Joe Burrow Thinks 1st-Round Picks Can Literally “Retire” After Year 4

Joe Burrow appeared on Cincinnati Bengals teammate Ja’Marr Chase’s newly launched podcast, Overtime, and discussed how first-round athletes can retire after just four years.

Most first-rounders sign guaranteed contracts north of 10 million. Burrow argued that amount of money is enough to lead a decent life. Joe Burrow said on Overtime:

That first rookie deal, just try to live off your endorsement money. You’ll make enough off the field to live.

However, life in the NFL is uncertain. One moment a player is drafted first overall, and a few years later they are out of the league. It’s also common for former players to file for bankruptcy in retirement. Burrow added:

You see guys that spend a lot of their rookie-deal money, and then they end up stinking and don’t get a second deal.

Joe Burrow says 1st round draft pick rookies should just live entirely off endorsement money and they would be financially capable of retiring after their 4th season

“That first rookie deal, just try to live off your endorsement money. You’ll make enough off the field to live.… pic.twitter.com/A7IzKLOhHa

— Josh Chambers (@JoshChambers) September 2, 2026

Joe Burrow advises new NFL athletes to be smart about their expenditure  

According to a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, 15.7% of NFL players filed for bankruptcy within twelve years of retiring. A Sports Illustrated article reports that 78% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players face serious financial hardships after retirement.

Research shows players tend to let loose when they start making top dollar. And that habit stays with them even after retirement, when they earn less than before but maintain their flamboyant lifestyle. Without landing another high-paying job, the money runs out quickly, and they file for bankruptcy.

This is partly the reason Gen-Z athletes are leaning toward lucrative NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals in college. Recently, a few returned to college even after spending time on an NFL team, fearing they might get cut on roster lock-down day. Playing in the NFL is every football player’s dream, but at the end of the day it’s about earning good money.

Burrow argued that athletes should focus on limiting their expenses on a rookie contract. His advice for the newcomers is to “live off endorsements.” Burrow said:

If you’re a first-round pick, you should be able to retire after playing four years of football if you live just on the off-the-field money and live within your means.

Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski followed this method. He succeeded despite not being drafted in the first round. Gronk won four Super Bowls and positioned himself to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Jalen Hurts is another great example. The former Bama man was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a four-year $6.3 million rookie contract, or just over $1 million/year.

He spent about $90, 000 on clothing and charity and set aside $70,000 to send his sister to college. Hurts led the Eagles to multiple Super Bowl appearances and won the 2024-25 final. He won the best player award.

Meanwhile, Joe Burrow is entering his seventh year in the NFL. In 2023, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the Bengals, $55 million/year.

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