🌎 NFL Stars Taking Bitcoin Salaries

NFL Stars Who Took the Leap into Bitcoin Salaries

When NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. announced in 2021 that he would take his entire $4.25 million Los Angeles Rams salary for the 2021-2022 season in Bitcoin, many were skeptical. But for Beckham Jr., it was a “new era.”

“It’s a NEW ERA & to kick that off I’m hyped to announce that I’m taking my new salary in bitcoin thanks to @CashApp. To ALL MY FANS out there, no matter where u r: THANK YOU! I’m giving back a total of $1M in BTC rn too.”

To celebrate, Beckham Jr. gave away $1 million in Bitcoin to fans via X (formerly known as Twitter). Fast-forward to earlier this month, Beckham Jr. expressed his satisfaction with his decision.

NFL Players Embracing Bitcoin Salaries

Beckham Jr. wasn’t alone in this cryptocurrency craze. He’s just one athlete on a growing roster of NFL players keen on swapping greenbacks for so-called digital gold.

Russell Okung: The NFL’s Crypto Pioneer

Russell Okung, an offensive tackle, converted half his $13 million salary into Bitcoin in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers. His announcement, “Paid in Bitcoin,” went viral, positioning him as the NFL’s crypto pioneer.

“When I said ‘pay me in Bitcoin’, it was just the beginning.”

Today, Okung is one of the founders of Bitball, a sports league venture that pays participating athletes in crypto.

Other NFL Players Who Made the Switch

Sean Culkin, a tight end with the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, became the first NFL player to convert his entire NFL salary into Bitcoin upon joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021.

Trevor Lawrence, a quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, signed with Blockfolio, a cryptocurrency portfolio tracking app, in 2021. Lawrence was rumored to have had his signing bonus paid entirely in cryptocurrency, although this was later clarified as a separate deal from his $24 million NFL contract.

Aaron Rodgers, Saquon Barkley, and Demario Davis have also expressed interest in or partnered with cryptocurrency platforms, with some choosing to receive part of their NFL salary in Bitcoin.

Crypto’s End Zone: Fumbling or Scoring Big?

While these NFL stars made headlines for their Bitcoin paydays, the timing wasn’t exactly clutch. Bitcoin is enjoying all-time highs now, but recall its sharp nosedive after November 2021. By mid-2022, Bitcoin’s value had fallen below $20,000, highlighting the risks of volatile investments, especially for those like NFL stars embracing crypto salaries.

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