MIAMI -- Take note of this staggering off-the-field statistic: 78 percent of NFL players go broke just two years after retirement, according to Sports Illustrated.
The average NFL salary in 2016 for players currently under contract is $2.04 million, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Many starters are making more than that amount, especially when contract bonuses are considered. Yet, various pitfalls such as poor financial planning, tax issues, overspending and bad investments have led to financial hardship for more than three-quarters of retired NFL players.