Dez Bryant Net Worth: Life Beyond Football and Legal Challenges

Dez Bryant is a retired American football wide receiver who has a net worth of $16 million. Dez Bryant earned his net worth thanks to his roughly $54 million in NFL career earnings. Dez Bryant played in the NFL between 2010 and 2020, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. During his tenure as a Cowboy, he earned three Pro Bowl selections and was named an All-Pro in 2014. Bryant finished his playing career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Who is Dez Bryant?

Dez Bryant, whose full name is Desmond Demond Bryant, was born on November 4, 1988. Like any other successful football player, he started his football career in high school and continued to show his prowess, later attracting the attention of college recruiting teams. After joining the Oklahoma State Cowboys while pursuing his college education at Oklahoma State University, Bryant moved to the NFL.

Dez Bryant Early Life and High School

Desmond Bryant was born on November 4, 1988 on Galveston Island, Texas to 15-year-old mother Angela. He had a difficult upbringing, as his mother was arrested for dealing crack cocaine when he was eight. While attending Lufkin High School, Bryant spent time living in eight different homes. He found his calling as a football player, and in his junior year at Lufkin, led his team to a 14-1 record. As a senior, Bryant recorded 53 receptions for 1,207 yards and 21 touchdowns, and was named an All-State selection. He also competed in track and field in high school, and was one of the top competitors in Texas in the triple jump.

Dez Bryant Collegiate Career

Recruited by a number of programs coming out of high school, Bryant ultimately chose to attend Oklahoma State University, where he played for the Cowboys football team. For his freshman year, he finished second on the team with 43 receptions for 622 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Bryant had an improved sophomore season, posting 87 receptions for 1,480 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns; as a result, he was named an All-American. That would be Bryant’s last full year playing at Oklahoma State, as he was ruled ineligible for most of the 2009 season due to violating an NCAA bylaw.

Dez Bryant Becoming A Dallas Cowboy

Dez Bryant may have made a name for himself in high school, but he proved to the public that his name was worth knowing during his time with Oklahoma State University. After earning All-American honors, the Dallas Cowboys knew that they needed Bryant on their team. During the 2010 National Football League draft, the Cowboys made a trade with the New England Patriots so they could choose Bryant. The team believed that Dez Bryant would be their next star with the track record he had already achieved in high school and college. At the start of the 2015 season, Bryant suffered a foot injury that sidelined him for many weeks. He returned in Week 8 in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With only nine games under his belt that season, Bryant finished with 31 receptions for 401 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He dealt with injury again in 2016, and finished with 50 receptions for 796 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games. The Cowboys returned to the playoffs that year, where they once again fell in the Divisional Round to the Packers. Bryant was also named to his third Pro Bowl. He played his final season with the Cowboys in 2017, finishing with 69 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns as the team missed the playoffs. Bryant was released by the Cowboys in the spring of 2018 after having played eight seasons with the team.

Dez Bryant Contracts

In 2015, Dez signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Cowboys that included $45 million in guaranteed money. This was a significant contract for a wide receiver, and some people argued that it was too much money for a player who had not yet proven himself to be a consistent performer. However, Bryant went on to have two of his best seasons in 2016 and 2017, and he helped the Cowboys win two NFC East titles.

Dez Bryant Legal Trouble

In 2011, Bryant was sued for nonpayment of legal fees and jewelry he acquired on credit while he was a student-athlete. The case was settled in court. The following year, Bryant was arrested on a domestic violence charge for allegedly hitting his biological mother Angela. Later, in the summer of 2016, he was sued by Texas state senator Royce West for allegedly damaging West’s rental home in DeSoto, Texas.

Dez Bryant Personal Life

Bryant has two sons named Dez Jr. and Zayne. He is in a relationship with Ilyne Nash.

FAQs

What is Dez Bryant’s net worth? 

Dez Bryant has an estimated net worth of $16 million, primarily earned through his successful NFL career.

What teams did Dez Bryant play for in the NFL? 

Dez Bryant played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2010 to 2017 and finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.

How many Pro Bowls did Dez Bryant make? 

Dez Bryant earned three Pro Bowl selections during his career, with his best year being 2014 when he was also named an All-Pro.

What was Dez Bryant’s best college season? 

In 2010, as a sophomore at Oklahoma State University, Bryant recorded 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, earning All-American honors.

Did Dez Bryant face any legal issues? 

Yes, Dez Bryant faced several legal issues, including a lawsuit for nonpayment of legal fees and a domestic violence charge in 2012 for allegedly hitting his biological mother.

Conclusion

Dez Bryant‘s career was marked by both remarkable success and notable challenges. As a wide receiver, he amassed $54 million in NFL earnings and became a prominent player with the Dallas Cowboys, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a spot as an All-Pro in 2014. Despite facing a difficult childhood, including his mother’s legal issues and struggles with instability, Bryant’s rise to NFL stardom is a testament to his talent and perseverance.