Actor Terry Crews Reveals Financial Struggles During NFL Career
Playing in the National Football League Doesn’t Guarantee a Big Paycheck
Actor Terry Crews, known for his roles in movies and television shows, recently opened up about the financial challenges he faced during his time in the National Football League (NFL). Despite the fame and glory associated with professional football, Crews learned the hard way that it doesn’t always translate into a substantial income.
In 1991, Crews was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and began his NFL journey. However, over the next five years, he found himself bouncing between six different professional teams, including one in Germany. It was during a practice squad stint with the Green Bay Packers in 1993 that Crews experienced the harsh reality of his financial situation.
Living and working out in Wisconsin, Crews earned a meager $150 per week during his six-month stay. Reflecting on this period, he recently shared on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, “I would have made more money at McDonald’s. That’s the reality.”
At the time, the minimum wage was $4.25 per hour, both federally and in Wisconsin. A fast-food employee working 40 hours per week at that rate would have made $170, surpassing Crews’ weekly earnings.
Although the exact amount of money Crews made during his NFL career remains unclear, he played a total of 32 games for the Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins (now known as the Commanders). Despite his time in the league, financial stability was not guaranteed.
To supplement his income during his football career, Crews tapped into his artistic talents. When he got cut from a team, he would offer to paint portraits of his ex-teammates on the backdrop of city skylines. Charging around $5,000 per painting, this side hustle helped him make ends meet.
Today, NFL practice squad players with two seasons of experience earn a minimum of $15,400 per week, and nearly $50,000 per week when elevated to a game-day roster. However, this doesn’t necessarily equate to lifelong wealth. The average NFL career lasts just 3.3 years, and approximately 16% of professional football players go bankrupt within a decade of retiring, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
After retiring from the NFL, Crews faced even greater financial struggles. He and his wife moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career, relying on loans from a former teammate to get by. However, when the lending stopped, Crews took a job sweeping factory floors for $8 per hour.
Despite the lack of glamour in his new job, Crews saw it as a turning point. He recalls having only $64 at the end of one day and realizing, “Oh my God, I actually made this money on my own.” From that moment on, he never stopped working.
Over the years, Crews worked his way up, taking on various roles in the entertainment industry. From a $12-per-hour security guard position at movie and television studios, he eventually landed commercials, television shows, and movies, building a successful 24-year acting career.
Crews attributes his financial success to a simple mindset: pursuing jobs that he genuinely enjoys and taking pride in doing them well. According to him, money follows when there is equity and honor in one’s work.
Today, Crews is grateful for his financial stability, stating, “I have more money now than I ever had in my entire life.” His journey serves as a reminder that financial success is not solely determined by the industry one works in, but rather by the values and mindset they bring to their work.
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