Just a little over a week ago, Panthers’ No.1 pick Bryce Young signed his rookie contract worth nearly $38 million, but before his success was rewarded with an NFL contract, Young had to pick up a side job to make "a little extra money."
Tuesday after practice, Young explained he worked as a DoorDash driver to make money during his freshman year at the University of Alabama.
“I did that for a while,” Young said on Tuesday, “kind of, I guess, from when I got there and got my feet on the ground as far as – when I first got there I was just learning the playbook. I guess after that, when we went back from COVID, I was driving for DoorDash.”
With Young being such a high-profile athlete at a school like Alabama, one would think that he would be recognized and swarmed by fans for autographs and pictures while delivering fast food, but this was not the case.
“Honestly, I would have a mask on and a hoodie; then I would only really accept drop-it-at-my-door orders. So for the most part I never really got recognized or anything.”
“It was before NIL, so I just wanted to have a little extra money.”
Luckily for Young, he didn’t have to keep his food delivery job for too long after name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals went into effect in the summer of 2021. The NIL law allowed student-athletes to receive compensation for their NIL and still remain eligible at their program.
As a freshman, Young had to sit behind Mac Jones and wait his turn to be the next Alabama quarterback, but once he got his shot to take over the starting quarterback role, it didn’t take him long to capitalize both on and off the field. On the field, Young won the Heisman Trophy while setting school records with 4,872 passing yards and 47 passing touchdowns in a single season. Off the field, Young capitalized on his success and the new NIL laws to have a total NIL worth of around $3.5 million.
Along with signing his hefty rookie contract, Young also recently signed a partnership deal with Bojangles, a popular fast food chain that started in Charlotte, NC, home of the Carolina Panthers.
Young recently announced a partnership with Bojangles in July. The popular fast-food restaurant started in Charlotte, NC.
While Young had a big smile and laughed about his old job, he is focused on being the best quarterback he can be for the Carolina Panthers and living up to the No. 1 overall draft pick.
The Panthers will open their three-game preseason schedule at Bank of America Stadium at 3 p.m. CDT on August 12 when the New York Jets come to town.
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