Brendon Ayanbadejo

Brendon’s NFL income rose when he was traded to the Chicago Bears, but between taxes and repaying debts, there wasn’t much left over. He had few assets beyond his NFL pension and 401(k) plan. “It was a grind. I didn’t have the luxury to sit back and rest.”

He became friends with the Bears starting linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer. While still playing for the Bears, Hunter was enrolled at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. “Hunter played in the Super Bowl and had three years left on his contract, but he was already working on what’s next after football.” His perseverance made an indelible impression on Brendon.

The silver lining to an injury

Brendon’s most lucrative offer, a $4.9 million four-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, came in 2008. Then the Pro Bowler blew out his knee part of the way into the 2009 season. When Brendon was sidelined with his injury, he remembered Hunter’s example. “I took the entrance exam for business school and started classes while I was rehabbing. I graduated with my M.B.A. from George Washington University in 2013, the same year we won the Super Bowl.” 

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