From NFL legends to club owners: why so many are fleeing to England’s top division

Soccer has become an increasingly attractive investment for some NFL legends.

The latest to join this movement is Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos icon Peyton Manning, who has become part of the ownership group for the new NWSL franchise in Denver.

Manning is now the second prominent NFL player to invest in women’s soccer. Back in 2023, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became a co-owner of the Kansas City Current alongside his wife, Brittany Mahomes, who already held a minority stake. “We’re very excited to make this a family affair and have Patrick join as an owner,” Brittany said at the time.

Beyond Mahomes and Manning, several other NFL greats have entered the world of soccer ownership. Former Houston Texans linebacker J.J. Watt—one of the league’s most dominant defenders—and his wife, former NWSL star Kealia Ohai Watt, own shares in English club Burnley, which recently earned promotion.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has also embraced the soccer business. The New England Patriots legend and future Hall of Famer holds a minority stake in Birmingham City, which secured promotion and will compete in the English Championship this season.

Another NFL standout, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson, became a part-owner of the MLS club Seattle Sounders in 2019, along with his wife, singer Ciara. That same year, the Sounders won the MLS Cup. More recently, the club qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

While some NFL stars have made high-profile investments, others have opted to back teams in the United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of professional soccer in the U.S.

In 2021, Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch joined the ownership group of the Oakland Roots, a team based in his hometown. Former Baltimore Ravens defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, a Washington, D.C. native, invested in Loudoun United. Meanwhile, ex-Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor have both invested in Sporting Club Jacksonville.

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As well as that, plenty of NFL and other owners in American sports have also invested heavily into English football, such as Liverpool (Fenway Sports: Boston Red Sox), Arsenal (Kroenke Sports: Rams, Nuggets), Chelsea (Todd Boehly: Los Angeles Rams) and Leeds United (49ers Enterprises: San Francisco 49ers).

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