The National Football League or NFL is famous among many who enjoy the energetic game of football. The NFL itself is a platform for many high school athletes who want to continue their careers in football.
Players not only earn a hefty sum after being drafted in the NFL but also achieve greatness among millions of football enthusiasts. Some players garner all the success they got in their field and live the rest of their retirement cherishing those memories.
However, some of them continue to extend their success as a lawyer. We will be sharing about a few former NFL players who are also successful lawyers.
Alan Page
The first name on the list is the legendary NFL player, Alan Page. He was one of the renowned NFL players who played for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He played through fourteen glorious seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1981 with nine pro bowls and a name of himself in the NFL Hall of Fame.
While still playing in the field, Page joined the University of Minnesota and got his J.D. degree.
After his degree, he served for five years before working as an Attorney general in Minnesota. His hard work and fairness paid off as he got elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. He became the first African American in that post.
Though he retired in 2015, he was still awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 for his contributions.
Cris Collinsworth
The star footballer of the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL, Cris Collinsworth, is another player on the list. He played eight seasons as the wide receiver of the Bengals, from his first draft in 1981 to his retirement until 1988.
After having a glorious career in the NFL, the former player started his second inning of life in the law sector. He then enrolled in the University of Cincinnati College of Law and graduated with a J.D. degree, which made him eligible to work in law and enforcement.
The former star initially planned to work as a tax law attorney, but he joined the sports broadcasting sector. Things turned out well for him even as a broadcaster as he has sixteen Emmys to his name.
Bryon White
Bryon White is another NFL player who decided to take his enthusiasm from the football field to the courtroom.
White had a very brief but successful career in football as the halfback player of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Lions. He was even one of the highest-paid players of his time.
While still an NFL star, White was also pursuing to be a lawyer in the Yale Law School. He used the money earned from his games to pay for his tuition.
Things were going fine until White joined the Navy to take part in the war. After returning from war, he retired from playing games and instead completed his studies.
White then worked for fifteen years in Graham & Stubbs before being appointed to the Supreme Court by former President John Kennedy. He became the longest-serving judge who was famous for his fair judgments based on facts.
Steve Young
The quarterback of the famous NFL teams of NFL like Los Angeles Express, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers, Steve Young is also one of the former NFL stars who found success in the law and enforcement sector.
Young played a total of fifteen seasons before retiring in 1999. Along with his football career, Young was also continuing his studies in the law. He got a J.D. degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School from Brigham Young University in 1994. It made him eligible for working in the law sector.
Dwayne Woodruff
The list of the NFL star turned lawyer continues with the cornerback legend of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dwayne Woodruff.
Woodruff had an extraordinary career in football, where he led his team to win the Super Bowl XIV.
While playing as a footballer, Woodruff also enrolled in Duquesne University School of Law, from where he earned his J.D. degree. For the last three of his career in the NFL, Woodruff balanced his career in both law and football before making his decision in 1990 to join the law sector permanently.
He then founded Woodruff & Lagerty, PC. He worked there until he became a judge in Pennsylvania.
Martin Jenkins
Martin Jenkins is another former NFL player who had a great career before and after starting their second inning in life.
Though being a skilled defensive back of the Seattle Seahawks, Jenkins always wanted to pursue a career in law because of an incident that occurred in his life.
When he was a kid, his mother got hurt in an accident. At that time, a lawyer fought for her and her compensation. From that moment, Jenkins wanted to be a lawyer.
His dream later came true when his coach Pat Malley encouraged him to pursue law after watching him defend his fellow teammates during their disciplinary action. Mallet then introduced Jenkins to three African American attorneys, who guided him through his journey in the University of San Francisco School of law.
Jenkins then graduated with a degree and started his second career in law. He then worked for many superior courts and appeal courts before retiring in 2019.
Brad Culpepper
The last player turned lawyer on the list is the All-American defensive back of college football, Brad Culpepper.
Culpepper was a promising player from his college days, where he played for the Florida Gators. Later, he got picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1992 NFL draft. He not only played for the Vikings but also joined other teams like the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his nine seasons in the NFL.
He had an active football career till 2000 when he finally decided to retire and start his journey in the law sector. To this day, he has continued his career in the law in the Culpepper Kurland Law Firm as a trial attorney.
Final Words
These former NFL players are not on the ground, but their fans respect them more than ever. These former star players have shown great sincerity by joining the law sector. It proves that they are not only good players but also good human beings. Though their time on the field has ended, they are still trying their hardest to give back to their community.
