With less than a month until the NFL season officially begins, football enthusiasts are already mentally crafting their dream fantasy leagues. Last-minute additions and trades are still being made amongst the teams, including one new addition to the Washington Commanders that some were surprised to see. After six years away from playing in the NFL, Martavis Bryant’s net worth isn’t as high as many of his contemporaries. Still, with the right attitude and support system, the 32-year-old is confident he can make a comeback after a bumpy history of being suspended from other teams over drug use.
Bryant grew up in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, where he developed a love for sports early on. He ran track in high school and was a standout football player, earning him first-team all-state as a senior. After grad, Bryant spent one year at the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia to pass NCAA initial eligibility standards before heading off to Clemson University in 2011.
The 2010s Were A Troubled Time For Martavis Bryant
The Southern sports junkie finished his freshman year of post-secondary with nine receptions, 220 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Bryant’s junior season was the best of his college career, increasing his stats dramatically to 42 receptions, 828 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. In January 2014, the ambitious student announced his plans to forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft. After the league’s annual Combine, he was drafted in the fourth round (118th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers, making Bryant the 19th wide receiver selected.
His four-year contract with the team was worth $2.659M ($439,220 guaranteed) and Bryant brought home a $439,220 signing bonus. He ultimately wasn’t activated until week seven due to a shaky training camp and preseason performance along with a mild A/C sprain. Despite his setbacks, the 32-year-old set NFL touchdown records for players in their first three and four games. He finished his rookie year with 26 receptions, 549 receiving yards and eight touchdowns across ten game starts. At the time, Bryant’s 21.1 yards/reception made him number one across NFL players in the same position.
Steelers fans were rooting for him the next year, but Martavis Bryant was unfortunately suspended from the first four games after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He spent time in a Houston rehab with former NBA coach John Lucas, but that wasn’t enough to break the pattern. In 2016, Bryant was suspended for the entire season for breaking the same rule but managed to earn reinstatement the next year. He started as a wide receiver beside Antonio Brown, but by week seven the embattled player was venting on social media about his frustrations and desire to be traded.
After some back-and-forth, the Clemson U alum was moved to the Oakland Raiders in April 2018 in exchange for a third-round pick. It seems old habits die hard, as Bryant was released by the team for violating NFL drug use policy in September. Rather than cut him loose entirely, they re-signed the footballer to a one-year deal just ten days later but he was suspended indefinitely by December.
In 2024, His Sights Are Set On A Comeback
Despite his efforts to fight for reinstatement in 2019, the NFL wasn’t ready to take Bryant back. After social distancing measures relaxed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the record-breaker explored other options to keep him in the game. He signed with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts in January 2021, but never actually played for the team. Bryant was suspended after failing to report to training camp in July and released in December. That same year, he kept busy with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League after inking a deal in April.
In his next attempt at finding CFL success, Martavis Bryant signed a contract with the Edmonton Eks in February 2022. He was released in May, before training camp, but wasn’t totally out of luck as the FCF Beasts recruited him. Since then, the South Carolina native has played for the Vegas Vipers in the XFL league and he briefly signed to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys practice squad. Since they let him go this past spring, Bryant is undoubtedly feeling frustrated. However, all hope isn’t lost as he signed with the Washington Commanders in August 2024.
What Is Martavis Bryant’s Net Worth?
With so many incomplete contracts attached to his name, there’s plenty of speculation about Martavis Bryant’s net worth. Sportskeeda estimates that it was $4M as of November 2023, and Spotrac notes his deal with the Commanders is listed at $1.13M for the upcoming season. Even with this new and exciting opportunity, Bryant still has to make the team before any of those funds are guaranteed. Do you think he has what it takes to return to the NFL? Let us know in the comments!
