Pittsburgh Steelers star Breiden Fehoko has shed new light on the financial risks taken by many players in the NFL.

The defensive tackle, who returned to the Steelers earlier this week, claimed he has seen teammates blow their entire salary before the start of the season.

Many of the NFL's top players are on multi-million dollar contracts and yet Fehoko insists some are effectively 'broke' by week one. 

The 28-year-old's comments came during a social media Q&A, when he promised to be 'transparent' with fans.

Earlier this week, one supporter asked him about 'a darker side of the NFL (that) no one talks about'.

Fehoko said: 'I watched teammates spend a year worth of salary ($600k ish) some even more post-taxes and have nothing right before the start of the season. 

'Nobody will admit it but there’s guys in the league on big contracts right now that are figuratively broke. Liquidating assets as we speak.'

Fehoko signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 before joining the Steelers in April 2023.

He has since had several spells with Pittsburgh over recent seasons and on Friday, the 28-year-old announced he was signing with the Steelers once more. According to Spotrac, the nose tackle has earned $2,056,130 in the NFL. He has not played a game since the 2022 season.

Active NFL players who have spent at least three seasons on an active, inactive, injured reserve or PUP (physically unable to perform) roster - for at least three games - are entitled to benefits that include a pension and health insurance for five years after retirement.

They also earn a 'Credited Season' if they are 'released injured and receive an injury settlement or grievance for the equivalent of three or more regular season games,' according to the NFL Players Association. 

But many football stars run into financial problems. The American Bankruptcy Institute claims nearly one in six files for bankruptcy within 12 years of hanging up their cleats.

That figure is based on analysis on roughly 900 players who were drafted between 1996 and 2003 and 'whose careers began and ended between 2000 and 2013.'