Dak Prescott sends urgent message after learning ex-Cowboys star lost nearly $80 million

Statistics show that nearly four in every five NFL players experience significant financial stress within two years of retirement, and roughly 15% declare bankruptcy. Terrell Owens remains a prominent example of what that collapse looks like. 

When a reporter raised his situation during Dallas Cowboys training camp Saturday, quarterback Dak Prescott had a response "that's tough to hear."

Owens earned roughly $80 million over his 15-year career, combining $67 million in player salary with $13 million in endorsements. By 2011, bad investments wiped out almost all of it. His financial advisers placed his money into highly leveraged, high-risk deals, including an illegal Alabama casino venture that collapsed.

Owens spoke bluntly about the financial fallout to GQ, admitting, "I hate myself for letting this happen. I believed they had my back... and in the end, they just basically stole from me." 

More recently, at the FOS Huddle in the Hamptons, Owens warned younger players, "It goes fast. One day it was like, what happened to my $80 million?"

Prescott was shocked after learning about Owens' situation and didn’t waste time extending his support to his teammates.

"That's sad to hear," Prescott said in the recent press conference. "I mean, I'm sorry. I'm stuck on that more than anything. I just encourage guys to find people that they trust and talk to people. … And if you don't know if there's somebody you can trust, come talk to me, and I can show you somebody that I can trust."

He added, "I think we all kind of need that, to have somebody like that in your corner. Because when you have it, you can't spend it fast. So, just unfortunate to hear that. I mean, I'd ask any of my teammates, and I guess I probably should echo in the locker room if they're struggling with that or need help in finding somebody who can help them."

Owens retired in 2010 after playing for San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo, and Cincinnati. He finished his career with 1,078 receptions, 15,934 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns, earning an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. 

The Cowboys originally signed him to a three-year, $25 million deal in March 2006, and Celebrity Net Worth reports he earned $13.7 million from Dallas in 2008 alone. Today, his estimated net worth sits at roughly $500,000.

That unbelievable gap, from $80 million to $500,000, is what Prescott wants current players to avoid.

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