Tavon Austin accumulated an estimated net worth of around $20 million through a nine-year NFL career characterized by high-profile rookie deals and a massive contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams. While public celebrity wealth estimates fluctuate, official NFL contract tracking data shows that Austin pulled in roughly $40.68 million in total football salary before retiring from the league.
Understanding how that multi-million-dollar fortune came together requires looking past simple tabloid figures and examining his actual contract milestones, team shifts, and post-football financial standing.
The Foundation: Career Earnings and Major Contracts
Tavon Austin entered the professional ranks as a prized prospect out of West Virginia University, where the St. Louis Rams drafted him eighth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. That selection secured an immediate financial baseline.
His career earnings broke down across several major phases:
- The Rookie Deal: Austin signed a four-year, $12.75 million rookie contract with the Rams in 2013, which included a hefty signing bonus and fully guaranteed rookie money.
- The Fifth-Year Option: In 2016, the franchise exercised a $12.268 million fifth-year option for the 2017 season, keeping him locked into high-tier earnings even before his major extension kicked in.
- The Blockbuster Extension: Just ahead of the 2016 season, the Rams handed him a four-year, $42 million contract extension featuring $30 million in guaranteed money. This agreement drove the bulk of his career wealth.
- Later Stints: Following his time in Los Angeles, Austin restructured his deals and played on shorter, team-friendly contracts for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, adding minor totals before his retirement announcement.
How Team Relocation and Restructuring Impacted His Wealth
A unique aspect of Austin's financial trajectory involves the St. Louis-to-Los Angeles Rams relocation. Playing half of his rookie contract years in a smaller market and his later prime years in Los Angeles meant navigating different state tax structures, cost-of-living adjustments, and media market exposure.
When the Rams underwent front-office shifts and coaching changes under Sean McVay, Austin's offensive role changed dramatically. Despite signing a lucrative long-term deal, his production didn't always match the cap hit, prompting the team to trade him to Dallas in 2018 after converting portions of his salary. Navigating trades, agent fees, union dues, and high California income taxes significantly trimmed his gross earnings down to his actual net worth. Professional athletes typically lose roughly half of their gross pay to federal and state taxes, agent commissions, and jumbo-sized training expenses, meaning his net worth reflects prudent management of the remaining portion of those gross millions.
Comparing NFL Salary to Post-Football Financial Reality
Athletes who secure early multi-million-dollar paydays face a distinct set of financial challenges once the playing days end. Austin officially announced his retirement from the NFL via social media, transitioning away from game checks into life after football.
Unlike players who transition directly into multi-million-dollar broadcast booths or long-term coaching trees, players with dynamic, utility-based skill sets often focus on private investments, real estate, and local community ventures. Maintaining a $20 million net worth requires shifting away from high-burn lifestyles into diversified portfolios. Financial advisors for professional athletes consistently emphasize moving away from liquid cash and into real estate holdings, low-risk index funds, and commercial ventures to offset the sudden drop in active athletic income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Tavon Austin's biggest contract?
His largest contract was the four-year, $42 million extension he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in August 2016, which included $30 million in guaranteed money.
How many teams did Tavon Austin play for in the NFL?
Austin played for four primary NFL franchises during his nine-year career: the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alongside brief offseason or practice squad stints with other clubs.
Why did Tavon Austin's salary decrease later in his career?
As injuries mounted and offensive schemes shifted across the league toward specialized wide receiver roles, Austin transitioned into a rotational backup and return specialist. Teams no longer offered multi-year starter money, leading to one-year, veteran-minimum or prove-it deals with Dallas, Green Bay, and Jacksonville.
What is Tavon Austin doing now?
Following his official retirement announcement from the NFL, Austin has kept a relatively low profile outside of professional football, focusing on personal ventures and managing the wealth accumulated during his playing career.
