I’m not going to delve deeply into tax policies here, but it’s clear that Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is experiencing the impact of taxes like never before. Earlier this month, Odighizuwa inked a four-year contract valued at $80 million and amusingly took to social media on Thursday to express a newfound perspective on taxes.
He recalled how, during high school, he thought “people were wrong for not wanting to pay taxes.” Now? It seems his view of himself is evolving. “I guess I’m a bad person,” Odighizuwa posted on X. Although the Cowboys are able to distribute Osa’s signing bonus cap hit over the duration of his contract, the taxes on the income he’ll earn in the first year of his deal aren’t so easily spread out.
According to Over the Cap, Odighizuwa will earn $22.25 million in 2025, which includes a $20 million signing bonus. Luckily for Odighizuwa, Texas is known as one of the most tax-friendly states in the U.S. Micah Parsons chimed in, sharing Odighizuwa’s post with the comment: “Lol I guess that signing bonus hit, them m*** said snatchies.”
The star edge rusher will need to consider taxes himself later this year if and when he secures the contract anticipated to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Many of us would love to receive a payday like Odighizuwa’s just to even qualify for the hefty taxes he’s likely to encounter, but I understand his frustration.
My suspicion is he was mentally spending the money without factoring that in. I don’t fault him for it; it happens to the best of us. In March, Odighizuwa became the 15th-highest paid defensive tackle in terms of average annual value in the NFL. He sidestepped the franchise tag by agreeing to a four-year extension, which is expected to keep him in Dallas until 2028.