George Kittle did not get paid to play college football at the University of Iowa like the athletes today. He was drafted into the NFL four years before NIL was codified into law by the NCAA.
However, the superstar tight end has made a lot of money with the San Francisco 49ers and very quickly learned how to manage it with the help of U.S. Bank.
Kittle would like to share that advice with the next generation of NFL athletes. He recently spoke about the current landscape of college football and the role of finance in his own life during an exclusive conversation with BroBible.
College football players are taking pay cuts in the NFL.
Name, Image and Likeness was first introduced in 2021 as a way for athletes to make money while still in school. They were finally allowed to profit from things like sponsored posts on social media, public appearances, and marketing campaigns. It was long overdue. There was just one problem.
The rules were vague, if not nonexistent, and the NCAA does not have enough power to enforce them.
As a result, NIL (and now the introduction of revenue share) has become pay-for-play. Schools are able to pay their athletes directly, as if they are professionals, without a salary cap or guidelines. And the “NIL” deals with “outside parties” are just a legal loophole to pay them even more money on top of what they are making from the school directly. Players are getting paid an absurd amount of money.
Take Riley Leonard and Will Howard, for example. The former Notre Dame and Ohio State quarterbacks made more money during their senior year of college than they will on their rookie contracts in the NFL.
Carson Beck is another example. He made approximately $4 million at Miami last season for less than a full year of work. His first NFL contract with the Arizona Contract will pay him approximately $7.4 million over four years as a third-round pick. His annual salary from the 2025-26 college season is cut in half!
There are also players who made money in college, whatever amount that may be, that won’t play on the next level. Others will only get to experience minicamp or training camp before they are cut.
George Kittle did not get NIL money!
The San Francisco 49ers drafted George Kittle with the No. 146 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, four years before NIL came to exist. He signed a four-year deal worth $2.69 million as a rookie but the money was contingent on whether or not he made the roster.
It obviously worked out for him! George and his wife Claire have built an incredible life together.
Kittle caught more than 600 passes for ~8,500 yards and 50+ touchdowns in 124 games over the last nine seasons. The 49ers signed him to a new four-year contract worth $76.4 million with $40 million guaranteed in April 2025. He made a lot of money in the NFL. And that doesn’t include endorsements!
Fortunately, Kittle had people to help him get the most out of every dollar. He was not afraid to ask league veterans for advice on how to manage his wealth and signed on with the team at U.S. Bank, which was recently announced as the official bank and wealth management sponsor of the NFL.
“My second year we got Richard Sherman, and we already had Joe Staley. I asked them tons of questions (probably not great ones) but I wanted to learn. They talked about everything, including financial stability. What they did right and what would they do differently?”
Not every decision is a good decision and that’s okay! It is how you learn what not to do.
“And that’s important too: learn from mistakes. Not everyone gets it right. Ask about bad investments, poor decisions— what not to do. The locker room is full of people from all walks of life. Everyone is willing to help. Don’t be intimidated, just go talk to people.”
When it comes to NIL specifically, George Kittle hopes the college football players who did make some money while in school have a plan in place for what to do with that money. The NFL is not guaranteed!
“In my rookie draft class, there were two guys that got drafted that were cut before training camp. And so the only money they ever made was a signing bonus. That’s your only money you make.”
He advises them to save, not spend. The flashy purchase isn’t worth it if your money dries up.
“So are you making good decisions with that money initially? Or are you getting that paycheck and thinking, ‘oh, let’s go lease a car I can’t afford.’ Let’s go buy something sick. Let’s go on this crazy vacation, fly private everywhere.”
Kittle worked with U.S. Bank to set himself up for the rest of his life. NFL rookies and college superstars should take note.
“I hope that you get to play a 10-year career, but the percentage of athletes who play a 10-year career is like half a percent. No one really does it. And so, I just hope that you’re making smart decisions where you’re set up for the rest of your life. Cause it’s, I mean, it could be so fast.”
In an era where college athletes are making more money than ever, the NFL pay check can be an adjustment. Nobody expects a pay cut as a pro but that’s how it is these days. You can either blow all of your cash up front or retire with plenty of zeros in the bank account. You never know when it will end.