March 12, 2025
By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
New York Jets linebacker Jackson Sirmon visited Smyrna High School on Monday to discuss personal finance with students of Tammy Acton and Dr. Wally Luckeydoo.
Sirmon, who played college football at Washington and California, is entering his second NFL season. He shared how NIL deals – name, image and likeness – evolved between his first and final years as a collegiate athlete. Despite having regular conversations with his father about finances since age 7, Sirmon said he still wasn’t prepared for the deal he landed.
“(California) gave me $100,000 to play football for a year. You can’t retire on that when you’re 22 or 23,” Sirmon said. “You have to put it to work. If you’re able to use what you’re learning in this class in life, it’ll be a huge advantage.”
The visit was arranged by Money Vehicle, a financial literacy curriculum founded by former NFL player Jed Collins. Sirmon’s father, Peter, played for the Tennessee Titians from 2000-2006 and is now a linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints.