When NFL players sign multimillion-dollar contracts, most people assume they’re set for life. As the headlines boast the contract number, fans envision a bank account full of guaranteed income.

Behind the scenes, pro football’s financial reality is far less glamorous — and often brutal.

A former NFL sports scientist turned private equity investor and co-founder of The Players Company, Tom Zheng, knows this all too well. As a professional sports coach, Tom works directly with athletes who face the high pressures of a short, high-pressure career. He’s seen firsthand how fast money disappears, how often financial predators swarm, and how unprepared players are for life after football.

His work and the education he’s providing could mean the difference between long-term stability and becoming another statistic.

The Hidden Truth About NFL “Millions”

Since Tom works closely with NFL players, he knows how misleading contract numbers can be. In reality, 80% of the NFL’s quarterbacks aren’t making generational money like the top-tier quarterbacks.

As a matter of fact, most NFL contracts include only minimal guarantees.

He gives the simple example of a player signing a $10 million contract. The only amount guaranteed is $2 million. In the event that a player gets hurt, cuts, or is replaced, which is pretty common, the remaining $8 million disappears immediately.

After subtracting taxes, agent fees, relocation costs, temporary housing, car rentals, off-season training, and the general cost of living in a major NFL city, you should be left with the net salary. As a result, that “$10 million contract” quickly becomes closer to $700,000-$900,000 in real take-home pay – and sometimes even less.

As Tom puts it, “There’s a lot of expedited cost that comes with being a professional athlete.”

And that’s before life throws curveballs: injuries, short contracts, and unpredictable career paths. The average NFL career lasts just 3.1 years.

Due to such a short window for earning real money, players must take advantage of every opportunity, not only on the field, but also financially.

From Sports Scientist to Investor and Financial Education

Tom didn’t plan to go into player education. His career began with the San Francisco 49ers as one of the league’s earliest sports scientists. After his daughter was born, the grueling schedule, constant travel, and endless pressure weren’t compatible with the family life he desired.

Leaving the sidelines, he developed a consulting firm advising teams and athletes across five major sports. Over the years, he began to notice that pro athletes outside the highest-earning tier lacked strong financial support infrastructures.

He was approached by NFL veteran Sheldon Day then, and The Players Company was born.

Tom says Sheldon saw the gap firsthand. The bottom 80% of the league didn’t have access to guidance, education, or resources.

The stakes were high. According to Sportico, 80% of retired NFL players declare bankruptcy within three years.

Tom and Sheldon set out to fix that.

The Players Company: Teaching Athletes to Invest in Themselves

The Players Company’s mission is to help players understand wealth — not just while they play, but long after they hang up their helmets. Education, empowerment, and protection are the three pillars of the mission.

Tom explains that athletes get pitched constantly for startup deals, ambassador gigs, advisory roles, and product endorsements. There are some, however, that are legitimate. Many of them are predatory. In addition, very few players are financially literate to assess these opportunities.

As a result, The Players Company focuses on digestible, niche areas of education:

• What is a cap table?
• What’s the difference between stock grants and stock options?
• What is vesting?
• What is an 83(b) election and how can it save you a fortune in taxes?

If you explain one topic clearly in plain language, it becomes digestible, says Tom. Just that can change someone’s financial trajectory.

In addition to teaching real estate fundamentals, the Players Company also offers tax strategy and venture deal evaluation classes taught by vetted experts.

Wealth is a long-term goal, not a short-term buzzword.

Tom’s Investing Success Behind the Scenes

Tom was investing himself long before he ever coached athletes.

Eventually, he co-founded a private investment firm specializing in sports assets and commercial real estate.

A standout investment was in Jordan Sports Group, a fast-growing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agency representing more than 65 college athletes.

Tom’s team jumped on the NIL wave early. And, as college sports shift toward professionalized models (including new salary cap rules), opportunities for investment are skyrocketing. The entire ecosystem is changing — stadium naming rights, new revenue models, sponsorship rebranding.

Tom partnered with Jordan Sports Group since its founder Miles Jordan is a former attorney and collegiate athlete. As far as ethics and transparency are concerned, he is aligned with Tom’s mission.

Having Tom spot talent is a major advantage for the athletes he mentors, not only on the field but in the boardroom as well.

The Bigger Mission

Each year, thousands of athletes enter the league full of hope and leave with little to show for their efforts. In most cases, long-term financial health is never developed. This is a story that Tom and Sheldon want to change.

Athletes can use the tools provided by The Players Company to:

• Avoid blindly trusting advisors by understanding opportunities.
• Utilize their platform responsibly.
• Invest in wealth that will last after their playing days are over.
• Invest in transparent, vetted deals.
• The ability to create financial stability for themselves and their families.

As soon as the cheering stops, and it will, their financial literacy is the only thing that will keep them going. And that’s why Tom’s work matters.

Conclusion: Wealth Isn’t About Income — It’s About Education

Given the large contract numbers, the average fan tends to think that athletes are destined for riches. Unfortunately, the reality is much harsher: short careers, non-guaranteed contracts, heavy expenses, injury after injury, and a toxic ecosystem.

However, this doesn’t have to be the case.

In the right environment, athletes can transform a brief playing career into a lifetime of financial security. It’s for that reason that I respect Tom and Sheldon’s mission — and I am proud to support them in their educational endeavors.

At the end of the day, wealth isn’t built by chance or signing bonuses. It’s built by making smart decisions, understanding your opportunities, and being surrounded by the right people.

That’s true for athletes. And it’s true for every investor.

Key Takeaways

• Most NFL contracts are not guaranteed. 80% of a player’s contract value can disappear instantly if he is cut or injured.
• The average NFL career is only 3.1 years. During an extremely short earning period, players must maximize their wealth.
• Financial predators target athletes aggressively. Players who lack financial literacy are vulnerable to bad deals.
• 80% of former NFL players declare bankruptcy within three years of retiring. The only sustainable solution is education.
• Athletes are pitched countless investment and advisory opportunities. They cannot evaluate 83(b) elections without understanding vesting, cap tables, or 83(b) elections.
• NIL and sports private equity are exploding. In a rapidly shifting landscape, early movers like Tom are securing long-term upside.
• The Players Company empowers athletes through clear, practical financial education. Rather than just surviving the transition, the goal is to build wealth during and after their career.

Featured Image Credit: RDNE Stock project; Pexels: Thank you!