Bernie Kosar decided to play college football at the University of Miami after being named one of the top baseball players in his high school class. When Kosar initially played for the Cleveland Browns, he sustained numerous injuries. The team let him go because of his ‘diminishing skills’.
Kosar later agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Kosar played for the Miami Dolphins for several years before his retirement.
Following his retirement, Kosar pursued a variety of entrepreneurial endeavors, including the founding of Bernie’s Insiders Publishing House and Bernie’s Steakhouse, both located in South Miami, Florida. He also holds a stake in the Florida Panthers, an NHL team.
Bernie Kosar’s Net Worth in 2024
The net worth of former American football quarterback Bernie Kosar is $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In the NFL, Bernie Kosar competed from 1985 to 1996.
Sadly, Bernie Kosar is only one of many former professional players who have gone through severe financial struggles or even broke during their retirement years, as we have detailed throughout this post.
A significant part of the ESPN documentary series “30 for 30” was devoted to Bernie in the episode “Broke.” In the episode, Bernie disclosed that he had once discovered his father had a side contract with the Cleveland Browns that paid the father $1 million, in addition to using some of his NFL earnings to pay mortgages and auto payments.
As we go into further depth in this piece, Bernie himself made several poor investments that led to a string of financial difficulties, which finally resulted in his filing for bankruptcy in 2009.
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How Kosar Got into the NFL
Even among the most ardent Browns supporters, Kosar is still a fan favorite despite not winning a Super Bowl. He forced his way into the Browns and played his first nine years there as a former number-one choice in the 1985 supplemental draft. During his first five years in the league, Kosar even led them to the playoffs, advancing three times to the conference championship game.
When Kosar accepted a hefty $15 million extension with the Browns in the summer of 1989, he became one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. When Kosar first became well-known, he handled his financial affairs as practically any other professional athlete would if they had an accountant or legal counsel.
In Bernie’s instance, he trusted his father to protect his money, but years later, he was caught siphoning it off without his consent. Nevertheless, Kosar earned almost $20 million upon retiring from the NFL following 13 seasons and one Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys.
How Kosar Became Insolvent
When Kosar retired, he made investments in a variety of companies. He owned a minority stake in the Arena Football League and a portion of the Florida Panthers. The news that the legendary Browns player had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 stunned many.
The fact that he only had $44 in his checking account and owed other people a surprising amount of money is even more concerning.
Kosar owed around $14 million in total. The Browns received $1,000,000, his ex-wife Babette received $3,000,000, and the Arena Football League received $700,000. A far cry from the millions he was able to earn as a gridiron player.
Bernie Kosar’s Earnings
At the age of fifty-nine, Bernard Joseph “Bernie” Kosar Jr. is leading a rather low-key existence despite having had a lengthy and prosperous NFL career.
He was a key member of teams that won one Super Bowl and two AFC titles during his tenure in the National Football League. Having received four Pro Bowl invitations and earning an estimated gross revenue of over $18 million during his 15-year career, he resigned from sports in 1996.
He continued to be involved in business and entrepreneurship after retiring, all the while keeping close ties to Cleveland’s sports culture. Since then, his investments have probably had some upswings.
Bernie has embraced life after going all in on the field as if it were just another part of the game plan, setting himself (and others) up for continued success! Had he stayed around for another five seasons, he very well could be counting cash flow alongside some of today’s biggest stars!
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