Brian Bosworth Net Worth

What is Brian Bosworth's net worth and salary?

Brian Bosworth is a former professional football player and actor who has a net worth of $8 million. Brian Bosworth, often referred to simply as "The Boz," was one of the most flamboyant and polarizing figures in 1980s football. A dominant linebacker at the University of Oklahoma, Bosworth was a two-time Butkus Award winner and a consensus All-American known as much for his outrageous persona as his on-field performance. He wore wild hairstyles, issued bold proclamations, and often clashed with authority figures, including the NCAA, which led to his suspension from the 1987 Orange Bowl for a failed steroid test. Despite the controversy, he was widely regarded as one of the best college linebackers of his era.

Bosworth entered the NFL in 1987 after a supplemental draft selection by the Seattle Seahawks. He signed a then-record 10-year, $11 million rookie contract, setting expectations sky-high. His NFL career, however, was short-lived. Plagued by shoulder injuries, Bosworth played just 24 games over three seasons before retiring in 1989. While his time in the league was brief, he remained a pop culture fixture due to his larger-than-life image.

After football, Bosworth transitioned into acting, with roles in action films like "Stone Cold" and appearances on television. Though his pro football career didn't match the hype, Bosworth's impact on college football and his enduring notoriety made him a lasting figure in sports and entertainment lore.

Contracts, Salary & Career Earnings

When Brian joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1987, he signed the largest rookie contract in NFL history up to that point, ten years at $11 million. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire after just two NFL seasons due to an injury. After leaving the NFL, Bosworth received $7 million from an NFL insurance policy, which is equal to roughly $11.5 million after adjusting for inflation today. Best of all, the $7 million was completely tax-free!

Early Life

Brian Bosworth was born in Oklahoma City on March 9th, 1965. Later, Brian Bosworth would admit that he had a strained relationship with his father and that no matter what he did, it never seemed good enough.

College Football

Brian Bosworth became a national sensation during his time at the University of Oklahoma, where he played linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners under head coach Barry Switzer in the mid-1980s. With his flamboyant personality, outrageous hairstyles, and rebellious attitude, Bosworth was as much a media phenomenon as he was a football star. But beneath the theatrics was undeniable talent—Bosworth was a relentless, punishing tackler with elite speed and field awareness. He remains the only player to win the Butkus Award—given annually to the nation's top linebacker—twice, taking the honor in both 1985 and 1986.

While Bosworth's performance on the field was extraordinary, his antics off the field generated equal attention. He frequently clashed with the NCAA, criticizing what he viewed as an exploitative system that restricted athletes' rights while profiting from their labor. His dissent culminated in a notorious incident during the 1987 Orange Bowl, when he wore a T-shirt during warmups that read: "NCAA: National Communists Against Athletes." The act, paired with a failed drug test that revealed steroid use, led to his suspension from the game and eventual dismissal from the team.

In later years, Bosworth publicly alleged rampant misconduct within the Oklahoma football program, including drug use and players firing guns in the locker room. Though some initially dismissed these claims as self-serving, later investigations lent credibility to many of his assertions. Despite the controversy, Bosworth left college as one of the most decorated—and divisive—defensive players in NCAA history.

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NFL Career

Despite his polarizing college reputation, Brian Bosworth entered the 1987 NFL supplemental draft with enormous hype. Because he had graduated a year early from the University of Oklahoma, he was eligible to go pro despite being suspended from the Orange Bowl. True to his anti-establishment image, Bosworth sent letters to multiple teams declaring he would refuse to sign if drafted, reportedly expressing interest only in playing for the Los Angeles Raiders.

The Seattle Seahawks defied his warnings and selected him anyway. They ultimately secured his services with a then-record 10-year, $11 million rookie contract—the largest in team history and the most lucrative rookie deal the league had ever seen. The contract alone made headlines, and Bosworth's arrival in Seattle was met with a media frenzy.

On the field, Bosworth made an immediate impact as a middle linebacker, starting 24 games over two seasons and becoming known for his aggressive play, sideline-to-sideline speed, and intense swagger. Off the field, he embraced his heel persona, engaging in trash talk and theatrics that blurred the line between sports and spectacle. He even capitalized on the backlash, selling tens of thousands of T-shirts—worn by opposing fans—with slogans like "Ban the Boz," turning his own mockery into profit.

However, his career was short-lived. A serious shoulder injury, which team doctors said gave him the joints of a man in his 60s, forced him into early retirement after the 1989 season. Though his NFL stint was brief, Bosworth's outsized persona and the intense attention he drew made him one of the most memorable characters of 1980s football.

After Football

Following his abrupt NFL exit, Brian Bosworth reinvented himself in multiple arenas. He published an autobiography titled "The Boz" in 1988, which chronicled his turbulent football career and media persona with a mix of bravado and candor. The book offered fans an unfiltered look at both his rise and downfall.

Bosworth then transitioned into acting, beginning with the 1991 action film "Stone Cold," in which he played a tough undercover cop. Though critically panned, the film gained cult status and marked the start of his entertainment career. He went on to appear in a string of action movies and television roles, most notably as a prison guard in the 2005 Adam Sandler comedy "The Longest Yard."

In 2014, Bosworth was the subject of the ESPN "30 for 30" documentary "Brian and the Boz." The film explored the contrast between his flamboyant public persona and the private toll his fame and injuries took on him. Through candid interviews, Bosworth reflected on the duality of being both a college football legend and a cautionary tale. The documentary was widely praised for its introspection and helped reframe Bosworth's legacy as more than just hype—it revealed a man grappling with expectations, identity, and redemption.

Personal Life

Brian Bosworth married Katherine Nicastro in 1993, and the couple had three children together before divorcing in 2006. He has largely kept details of his family life private, though he has spoken publicly about his Christian faith and personal growth following his football and acting careers. Bosworth has also been involved in various charitable and motivational endeavors, often speaking at churches, schools, and rehabilitation centers about overcoming adversity and redefining personal identity beyond fame.

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