Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is regarded as one of the best defensive players in football, and he is definitely paid like it. However, he is also developing a reputation for his business acumen.
The NFL star is the newest member of Ballantyne Strong’s — a tech company based in Omaha, Nebraska — board of directors, and one of its biggest investors, Warren Buffett, is all for it. In a press release announcing the move, the billionaire was quoted lauding Suh’s natural business ability.
“I once said that I was glad he’s not running against me for a board spot. I meant it. “I believe that Ndamukong has a bright future as a businessman and I look forward to hearing about his many successes.”
The two became close when Suh starred at Nebraska, Buffett’s alma mater, and stayed in close contact after Suh turned pro. Buffett has been spotted multiple times at Suh’s NFL games, even donning shoulder pads and his jersey this past season. For all the talk of Suh’s dirty reputation as a player, having one of the richest men in the world back you as a savvy businessman is an impressive endorsement for Suh.
When he left Detroit for Miami, Suh signed one of the richest deals in NFL history. The six-year, $114 million deal pays Suh an average of $19 million per year and nearly $60 million in guaranteed money with a signing bonus, prorated over the length of the contract, of $25.5 million. In 2016, Suh will earn the largest chunk of the deal, with a scheduled salary of $23,485,000, per The Phinsider, and with the signing bonus, a $28.6 million cap hit.
Now that Suh is looking at putting that money, and good business sense, to work out outside football, lets hope he handles setbacks in the boardroom better than he does on the field.
