OL Masterminds: How to Create, Capture and Grow Your Value

Highlights from the episode:

• OL Masterminds empowers offensive linemen to amplify their human capital and learn from industry legends.

• Capturing value demands understanding every layer of your contract and what stays in your pocket after taxes.

• Handpick your professional team—choose only those whose incentives match yours, and beware of “free” service pitfalls.

Strengthening Your Human Capital at OL Masterminds

When NFL linemen step into OL Masterminds, they’re stepping into a room shaped by experience—Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, and respected peers who have seen every side of the game. These sessions drive home the truth that your career is built on more than physical strength or technique, but also on your human capital—your on-field skill, mental preparation, and relationships. Linemen in these circles invest the hard hours to improve pass protection and run blocking, not only to help their team win but to add tangible market value to their own careers. Athletes know the championship window is tight, and every edge learned in Dallas can translate to bigger paydays and longer careers. In a league where reputation carries weight, building your craft in the company of proven pros sets the stage for future contract negotiations and new doors opening off the field.

Learning the Playbook for Value Capture

Earning potential in the NFL is volatile. The difference between a few million and a generational fortune often comes down to how well you grasp contract structures. Stories like Trey Smith’s—going from a modest salary to $20 million a year—highlight how quickly fortunes can turn, but also how fast they can fade without smart stewardship. Contract value headlines may catch the public eye, but what endures is decided by financial planning. As Riccardo Stewart said in the episode, “make dollars make sense” is more than our catchphrase—it’s about transforming today’s signing bonus into an asset base that can support your family for decades. That means looking hard at after-tax income, not just the contract’s sticker price, and having a game plan for “converting” earnings into investments built for the long term.

Choosing Your Front Office with Intention

Being an athlete that's wanting to build wealth means picking your own 'front office'—no team drafts your agent, advisor, or lawyer for you. The off-field game is loaded with would-be friends and advisors who crowd around success. The most successful athletes build a roster of seasoned professionals who win only when the athlete wins—total alignment, clear compensation, never hidden agendas. Look for mentors who have knowledge and integrity, and stay skeptical of those offering “free” services. As Jeff Locke said, that’s a huge red flag. The business side of sports is fraught with players who trusted the wrong team. Protect yourself with rigorous due diligence, transparency, and a culture of open questions. Your professional team—agent, financial advisor, attorney—should all row in the same direction you are steering.

Playing for the 100-Year Family

Wealth in the NFL isn’t about a single season—it’s about creating, capturing, converting, and continuing your value for generations. OL Masterminds is an incredible avenue to keep sharpening your game and build key relationships. So build your human capital, never get complacent with contract terms, and put together an advisory team you trust to guard the family’s future. The ultimate champions—on the field and at home—are those who treat every financial decision as part of a legacy, not just a line on this year’s stat sheet. That’s how multi-generational wealth is earned and how the 100-year family becomes reality.