I’m an NFL star who has made $52 million in career earnings – but I could have made money as Wall Street investor
A current NFL veteran could’ve earned money as a player in the Wall Street investing world.
New Orleans Saints utility player Taysom Hill has played in the NFL for eight seasons, and he’s made a name for himself.
The 34-year-old has been versatile in his time in the league, as he’s been featured as a quarterback, running back, fullback, tight end, and even a kick returner, among other special teams positions.
Hill has earned $52 million in his career thanks to his abilities, but he almost decided to leave behind his 6-foot-2, 221-pound football talents.
Hill played quarterback in college at BYU and suffered his second season-ending injury in his junior campaign in 2015.
After the injury, Hill reached the point of using his finance major at BYU’s Marriott School of Management to his advantage.
He hit the books and earned an internship at a venture capital firm called Pelion Venture Partners, which funds early-stage technology companies before they go public or even receive revenue to garner a huge return on investment.
The Idaho native declined to participate in a quarterback camp circuit and instead opted to take part in a summer of building financial models and listening in on meetings in New York with European investors.
It was at that point when Hill was beginning to wonder whether he was going to give up on his football career to pursue Wall Street.”I was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho,” Hill told USA Today in 2015. “I had no idea what went on on Wall Street, and then I started to see all these things and see the opportunities and I loved it.
“It filled the void of not being able to complete and play and all those things, but I was also able to progress in other areas of my life.”The NFL, that’s my No. 1 goal. But I’ve also had two season-ending injuries. I’m not stupid.
“I know things can change like that, and I don’t want to have something like that happen and not have anything (else).”During his time with the internship, Hill was also in meetings trying to raise capital for a new venture fund worth over $200 million.
He would go on to suffer two more season-ending injuries with the Cougars.
Hill has several college records for BYU, including rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
He would elect to pursue the NFL instead of the Wall Street world, but the constant threat of being injured caused him to go undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft.Hill would latch onto the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad in 2017 before joining the Saints in that same season- and he hasn’t looked back since.
In his second season, he posted six receiving touchdowns as a quarterback, which, of course, led the position.
Hill signed a two-year deal worth around $21 million the following year in 2020.
Then, he showcased his do-it-all skills in the 2020 campaign, completing 928 passing yards and 457 rushing yards, as well as seven rushing touchdowns, which led all quarterbacks.
Hill has earned $52 million in his career, but he’s still had the injury bug throughout his time in the league.The most recent one saw him suffer a season-ending torn ACL injury in Week 14 of the 2024 season.
Hill, who’s in the final year of his four-year, $40 million deal he signed in 2022, will hope to play in his ninth season in 2025 when he’ll be at the age of 35.
