The son of a family friend played Pro ball for 8 years after Penn State. Defensive Free Safety for the Jets and Tampa Bay.
Last time we were together he listed the long term injuries and medical procedures required to keep him upright and reasonably pain free.

Both Knees replaced
Major work on both shoulders
Major work on both elbows
Right ankle replacement
Spinal surgery to brace lower vertebrae
Neck surgery for nerve/disc issues

His medical costs have exceeded whatever he made in the NFL and he said the League Plan Coverage is a joke.

He made less than a million total for 8 years, but went to Law school and then into Military as JAG Corps and then into private practice. He was always a good student (3.45 GPA at Penn State not in Phys Ed or Athletic BS) and said that if he had to do it again he would never have gone Pro. he learned right away that he was "meat" and no one gave a crap about him as anything but meat. The answer to every physio medical issue was the needle. He played with major injuries because that is what they paid him for.

He advises a lot of College athletes and tells them the truth up front...it's all about the bucks. He sets up long term plans for them so after athletics they are not working at Wal~Mart or Construction.