Maurice Clarett Net Worth

What is Maurice Clarett's Net Worth?

Maurice Clarett is an American entrepreneur, motivational speaker, behavioral health advocate, and former football player who has a net worth of $500 thousand.

Maurice Clarett became nationally famous during one extraordinary season at Ohio State University, where he rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns as a freshman while helping the Buckeyes win the 2002 national championship. His football career unraveled almost immediately afterward. Clarett was suspended by Ohio State, unsuccessfully challenged the NFL's draft eligibility rules in federal court, was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and was released before ever playing a regular-season NFL game.

His life subsequently deteriorated amid substance abuse, debt, armed robbery charges, weapons offenses, and a prison sentence. After his release in 2010, Clarett briefly returned to football with the United Football League's Omaha Nighthawks before beginning a much more significant second career. He founded The Red Zone, a behavioral health organization in Youngstown, Ohio, and developed businesses and programs focused on mental health, addiction recovery, youth services, criminal justice reform, and community development. He has also become a nationally active motivational speaker, using the collapse of his football career and his time in prison as the foundation for his work.

Early Life and High School

Maurice Edward Clarett was born on October 29, 1983, in Youngstown, Ohio. He first attended Austintown-Fitch High School, where he played varsity football as a freshman.

Clarett later transferred to Warren G. Harding High School and developed into one of the country's most highly recruited running backs. His combination of size, speed, and power attracted offers from major college football programs before he ultimately committed to Ohio State.

Ohio State and National Championship

Clarett became an immediate star for the Buckeyes in 2002 under head coach Jim Tressel. Despite missing several games with injuries, he rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns as Ohio State completed an undefeated regular season.

The Buckeyes advanced to the Fiesta Bowl to face defending national champion Miami for the BCS National Championship.

Clarett made two of the game's defining plays. After Miami safety Sean Taylor intercepted an Ohio State pass, Clarett chased him down and stripped the ball away, allowing the Buckeyes to retain possession. Later, in overtime, Clarett scored what became the winning touchdown.

Ohio State defeated Miami 31-24 in double overtime, completing a 14-0 season and winning its first national championship in more than three decades.

Clarett never played another college football game.

His relationship with Ohio State deteriorated amid disputes with coaches and administrators and an NCAA investigation into improper benefits and misleading statements. Clarett was suspended for the entire 2003 season and eventually left the university.

NFL Lawsuit

Rather than wait until he satisfied the NFL's rule requiring players to be three years removed from high school, Clarett sued the league for the right to enter the 2004 NFL Draft.

A federal district court initially ruled in his favor, briefly appearing to open the draft to younger players. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the decision, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

The ruling kept Clarett out of the 2004 draft. The NCAA also denied his attempt to regain college eligibility.

After more than two years away from organized football, Clarett prepared for the 2005 NFL Combine. His performance was disappointing and raised questions about his conditioning and preparedness.

Denver Broncos

Despite the concerns, the Denver Broncos selected Clarett with the final pick of the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, 101st overall.

Clarett agreed to an unusual incentive-heavy contract. Rather than taking a conventional signing bonus, he gave up guaranteed money in exchange for the possibility of significantly larger payments if he became a productive NFL player.

The gamble failed.

Clarett struggled with conditioning and injuries during training camp and was released before the regular season. He never appeared in an NFL game.

By the following month, Clarett was reportedly carrying approximately $1 million in debt, much of it related to legal fees from his battle with the NFL.

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Legal Troubles and Prison

Clarett's life deteriorated rapidly after his NFL career ended.

In January 2006, he was accused of robbing two people at gunpoint outside a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio. He turned himself in to police and was later indicted on aggravated robbery and related charges.

Several months later, police attempted to stop Clarett after he made an illegal U-turn. A chase followed. When officers eventually arrested him, they discovered multiple loaded firearms and other weapons in his vehicle. Clarett was wearing a bullet-resistant vest at the time.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the possibility of early release.

Prison became the turning point in Clarett's life. He took college courses, read extensively about psychology, business, finance, and personal development, and began confronting the substance abuse and mental health problems that had contributed to his collapse.

He was granted early release in April 2010.

Omaha Nighthawks

Following his release, Clarett attempted a football comeback with the United Football League's Omaha Nighthawks.

His first appearance represented his first organized football game in roughly eight years. During the 2010 season, Clarett rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown and caught 12 passes for 98 yards.

It was his only season in the UFL and marked the end of his competitive football career.

The Red Zone and Business Career

Clarett subsequently began building a career around many of the problems that had derailed his own life.

In 2016, he founded The Red Zone in Youngstown, Ohio. The behavioral health organization provides mental health treatment, addiction and recovery services, counseling, youth programs, and other forms of support.

The organization grew substantially. By 2020, ESPN reported that The Red Zone employed more than 100 people and served roughly 700 children and several hundred adults.

Clarett has also pursued other businesses, including trucking, consulting, real estate, and community-development projects. His later work has included efforts to create housing and support services for people facing difficult transitions.

Mental Health and Criminal Justice Advocacy

Clarett developed a national career as a motivational speaker and advocate.

He has spoken to college athletic programs, professional organizations, businesses, schools, prisons, youth football programs, and community groups about mental health, addiction, decision-making, rehabilitation, and personal responsibility.

Clarett has also become involved in criminal justice reform, drawing on his own experience with incarceration to advocate for rehabilitation and better support for people returning to society.

His story was featured prominently in ESPN's "30 for 30" documentary "Youngstown Boys," which examined both Clarett's rise and fall and his complicated relationship with the business of college football.

In 2025, Ohio State's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health honored Clarett with its STAR Award for his work surrounding trauma, resilience, and mental health.

Clarett has also written about his experiences, including in "One and Done: How My Life Started When My Football Career Ended." His post-football career has ultimately lasted far longer than the playing career that originally made him famous.

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