Marques Ogden, five-year NFL lineman and author of newly released bestselling autobiography SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THE NFL: A Business and Family, did not always have the fame and fortune that his life is now blessed with. In fact, his life was not too long ago plagued with alcohol and gambling addiction, bankruptcy, and poor business decisions. He has truly lead an all-American rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches life.
Ogden was always an intellectual individual, graduating Howard University with his Bachelor of Science in Finance degree in 2002, then was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003. In addition, he played for the Baltimore Ravens Tennessee Titans, and Buffalo Bills. He retired from the NFL in 2009, and then went on to run a successful company.
Following retirement he started a construction company in which he gained work primarily from the city of Baltimore. In less than two years his business collected over $500,000. Then, in 2010 his business jumped to $3 million, and by year five it was at $12 million, but then a $4 million project cost him everything and took him into a life of heavy, addictive drinking an habitual gambling. While emptying out his desk, he came across a card for the NFL Players Care Foundation. The Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust Fund granted him $14,000 which included four months of rent and utilities. Using this money, he was able to turn his life around.
It is true that over seventy percent of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or have at least undergone extreme financial stress shortly after retirement. This is more than likely due to their inability to cut down on their lavish lifestyles that they had become so accustomed to during their football careers. The loss of financial stability may be a result of poor investment decisions, friends and relatives who simply take advantage of their money, medical problems due to their profession, and the need to flaunt their riches. They never took into consideration just how expensive their lifestyle truly was before their cash flow ceased.
He now is a motivational speaker and writing books to inspire individuals who are going down similar paths that he has gone down. Marques, younger brother of NFL Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden, hopes that through his writing and public appearances, he can help others in overcoming their addictions, and help them get their second chance. Available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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