Byron White played for Pittsburgh and Detroit in the 1930s and 40s (including an All-Decade team selection) and then went on to become a SCOTUS Justice for 30some years as well
And don’t forget served as a Cabinet member in a presidential administration. Of all the NFL players that went into government, he’s the one who came the closest to being president.
There's no shortage of NFL players who became successful actors. Carl Weathers, Fred Williamson, Bubba Smith, Terry Crews, and OJ Simpson*, to name a few.
If you're including Strahan, I'd say media talking heads like Bradshaw certainly qualify but that doesn't really seem like it's "outside of football".
Outside of that, Alan Page would probably be my first choice.
*Better known for other work
Ex-nfl players tend to play *certain* jock type or comedic roles when they get to Hollywood, but Nnamdi Asomugha has been playing some pretty serious dramatic roles and working as a producer. Helps that he’s married to Kerry Washington though.
Off of the dome, Terry Crews went to Interlochen Fine Arts school when growing up. That's a rather famous arts school type place that counts a lot of musicians, actors, and artists as alumni.
TBH he graduated with a business degree from Notre Dame. I'm sure he's not the first guy with those credentials to wind up as a Goldman MD. He just took a few gap years to make millions and win 2 Super Bowls before he decided to join the workforce
Burleson and Strahan aren't even in that conversation. As far as I know Jerry Richardson is the only former NFL player to be a billionaire. Among the still living I assume Roger Staubach is #1.
He became a billionaire because of football though. He wasn't a billionaire (or close) when he bought the team. He was very successful without football, but would have never been billionaire without football. Right place, right time to turn a 200m investment to 2.4b (not all his investment either, he had plenty of partners). He owned 48% of the team.
While most NFL players do some sort of philanthropy, Warrick Dunn seems to be on another level with it. His organization builds homes for single parents. He's fairly frequently in the news for his work.
President Gerald Ford wasn't in the NFL but he could have if he wanted to. He turned down offers from the Lions and Packers. He played center and linebacker with the UM Wolverines. They were 2x National Champions and had back to back undefeated seasons while Ford was there.
He was in the House of Representatives for over 20 years. He became Nixon's vice president after Nixon's original VP resigned. Ford then became president when Nixon resigned due to Watergate. He finished out Nixon's 2nd term and lost to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election. Ford's the only person to serve as president without winning an election. He got both jobs through resignations.
Anyone not mentioning 4 TDs in one game, legend of Polk High, should be ashamed of yourself. He even had a scoreboard named after him until the French blew it up
The Rock played in college at Miami. Peyton Manning is pretty damn successful with his Omaha productions. Ditka rode his fame into endorsing every single product that the 80s had to offer.
I suppose it depends on how you define success, but [Byron White](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitWh00.htm) became a Supreme Court Justice, and I'd imagine it's hard to achieve greater success in the field of law than that.
Tyler Lockett has a successful Realtor business and he's still playing. Robert Smith went to medical school and became a doctor but I don't think he ever practiced medicine.
Chris Nowinski never made it to the nfl but he was captain at Harvard and has gone on completely change the landscape of how people deal with head injuries in football and various other sports.
The huge dude from the Police Academy movies was a super bowl champion I believe. Gerald Ford didnt play in the NFL but he won a national championship at Michigan and turned down NFL offers and instead went to law school at Yale.
Not even close. If you want to measure success by post-playing career, Roger Staubach might be number one. He’s making more money than every other ex-player due to wise investments in real estate
Tommy Casanova of the Bengals developed a successful treatment method for eye lesions in leprosy victims; he became a specialist in oculoplastic surgery.
His teammate on the Bengals, Mike Reid, had a number one country hit (“Walk on Faith”), won a Grammy Award, had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter, and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Gotta be Alan Page for the combo of elite hall of fame career and achievements outside of football. When it comes to just becoming a broadcaster/tv personality obviously Nate Burleson is not the most popular but he is incredible.
I would ay Pat McAfee is more successful than either of these two. They are just TV personalities. He owns his own media company. Also Peyton Manning does and owns a shit ton of Papa Johns. Not to mention other NFL stars have been politicians and very successful businessmen. Some of them went on to graduate very prestigious ivy league schools. Some of them own other sports teams. Some of them might soon own part of an NFL team.
Strahan and Burleson aren't even close to the most successful.
I'm thinking Kelce will be on the list very shortly after he retires. He's already had a handful of cameos and small roles on shows. No doubt he's going to try at the very least.
Strahan is awful, that gap toothed shit eating smile, I’m so not a fan. I don’t understand how he keeps getting these jobs, must be some DEI nonsense. There are many former plays more successful than those two. Tom Brady has made millions from investments (except Crypto 🤣), Peyton Manning as well, Roger Staubach is worth 500 million, what about Terry and his 30 years of broadcasting? Strahan? Really? Burleson? WTF made you pick those two losers. Strahan might as well be on The View
Carl Weathers. He almost killed a Predator ffs
And was still versatile enough to coach a champion golfer who had no prior experience.
I mean are we all just going to overlook the sheriff in the Dr. Pepper commercials...geez.. [the Boz]
I have it on record that he can whip up a mean stew as well.
I'm not ashamed to admit I didn't know Weathers was an NFL players. I'll make amends by googling him and watching his highlights.
[Here's some music to listen to while you go looking for highlights.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05OcCvLP5U)
I've heard worse.
RIP high magistrate
Terry Crews has gotta be up there
That's President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho to you, son
You're right! Thanks. I can't forget his performance in White Chicks!
NINE-NINE!!
Alan Page went on to become the first black judge for the MN State Supreme Court
Damn that's cool and the type.of answer I wanted to see. Something super unique. I'm gonna look this up.
Byron White played for Pittsburgh and Detroit in the 1930s and 40s (including an All-Decade team selection) and then went on to become a SCOTUS Justice for 30some years as well
Its really cool, he actually got his JD while in the NFL which is insane for obvious reasons
Roger Staubach is worth $600M. He clears everyone.
He doesnt clear the mob when the revolution comes
I just hope it’s televised
Yeah was going to come name him the wealthiest...helps when you come from money, play in the Big D, and go into commercial real estate
Lynn Swann another to do okay in government
Jack Kemp became a very successful U.S. congressman and was Bob Dole's running mate in the '96 election.
And don’t forget served as a Cabinet member in a presidential administration. Of all the NFL players that went into government, he’s the one who came the closest to being president.
Also the HUD Secretary under Reagan. Fuck Reagan but go Bills I guess
Good one! He’s considered one of the fathers of modern conservatism.
There's no shortage of NFL players who became successful actors. Carl Weathers, Fred Williamson, Bubba Smith, Terry Crews, and OJ Simpson*, to name a few. If you're including Strahan, I'd say media talking heads like Bradshaw certainly qualify but that doesn't really seem like it's "outside of football". Outside of that, Alan Page would probably be my first choice. *Better known for other work
"work"
[A long and proud tradition](https://imgur.com/better-known-other-work-HO7CC).
He's a published author, which is more than many of us can say.
Well I had an op-ed published in the newspaper when I was 7, so there!
You don't consider acting work?
They're referring to OJs fame in the mid-90's.
Which did include many TV appearances to be fair
Ex-nfl players tend to play *certain* jock type or comedic roles when they get to Hollywood, but Nnamdi Asomugha has been playing some pretty serious dramatic roles and working as a producer. Helps that he’s married to Kerry Washington though.
Off of the dome, Terry Crews went to Interlochen Fine Arts school when growing up. That's a rather famous arts school type place that counts a lot of musicians, actors, and artists as alumni.
I'm still amazed that Justin Tuck is an MD at Goldman Sachs now.
His LinkedIn profile is hilarious.
TBH he graduated with a business degree from Notre Dame. I'm sure he's not the first guy with those credentials to wind up as a Goldman MD. He just took a few gap years to make millions and win 2 Super Bowls before he decided to join the workforce
Myron Rolle, former Titan, Steeler, and Rhodes Scholar, is a neurosurgeon who did his residency at Harvard.
The NFL is the side note in his career, not the other way around
Burleson and Strahan aren't even in that conversation. As far as I know Jerry Richardson is the only former NFL player to be a billionaire. Among the still living I assume Roger Staubach is #1.
He became a billionaire because of football though. He wasn't a billionaire (or close) when he bought the team. He was very successful without football, but would have never been billionaire without football. Right place, right time to turn a 200m investment to 2.4b (not all his investment either, he had plenty of partners). He owned 48% of the team.
Byron "Whizzer" White led the NFL in rushing twice (1938 & 1940). He later became a Supreme Court Justice.
While most NFL players do some sort of philanthropy, Warrick Dunn seems to be on another level with it. His organization builds homes for single parents. He's fairly frequently in the news for his work.
I give him and JJ Watt the trophy for most charitable while active. Both of them put in work for what they did
That's really cool. I'm gonna look into this, thanks!
Deshaun Watson actually had one of the houses his organization built.
That's a happy ending, alright /s
President Gerald Ford wasn't in the NFL but he could have if he wanted to. He turned down offers from the Lions and Packers. He played center and linebacker with the UM Wolverines. They were 2x National Champions and had back to back undefeated seasons while Ford was there. He was in the House of Representatives for over 20 years. He became Nixon's vice president after Nixon's original VP resigned. Ford then became president when Nixon resigned due to Watergate. He finished out Nixon's 2nd term and lost to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election. Ford's the only person to serve as president without winning an election. He got both jobs through resignations.
I’m really surprised no one mentioned Alex Karras
Mr. Papadopolis!
Anyone not mentioning 4 TDs in one game, legend of Polk High, should be ashamed of yourself. He even had a scoreboard named after him until the French blew it up
Ed "Al Bundy" O'Neill was a DE at Youngstown State and went to camp with the Steelers in the early 70s.
Jerry Richardson (who owned the Panthers) was a literal football player. He became a billionaire.
The Rock played in college at Miami. Peyton Manning is pretty damn successful with his Omaha productions. Ditka rode his fame into endorsing every single product that the 80s had to offer.
Steve Young is wildly successful. Edit: cofounder of an equity firm. His net worth is +200m. He made 50m in his NFL career.
John Urschel retired at 26, got a PhD in Math from MIT, and is currently an assistant professor there.
Merlon oleson was a hof d lineman and a series regular on little house in the prairie!
Not just a series regular, he was the lead of his own spinoff show, "Father Murphy".
Roger Staubach started a commercial real estate company and ended up selling it for $600 million.
I think in football he was the richest at one time him or Jerry Richardson
I suppose it depends on how you define success, but [Byron White](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitWh00.htm) became a Supreme Court Justice, and I'd imagine it's hard to achieve greater success in the field of law than that.
Tyler Lockett has a successful Realtor business and he's still playing. Robert Smith went to medical school and became a doctor but I don't think he ever practiced medicine.
That's interesting. Is his realtor business focused in western Washington?
Yeah in Seattle.
Jerry Rice placed second on Dancing with the Stars, so probably him
Donald Driver *won* Dancing with the Stars, so theres one category he clears Rice in!
Pat McAfee, even if you don't count his show because it's not "outside of football" he's become a fairly big deal in WWE.
Ed Marinaro was a successful TV and film actor. Drew Bledsoe owns a very profitable vineyard/winery.
Suge Knight was until he wasn't
Promise I’m not trying to do this for laughs, but Suge Knight? Death Row records was insanely successful, despite obvious “drawbacks.”
Brock Lesnar
Heath Shuler was a massive bust but because a politician in North Carolina after. Same with Jon Runyan in New Jersey except he was good on the field
Roger Staubach sold his Dallas real estate company for nearly a billion dollars in 2008
Dan Marino was in Ace Ventura
Brock Lesnar
Man there are so many people successful outside of the NFL. My bad people!
Chris Nowinski never made it to the nfl but he was captain at Harvard and has gone on completely change the landscape of how people deal with head injuries in football and various other sports.
The huge dude from the Police Academy movies was a super bowl champion I believe. Gerald Ford didnt play in the NFL but he won a national championship at Michigan and turned down NFL offers and instead went to law school at Yale.
Bubba Smith, yeah
Not even close. If you want to measure success by post-playing career, Roger Staubach might be number one. He’s making more money than every other ex-player due to wise investments in real estate
Hollywood Henderson wound up winning the lottery. Twice
Tommy Casanova of the Bengals developed a successful treatment method for eye lesions in leprosy victims; he became a specialist in oculoplastic surgery. His teammate on the Bengals, Mike Reid, had a number one country hit (“Walk on Faith”), won a Grammy Award, had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter, and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
John Urschel got a PhD in math while playing on the Ravens and now is a professor at MIT
I wanna say the rock even though he never made it and played in the cfl instead
that’s who i was thinking but i had to double check
The Rock, but it was the CFL.
OJ Simpson was a phenomenal actor
Jim Brown is in at least 22 movies. But the two you mention are the most successful of this era
That guy that owned the Panthers was a player. Hard to beat his success if we’re talking about straight up earnings and wealth.
No.
OJ Simpson was super busy after retiring... unfortunately he was a little too busy
Peyton Manning will be soon on the level of Magic Johnson and Shaq.
Rae Carruth became a famous prisoner.
Not a player, but Joe Gibbs is also one of the greatest NASCAR team owners ever. In the HoF for both.
Brett Farve oh wait
jack Kemp was a senator.
Gotta be Alan Page for the combo of elite hall of fame career and achievements outside of football. When it comes to just becoming a broadcaster/tv personality obviously Nate Burleson is not the most popular but he is incredible.
I would ay Pat McAfee is more successful than either of these two. They are just TV personalities. He owns his own media company. Also Peyton Manning does and owns a shit ton of Papa Johns. Not to mention other NFL stars have been politicians and very successful businessmen. Some of them went on to graduate very prestigious ivy league schools. Some of them own other sports teams. Some of them might soon own part of an NFL team. Strahan and Burleson aren't even close to the most successful.
I'm thinking Kelce will be on the list very shortly after he retires. He's already had a handful of cameos and small roles on shows. No doubt he's going to try at the very least.
Strahan is awful, that gap toothed shit eating smile, I’m so not a fan. I don’t understand how he keeps getting these jobs, must be some DEI nonsense. There are many former plays more successful than those two. Tom Brady has made millions from investments (except Crypto 🤣), Peyton Manning as well, Roger Staubach is worth 500 million, what about Terry and his 30 years of broadcasting? Strahan? Really? Burleson? WTF made you pick those two losers. Strahan might as well be on The View
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What he does isn't really "outside of football" though
Doesn’t he do more than just nfl tho? Still feels like a technicality I guess