark on the NFL. All in all, he played professional football for a whopping 13 years. During that time, he played as part of the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions. This impressive career meant that he should have been well off when he finally retired in 1965, but that wasn't the case.
Although Dick had once had the money, he was notorious for overspending and spending his money on the wrong things - like illicit substances, alcohol, women, and bad investments that just weren't worth it.
Shawne Merriman
Shawn Merriman had the potential to be one of the biggest stars in football. He really stood out of the '00s crowd and his talent as part of the San Diego Chargers could have seen his career skyrocket. However, personal dramas off the field meant that he had to leave the sport earlier than he'd like - especially when he was involved in a wrongful death lawsuit and had to pay some serious legal fees.
This had a huge impact on his finances, and not being able to play made things even worse. As a result, he went broke and ultimately had to file for bankruptcy.
Andre Rison
Although some professional footballers try and stay in the same place and with the same team for most of their career, Andre Rison had no trouble moving from one team to the next. Over the course of his NFL experience, he played for eight different teams - including the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and more. He was also extremely famous off the pitch, largely due to his tumultuous relationship with Lisa Left Eye Lopes.
When he finally retired in 2005, he struggled to control his spending and eventually went broke. However, he's now a college football coach and supposedly on a fairly decent salary.
JaMarcus Russell
When JaMarcus Russell was signed to his first team in 2007, he made history. His $61 million contract broke records and made everyone believe that he was going to be the next big name in football. However, that wasn't the case, and he struggled to find another team to take him, unable to really find his footing within the professional world. Plus, he made some poor financial decisions during this time.
From defaulting on his mortgage payments to a drug controversy, it was all too much for JaMarcus. Nobody wanted him on his team, and he faded into the background with little money to his name.
Giovani Bernard
Running backs never really earn as much as quarterbacks, but it's fair to say that Tampa Bay Buccaneer Giovani Bernard is still making more than the regular Joe. And while there are others getting paid more than him, he doesn't take his earnings for granted and considers himself to be extremely lucky. That's why he wants to save it as much of it as possible, just in case it all gets taken away.
To save as much money as possible, Giovani drives around in a beaten-up minivan that he borrowed off a friend and lives in a small apartment while his teammates waste their money on mansions.
Glover Quin
If you're a fan of the Detroit Lions, there's a high chance that you know who Glover Quin is. He first came onto the scene in 2009 and has definitely shown his worth on the field. And while his teammates are living the life of luxury, Glover is more focused on life after football and planning for his retirement. In his eyes, he wants to make as much money now to know that he doesn't have to worry.
Not only does Glover save 70% of his $6.5 million salary, but he then invests another 10-20% with reputable investment experts to ensure that he's adding more and more to his pension pot.
Rob Gronkowski
Although most of the football players on this list have had serious money concerns over the years, Rob Gronkowski isn't one of those players. In fact, he's been both fortunate and frugal over the course of his football career. And while his $9 million base salary from the New England Patriots would be enough to live a lavish lifestyle, Rob has noted that he only ever spends the money he gets from promotional events and endorsements.
As if that wasn't enough, he's also stated that he always gets as much as he can out of an item before buying something new - even if it looks like he's wearing rags.
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Darrius Heyward-Bey became a proud member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009 and suddenly became richer than he could have ever imagined. In fact, just a few years ago he took home a whopping $35 million in just one year. But after growing up frugally, he understands the importance of money and living within your means - which is why he tries to only spend money on things he really needs.
Darrius has stated that he keeps his spending simple and rarely treats himself to anything he doesn't need. He even cancels his cable bill during the off-season because it would be a waste.
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is another professional football player who has understood just how fortunate he's been and how it can all change in an instant - especially if you make the wrong choices. Because of this, he's all about saving money and reducing his chances of going broke. He reportedly once told his Minnesota Vikings teammates to stop spending so much money because you don't know how long it'll last for.
In fact, Kirk has chosen to live a modest lifestyle on his hefty salary and has ditched the mansions and the sports cars for more humble purchases. He even still drives his almost 20-year-old GMC Savana.
Marshawn Lynch
In today's day and age, professional footballers are so much more than their million-dollar NFL contracts. They also have the pleasure of working with big brands for endorsement deals that adds even more money to their bank accounts. This was the case for Marshawn Lynch during his heyday, but he was conscious that this would all change when he retired recently. So, he's only ever used the money from his endorsements to live comfortably.
That's right, he's not touched a dollar from his playing contract and intends to keep it that way for as long as possible. By doing this, he should never have to worry about money ever again.
John Urschel
On paper, John Urschel didn't have the greatest football career. He played with the Baltimore Ravens for just two years as their center and guard, but then retired early due to injury. Because of this, you may assume that he doesn't have a lot of money - but that's not the case at all. Although nobody knew it at the time, Urschel was studying for his Ph.D. in mathematics while in the midst of his football career.
As a result, he's now been able to create a secondary career for himself as a highly respected mathematician earning money by writing math columns and peer-reviewed papers for publication.
Ryan Kerrigan
In 2015, Ryan Kerrigan's life changed forever. He signed a five-year contract with the Washington Redskins that added an extra $57.5 million to his name. And while the other football players on this list may have run wild with this kind of money, Ryan decided to keep things as normal as possible. He didn't even move out of the apartment he shared with his roommate, but opted to stay in their humble abode instead.
As if that wasn't enough, Ryan also tries to cook his own food rather than pay hefty bills at expensive restaurants. And if he does want a treat, Chipotle is always his go-to.
AJ Francis
AJ Francis is the kind of man who can do anything he sets his mind to. Of course, football fans will know him for his stints with the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, but wrestling fans will now know him as a well-respected athlete within the WWE. And with two professional sports careers under his belt, it's fair to say that AJ Francis has built up a nice little nest egg for himself.
You won't see him spending it, though. Although he has more than enough to keep him going, AJ continues to drive the odd Lyft and Uber passenger to boost his earnings.
Jordy Nelson
In 2019, Green Bay Packer Jordy Nelson decided that enough was enough and retired from the NFL. At the time, it's believed that he retired with an incredible $56 million net worth to his name - which many of the other athletes on this list would have spent or invested poorly. However, Jordy grew up on a farm where only hard work would put food on the table, so he didn't follow suit.
Instead, Jordy has saved as much of his earnings as possible and cut corners in his everyday life to ensure he's only spending money on necessitates. It's thought that he's also made some smart investments.