Being a professional athlete can certainly take a toll on the body, but it is financially rewarding. If you are familiar with American football, you understand how much tussling goes into every training session, and of course, game. And today, we will be discussing one of the NFL’s finest, Sam Darnold.
NFL Quarterback Sam Darnold’s net worth is estimated at over $20 million by 2020.
Here’s all we know about the NFL star and the amount of money that goes into his account for his prowess on the field.
Who is Sam Darnold?
Sam was born in Dana Point, California, on June 5, 1997. The athlete doesn’t have a rags-to-riches story as he seemed to have a pretty straightforward start. It was almost like he had everything figured out because he started playing basketball in high school.
He was the South Coast League’s most valuable player while in high school. Sam didn’t, however, pursue a career in basketball because his coach realized that his powerful rebound and shooting abilities would be more useful in a different sport.
Sam’s high school football teacher recorded clips of the athlete playing basketball. He then used those videos to help Sam apply for scholarships in many colleges. These clips got him noticed, landing him football scholarship offers from prestigious college teams such as Utah, Oregon, and Duke.
He was eventually accepted to study at the University of South Carolina and play college football in 2015. However, Sam remained a redshirt for a year before eventually making his debut against the Utah Utes in 2016. Although his team lost, Darnold completed 18-of-26 passes.
In 2018, he took the bold step of applying for the NFL draft. People say that you have to go after what you want, and Sam did just that by enrolling for the draft.
It paid off because he came in third for the New York Jets. His deal with the team included a $30.5 million signup bonus with a $2.7 million salary. The contract ran for four years and ended in 2022.
Sam Darnold’s endorsements
Athletes tend to have many endorsement deals because brands are always looking to leverage their influence. In 2021, Sam Darnold had no endorsements–which could sound odd for a rising start like him– but the answer was simple.
Sam hasn’t spent a lot of years outside of college football, so brands were still accessing him. However, in 2022, people were expecting him to sign new deals since his career went up at a steady pace.