Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, currently Mark Sanchez's backup with the New York Jets, has filed for bankruptcy, according to Action News Jacksonville. Upon his retirement from the NFL--which will follow this season--Brunell will begin working a 9-to-5 job as a medical sales representative.
Brunell has earned more than $50 million during his 17-year career, but has lost it all due to some poor business decisions. All told, he invested in nine businesses, more than half of which have already gone belly-up.
Brunell spent nine years with the Jaguars and quarterbacked their inaugural game in 1995. In his Jags career, he threw for 25,698 yards and tallied 144 touchdowns to 86 interceptions. To those numbers, he added 14 rushing touchdowns. Brunell earned Pro Bowl berths in 1996, 1997, and 1999. With the Washington Redskins in 2006, Brunell completed 22 consecutive passes, an NFL record. Since that season ended, however, Brunell has attempted just 43 passes, having transitioned squarely to a backup role.
Though Brunell left the Jaguars in 2004, it's nonetheless sad to see arguably the franchise's greatest player in such dire financial straits.