Jake Long signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed.
OK, so Jake is the exception.
The average NFL career is 4 years and the average rookie earns a minimum starting salary of @ $300K/year. At the end of the four year career, that average player is all of 25 years old. He’s made decent money for a few years, far in excess of his contemporaries. A pro player, even an average pro player, has career options at the end of his athletic careers. In the meanwhile, he’s had the opportunity of living out the experience of being an NFL player. Very, very few make it to that pinnacle of sports.
I really am missing what’s so horrible about this fate for a young man.
I understand the risks, but playing football is an endeavor they chose and — if they made it to the NFL — excelled at. They could be injured in high school or college football and never make it to the NFL. They can’t choose what team they will play for? Not everyone can choose what college they will go to or what company they will work for.
WWMFD? Dunno.
In some cases yes, in others no. A lot will depend upon his management of his money during his few top-earning years.
The well-trained scientist will have more career options at age 25 and will have grater earning potential from then on than the "average" washed out professional football player, especially one who never finished college. Look around and you'll see some rather sad stories out there.