Joe Burrow: I’ll live off my endorsements and save all my NFL paychecks

Getty Images

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a smart idea for how to spend all the money from the four-year, $36.1 million guaranteed contract he signed this week.

Or actually how not to spend it.

Burrow said on Friday that he doesn’t intend to spend a single penny of that money he’s making from the Bengals. He’ll live off the money he makes from endorsements and put all the money from his NFL paychecks into savings and investments.

“I don’t plan on spending any contract money,” Burrow said. “I’m just gonna live off the marketing money and let that accrue in my bank account.”

That’s wise. There’s a long list of professional athletes who have made tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars and then gone broke.

40 responses to “Joe Burrow: I’ll live off my endorsements and save all my NFL paychecks

  1. Way to go, kid. Just like Gronkowski, only being a QB Burrow might end up with a ton more money saved from his NFL pay.

    I wish players learned not just about saving, but where to save. Way too many of these guys get suckered into investing with “friends” and in high-risk, exotic stuff and lose it all to fraud, theft, and just poor investments. Just put it in a regular, boring old mutual funds, sit back and forget about it.

  2. I hope this is a sign of good things ahead
    he seems to be everything you want in Franchise QB
    just got to see him live

  3. Hey Joe, help spread your wealth. As a long time Who Dey, I’m hoping my kid can save your rookie card, turn it into an investment too, and make a little cash on your talent just like you. Bring us a winner.

  4. Out of curiosity, how much can a highly drafted rookie make on endorsements, without having played?

    In any case,this is a smart move on his part. Other players should emulate it.

  5. Smart, although hopefully he means his investment account, as leaving it in his bank account will earn pretty close to zero return.

  6. Have to get endorsements first and they usually come with wins, good luck with that under the worst owner in the league, behind one of the worst O-lines and under Taylor an unproven HC who wasn’t anything more than a WR & QB coach until the Bengals really reached and gave him a HC job!

  7. Peyton Manning makes and did make a ton of marketing/endorsement money. I think it took his focus away from winning on the field as Tom Brady was busy being quiet and perfecting his game. Of course it helps when your wife makes a 100 Million dollar salary. Just saying, don’t focus on marketing and try to win a Super Bowl.

  8. the future is very bright for the Who Deys. Joe Burrow is bringing SB’s to Cincinnati

  9. Standard Nike or Under Armour rookie deal is only worth a few hundred grand unless you have LeBron-esq star power coming into the pros. Might work for the first year or so but you’ll get tired soon of driving your Toyota to the stadium while watching your WR’s drive in with their Lambos. Big endorsement deals come after a Super Bowl win. MVP doesn’t even guarantee anything – see Lamar.

  10. From what I understand, before he was even drafted he already had endorsement deals in place with Fanatics, Nike, and Bose.

    You can guarantee that in a market like Cincinnati, he’ll be able to cut a lot of deals with local companies like Kroger, Proctor & Gamble, and Firth-Third Bank, to name a few.

    Smart kid!

  11. Skyline Chili,Kahn’s wieners,Frisch’s Big Boy. That’s it son. Welcome to Cincinnati and commuting from your parent’s house 3 hours a day.

  12. Since he’s stated this plan I could see an investment firm having him as their spokesperson. It can be wherever he invests or whoever makes the best offer.

  13. Steve Cunningham says:
    August 1, 2020 at 11:46 am
    Have to get endorsements first and they usually come with wins, good luck with that under the worst owner in the league, behind one of the worst O-lines and under Taylor an unproven HC who wasn’t anything more than a WR & QB coach until the Bengals really reached and gave him a HC job!

    Ive seen him advertising a few different things already including nerf guns. But hey, the 1990’s Bengal narrative sounds better I guess.

  14. “ Standard Nike or Under Armour rookie deal is only worth a few hundred grand unless you have LeBron-esq star power coming into the pros. Might work for the first year or so but you’ll get tired soon of driving your Toyota to the stadium while watching your WR’s drive in with their Lambos. Big endorsement deals come after a Super Bowl win. MVP doesn’t even guarantee anything – see Lamar”

    Nah, couple mil a year to start for a kid with his charisma and leadership. Companies will want to draft off his coolness and be associated with the kid that raised $500k for food shelters in rural OH. When the Bengals start winning in the playoffs he will get up to high 7 figures or more. Super Bowl, forget about it.

    He doesn’t seem to be the kind of kid who gives two squirts what he or anyone else drives.

  15. Probably a smart idea. With that Bengal front line, the kid will be battered and out of the league in no time with debilitating injuries. Hopefully, he can make it thru his time with the Bengals and land with a team that can protect him, so he won’t be running for his life every single play.

  16. Reno Hightower says:
    August 1, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    Ive seen him advertising a few different things already including nerf guns. But hey, the 1990’s Bengal narrative sounds better I guess.
    ________________________________

    1990’s Bengals narrative? That’s funny for an 0’fer team in the Playoff right up till 2019! Whether you realize it or not the 1990’s Bengals narrative lives on right up to today, nothing has changed but the names! The Bengals are the 1990’s Bengals until they prove they’re not and just drafting a QB doesn’t change a thing either, you do know that 70% of QBs drafted in the 1st round since 2000 have been busts so there is absolutely no guarantees that getting Burrow will change anything, respect is earned not given!

    Earn the respect and I’ll more than gladly give it, but until then you get the respect of an 0’fer playoff team you are which = NONE!

  17. very few ball players in any sport hang onto the $$ . the % that go broke is very sad.

  18. when they replace b hart and get another stud in there, the sky is the limit for j burrow for years to come.

  19. To all the people above downplaying how much Burtows can make in endorsement money, I give you one Dak Prescott.

    According to ESPN Adam Schefter, Dak endorsements are a cool 50 million.

    Joe has way more college fame and success. Joe and Dak have same number of SB victories. Sure Dak plays for Cowboys not Cincy, but even if Joe gets half- 25 million.

  20. I am pretty sure Marshawn Lynch was doing this 3 or 4 years ago. He saved almost $45-50 million of his NFL pay and lived off his endorsements.

  21. Another athlete boasting about how he doesn’t even need to cash his pay checks. Then holds out five years later, trying to squeeze every last dollar for a record breaking contract.

  22. Mr. Burrow, think about the falling dollar, disappearing supply chains, and inflation, runaway inflation. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

  23. Some players are good with money. Chad Johnson comes to mind. While other players were wasting their money on expensive cars and living the high life, Johnson drove a Smart Car, and saved his money.

    He can now live the rest of his life, doing what he wants. I hope it works out similarly for Joe.

  24. Excellent mindset. Most players dont realize the importance of making sure this money lasts them the rest of their lives. Most players dont come from solid backgrounds, and have all the hanger-ons with their hands out, like they had anything to do with the money. Unfortunately its a cultural thing. And most NFL players wont make set for life money, but the ones that do should be very careful and smart with their money. One of the worst things these guys can do is try to r start a business. That is where all the sharks steal their money.

  25. deadinbed says:
    “Why would he feel to announce this?”

    Probably asked repeatedly by reporters.

  26. Great idea. We have heard the stories of Brunell having to play at 41 because his advisor ran off with his money. Or Strahan having to play an extra year because of his divorce.

    Set yourself up like Luck or Lynch, so you can walk away when you want.

  27. Smart kid.
    NFL players have a chance to set themselves up for life with just a few years in the league but you see so many having to go get all the stuff and spend then they end up with nothing.

    Another note – those above who are taking shots at the Bengals’ OL – they were pretty good towards the end of the season and added a couple players along with getting their first rd OL pick back.

  28. He btter save his biggest pay check because career backup don’t make that kind of money…

  29. I’m fairly sure the #1 pick in the draft starts for at least 4 years… barring injury.

  30. snake19whodey says:
    August 1, 2020 at 11:29 pm
    I’m fairly sure the #1 pick in the draft starts for at least 4 years… barring injury

    _______________
    Not necessarily.

    Signed
    JaMarcus Russell

  31. He’d be better off putting the money into an index fund rather than a small interest bank account.

  32. “Does he even have endorsements yet?”

    Lowe’s, Bose, Fanatics, Nike, Nerf, Buffalo Wild Wings, and not to mention local sponsorships in Cincy.

    Each endorsement would be on average between 80k and 150k annually.

    So he’ll have an easy time living off of 500K+ per year, while investing that 24 million in order to accrue enough money to retire and live off interest alone eventually.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.