Even most athletes who are talented and lucky enough to make it to the National Football League can’t imagine having a long career of signing multi-million dollar contracts.
This is why we often hear even high-profile athletes talk about preparing themselves for the future and transitioning once their playing days are over.
Some former NFL players have gone on to become highly successful entrepreneurs after hanging up their cleats. Let’s take a closer look at his six NFL players who turned businessmen.
Tom Brady
Tom Brady is probably the greatest, if not the greatest, person to ever play in the NFL. He joined the league in his 2000 year and has set nearly the all-time quarterback record since retiring earlier this month. He defied time by winning his seven Super Bowls and playing into his early 40s.
A large part of that is due to Brady’s health and training regimen. He actually provided that regimen to his sports performance company, TB12 Inc., which he launched in 2013.
Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach played 11 seasons (1969-1979) in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, winning two Super Bowls along the way. Towards the end of his career, he founded The Staubach Company, a commercial real estate business. In 2008, the company was sold to Jones Lang LaSalle for $613 million. Not bad for a guy who signed a rookie deal for $25,000.
Gail Sayers
Gale Sayers played seven injury-plagued seasons (1965-1971) with the Chicago Bears. In 1984 he started Crest Computer Supply Co. The company, now known as Sayers 40 Inc, provides information technology products, services and support.
Sayers died in 2020 at the age of 77.
Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson, who retired in 2015 after nine seasons with the Detroit Lions, shocked the league. A big part of his immediate retirement was due to injuries he sustained playing at such a high level.
Determined to be part of the solution, Johnson ventured into the marijuana industry with fellow Lion Rob Sims by launching Primitiv, a Michigan dispensary chain. He also partnered with Harvard University to study the effects of cannabis on CTE and the benefits of cannabis in managing pain.
Rick Myler
Rick Myler played 11 seasons in the NFL (1993-2004) but never quite lived up to the bills he received as a quarterback at Notre Dame. After his retirement, he helped launch his wine company Mirror Napa Valley in 2008.
Karl Banks
Carl Banks played 11 years (1984-1995) and won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He is now President of GIII Sports, where for over 20 years he has manufactured his apparel licensed for the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and colleges.
