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Blacks make up about 80% of the NFL, so they also make up a lot of the people who end up penniless.

I have met two ex NFL players who are in my industry. Neither one was a big star. They were both second string bench warmers. So, neither one was paid the big bucks. Although, even now the league minimum is around $500K. They both had a career after football.

I also went to SU where I got to know a couple football players. I was in class with one and the other literally lived next door. One was a bench warmer. The other was the star of the team. The star went on to play in the NFL and eventually wrote several books. He unfortunately now is in a wheelchair with a debilitating neurorlogical disease. Again, maybe caused by too many hits to the head.

The problem with a lot of these athletes is that they are pushed through high school and college because they have amazing natural talent. They have a tutor assigned so that they can pass basic course work. They are at those universities for one reason only. Their athletic ability. Very few are there to actually study. They know it and the college knows it. They put people in the seats of the stadium. They generate revenue for the college. Very few of them could even get into college based on their intelligence.

Out of those great college athletes only a small percentage actually become pros. Only 1696 NFL players actually make it on the team every season. Another 512 make it on the practice squad. Which still make around $100K/year.
So, only the best of the best of the best ever end up in the NFL.