The NFL just wasn’t adding up for Ricardo Silva, so he decided to hang up his shoulder pads and head back to schoolto teach high school geometry.
Silva, 26, played two seasons in the NFL, earning more than $500,000 a year as safety for the Detroit Lions and then briefly with the Carolina Panthers. Now, he earns about $50,000 a year as recruit for Teach for America. Silva made a two year commitment to Washington’s Ballou High school starting back in September.
It doesn’t seem like a fiscally responsible career move, but for Silva, leaving the NFL was just part of a bigger vision for his life.
–
As for football, Silva says that’s all behind him now.
“I barely even watch football now. That may sound strange to you but I feel like I’ve been there, I’ve done that, mission accomplished now let’s move on to something more meaningful to me which is education.”
