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Russell Okung has no regrets about deciding to be paid in bitcoin. The two-time Pro Bowler previously played for the Carolina Panthers when he made history as the first NFL player to receive part of his salary in bitcoin, according to Sports Illustrated. In 2020, he decided to accept half of his $13 million salary in bitcoin, converting the $6.5 million at market rates and receiving 240 bitcoins. no more broke athletes. no more lost generational wealth. pay me in bitcoin pic.twitter.com/ZqTM0Y1fsC — OKUNG 🐆 (@RussellOkung) November 13, 2024 “I’m looking at Bitcoin. I’m talking to this young kid, young Silicon Valley type. We’re talking about me being paid in Bitcoin. I’m giving ’em the vision, but how will we do it,” Okung recalled in a video clip shared on X. “They’re not willing to adjust the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners. So what can I do to get the Carolina Panthers to play ball? Here’s the power of Bitcoin with U.S. dollars. You have to rely...
Jayden Daniels’ mother, Regina Jackson, has followed in her son’s NFL footsteps, but in a different capacity as a certified sports agent . Jackson passed the NFL Players Association’s agent exam in late July, officially becoming an NFLPA-certified agent within the past month. Based on conversations around the league, CBS Sports reported that she is likely the first parent of a top-three NFL draft pick to earn the certification. “For her, taking the agent’s test is because she wants to be knowledgeable and helping her son and guiding him through his NFL career,” Denise White, a public relations expert who works with the Daniels family, told CBS Sports. “It’s important for her to have all that knowledge so she can give her son guidance, which will help him focus on the field and she can help focus off the field for him.” While Jackson is now a certified agent, she is not one of Daniels’ official representatives. The Washington Commanders quarterback is represented by four agents from...
Many NFL players shine on the field, but not all translate that success into thriving businesses — Zaire Franklin is making it happen. The Indianapolis Colts linebacker has teamed up with his longtime mentor, Eric Taylor, to open a Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard franchise. Taylor was coaching youth football in Philadelphia, PA, when he met a 9-year-old Franklin, and their bond quickly developed. While he acknowledges that it may sound “crazy” for an adult to have much in common with a younger person, that’s exactly what it was like when he met Franklin. “I think the basis and foundation of our relationship comes with the love of our grandmothers,” Taylor shared in an interview with AFROTECH™ . “At the time, when Zaire was a young guy, his grandmother was instrumental in his life. She was at all the football games, she was very supportive.” Taylor had a similar bond with his own grandmother, so when Franklin lost both his mother and grandmother just months apart in 2013, their...
Jaylen Brown has designed courses that champion STEM education to empower students. As the founder of the 7uice Foundation, he aims to create better educational outcomes for underserved youth of color, with support from institutions, organizations, and social change leaders, its website mentions. Its four pillars include: Entrepreneurship and financial literacy Health and wellness Leadership and activism Sustainability and technology The foundation also offers a Bridge Program in partnership with MIT’s Media Lab with a four-day camp held during the summer for students in eighth through 12th grade. Brown designed a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum for the program, which includes space exploration, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence, as he revealed during a conversation on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” “I designed a curriculum over at MIT pretty much every summer… I take kids from Dorchester, from Roxbury, from underrepresented...
Former NFL player Terrell Davis had to get rid of an accountant for being unethical. During an interview with AFROTECH™, the two-time Super Bowl champion reflects on early financial decisions he made during his foray into the league. He had been drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1995 and entered into a three-year deal, worth $484,000, which included a $38,000 signing bonus, per Spotrac. “When I first got into the league, there was no financial education. It was just trying to figure things out the best way you could and that was it,” he mentioned. “There was no one who came up to me and told me, ‘Here’s the plan. Let’s do X, let’s do Y, let’s do Z.’ There was none of that. So I had to look around and just watch people and see what they were doing.” Among Davis’ lessons included the importance of hiring the right team to help him navigate the business of being an athlete. Early on, he worked with an advisor, who he was referred to by another individual. It became clear the advisor...
When Malcolm Jenkins secured stake in England’s Burnley FC, he made history in the process. Sports Illustrated reported the three-time Pro Bowl safety became an investor — through Malcolm INC and Disrupt Sports Partners — in the Burnley, Lancashire-based professional team within the English Premier League (EPL) back in 2021. He joined the new ownership group, ALK Capital. Jenkins, playing for the New Orleans Saints at the time, saw the opportunity as a perfect alignment to values that have been central to his business portfolio, noted a press release. He pointed to the club’s “tenacity, work ethic, good sportsmanship and efficient operational infrastructure.” His decision was finalized following a visit to the team’s Turf Moor stadium in England before watching the team, nicknamed “The Clarets,” play against Manchester City. “I think the club’s doing a great job with some of the updates around the stadium and to see the vision of where they want to go in creating a venue that’s not...
Reggie Bush is taking legal action against several organizations he claims failed to acknowledge his contributions when they benefited from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) . According to ESPN, Bush, a former USC running back and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, announced the lawsuit on Monday against the university, the Pac-12, and the NCAA . His legal team claims the organizations profited significantly from Bush’s popularity through TV contracts, merchandise sales, and media rights — even after he went to the NFL. “This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush,” said attorney Evan Selik, per the outlet. “It’s about setting a precedent for the fair treatment of all college athletes. Our goal is to rectify this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated, and treated fairly for their contributions.” Bush completed his college football career and entered the NFL draft in 2006, when the New Orleans Saints selected him as...
History was made on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, as the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders faced off in the first NFL game featuring women-led teams. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, The Raiders are led by Sandra Douglass Morgan, the first Black and Asian woman to serve as an NFL team president, taking over from Dan Ventrelle. The Panthers are led by Kristi Coleman, who replaced Tom Glick as president. The Panthers defeated the Raiders 36-22 on Sunday. Photo Credit: Louis Grasse Coleman was named president in February 2022, followed by Morgan in July of that year. According to the Raiders, the two women have formed a strong professional relationship over the past two seasons, with Morgan even joining Coleman for the Panthers’ International Women’s Day celebration in 2023. “You do feel a little bit more comfortable when you have someone else you can call,” Coleman shared, per the Panthers. “While Charlotte and Vegas are obviously two very different markets, the role and what you’re...
Marquise Brown doesn’t want to have any regrets when his NFL career comes to an end. The Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver has met with various retired NFL players, and it has served as a reminder of what he can do now to maximize his time in the league. Brown was drafted in 2019 by the Baltimore Ravens as a 25th pick in the first round, the NFL mentioned. He then played for the Arizona Cardinals and now is on the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster, signed to a one-year, $7 million contract, which includes a $3 million signing bonus and $6.5 million guaranteed, per Spotrac. He intends on leveraging his contracts to create a better life for himself, family, and other players in the league considering life beyond the field. “I got pulled aside by so many retired NFL legends talking to me about what they should have done differently, what they wish they did. With me being in the league, I don’t want to be a guy to do this when I’m done. I want to be a guy to do this now. Not just for my...
Denver Broncos fans are investing into outside linebacker Baron Browning. Browning has been tied to the team since he was drafted to the league in 2021. He was the 105th overall pick in the third round, notes NFL.com. He is signed to a four-year deal worth $4,785,852, which includes a $840,620 signing bonus and $840,620 guaranteed, according to Spotrac. After draft day, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said , “He’s a good athlete, runs really well, and has versatility. We like his speed and like his athleticism. We think he will be a major contributor on special teams and compete for one of the linebacker spots.” Fans are also placing their faith and dollars into Browning. The 6-foot-3 linebacker has aligned himself with Vestible, an athlete investment platform that allows individuals to purchase shares in an athlete’s career or journey, their website states. This can permit fans to invest according to their own perception of an athlete’s worth and influence on their teams. View this...
The 2024 NFL is in full swing, but players are still finalizing deals and securing contracts. One of the most lucrative deals recently announced was that of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott entered the league in 2016 as the round four, 135th pick. In the 2023-2024 season, he completed 410 passes for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns. This level of play has made him a mainstay for the Cowboys organization, prompting high-level negotiations for his most recent contract. According to Spotrac data, Prescott inked a four-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys worth $240 million. The contract includes a $80 million signing bonus and guarantees totaling $231 million, with an average annual income of $60 million. For the 2024 season, Prescott is set to receive a base salary of $1.25 million, along with the $80 million signing bonus. The contract extension was completed after the season-opener vs. the Cleveland Browns. However, the 31-year-old athlete didn’t let the lingering deal...
Edy Lawson-Jackson has made history in the NFL alongside her daughter, Samira, according to The Baltimore Sun. Growing up in Baltimore, MD, Lawson-Jackson had many dreams, including wanting to pursue ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics. These early aspirations fueled her activities in the band, track and field, as well as becoming homecoming queen. With discipline and creativity as part of her makeup, she developed a passion for writing, language, and history, which ultimately sparked her goal to become a sports and entertainment lawyer. After graduating from Baltimore City College in 1986, she attended Howard University, where she earned a juris doctor degree in 1993, per the outlet. The “Charm City” native also gained experience as an intern under a sports entertainment attorney at a law firm. That same year, despite being in the final stages of pregnancy and experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions with Samira, she took and passed the Pennsylvania bar exam on the first try. “Listen...
The 2024 NFL season has begun, but there’s one person making noise off the field that is impacting the game. Sports agent David Mulugheta had reportedly made history as the first agent in the league to negotiate more than $1 billion in NFL contracts in one year, per his reps. According to Forbes, the 41-year-old has 86 clients and $1.3 billion in contract deals under his portfolio. As the president of team sports at Athletes First, Mulugheta has cemented himself as one of the most sought-after agents in the industry. However, this wasn’t something he had anticipated in his life. Based on a USA TODAY profile, Mulugheta never planned on becoming an NFL agent. As a kid, he didn’t play football and wasn’t even aware of what a sports agent did. His original goal was to become an entrepreneur or work in corporate law. “When kids see someone who looks like them in these roles, they think, ‘OK, that’s something I might be able to do,’” Mulugheta said. “I never saw anybody that looked like...
Being in the NFL shifted Brandon Copeland’s perspective on money. Entrepreneur reports Copeland was raised in an environment that supported his journey in sports as a child. However it came because his mother chose not to spend money on extras like soda from a fast food restaurant or candy at the store. His understanding of money would be shaped while he attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and interned at Union Bank of Switzerland, but it was further strengthened when he signed on to play for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens in 2013. The league’s Players Association informed him about benefits that include a matched 401(k). “I had to make it to the Baltimore Ravens to learn what a 401(k) is,” Copeland told the outlet. “This is a tool that most people who interact with an employer may have the ability to use, but who taught my mom about a 401(k)? Who taught my brother about a 401(k)? Who taught anyone I love about these things that are just real facts of...
NFL quarterback Caleb Williams made an unconventional ask in his rookie contract. Williams is signed to the Chicago Bears as a first-round draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN reports. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) The outlet added that the stakes are at an all-time high at the moment, as the team has not had an All-Pro since 1939. The team is currently working to ensure Williams is prepared for the 2024 season in training camp, which began July 20, 2024. Athlon Sports mentioned that Williams is expected to start in the preseason game against the Houston Texans on August 1, 2024. “You can just tell he’s in a better space,” D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears’ running back, said, per NBC Sports. “That comes along with time. Getting a better understanding of the offense. He had time off, so he had more time to study the offense. So you can tell he’s made strides since he’s been back [from the break]. I know he’s got a lot on his plate, a lot being...