Not sure which feat is more incredible, Darrius Heyward-Bey’s speed or his savings habits. Yes, you read this headline correctly. Use this article as a substitute to talking NFL fantasy stats at your Monday morning class.

From ESPN:

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has worked his way into the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ starting lineup, but that’s his football portfolio. Off the field, Heyward-Bey has saved most of his career earnings of about $35 million, largely from his rookie contract as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

The secret, Heyward-Bey told ESPN: his mother, Vivian, a certified accountant and, as a result, a co-worker. Vivian handles the books, and those books are thick. “I get an email [from her] every Tuesday,” said Heyward-Bey, who pays a commission for his mother’s work. “I can read it over, check it up. I see where the money is going.”

Questions for students:

• What is one savings idea or technique that you can take from this article?
• Does this passage ring true for yourself “I grew up knowing what to spend and what not to spend?” Why or why not?
• Name at least three reasons you think that Darrius is a good saver?
• Was Darrius born with these financial traits or do you think they can be learned?

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ESPN’s 30 for 30: Broke shows the other side of the savings coin as professional athletes spend themselves into bankruptcy.

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.