New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is helping kids tackle financial literacy in a new, interactive video game called “Financial Football.”
The “Drew Brees” branded game, developed by Visa Inc. in cooperation with the NFL, promotes financial education and teaches children and rookie players how to manage their money while getting to play football.
“One of the most important things is learning about your credit score and how it’s affected,” said the Super Bowl MVP, who has been involved with the program for five years. The Saints star shared with Yeas & Nays some financial lessons he has learned along the way, including a “cell phone situation” he got himself into when he was in college.
“I didn’t pay the bill for a while. I was going way over my minutes and I couldn’t pay it, so I didn’t and it ended up affecting my credit score,” he said.
Brees told us the bill eventually went to a collection agency and years later (and despite making millions in the NFL) caught up with him.
“When I went to buy my first home, it affected the interest rate I was able to get,” he said.
Brees told Yeas & Nays managing money is a constant learning and growing process, even for him, which is why he hopes he can help pass along some financial management fundamentals to others through his involvement in the “Financial Football” program.
“I want to make sure young players coming into the leagues understand how important it is to save their money and the more that I can kind of help impart wisdom on them, the better,” he said.
Ready to play? “Financial Football” is online at practicalmoneyskills.com/financialfootball.
