Steelers Prodigy Mike Webster’s Legacy Sold Out: Son Discloses Devastating Super Bowl Rings Sale | NFL News Times of India

On August 20, 2025, Garrett Webster, son of the late Steelers’ centre Mike Webster, spoke out about his family’s financial hardship following his father’s death. Despite Mike Webster’s celebrated football career, which included 17 seasons in the NFL, four Super Bowl wins, and being part of the NFL 75th Anniversary and All-Century teams, he died without any wealth left to his name. In fact, the family had to sell Mike’s Super Bowl rings to settle their debts. Garrett admitted, “we are on welfare, we receive no pension,” and added, “when I say welfare, I mean Medicaid, food stamps, and I do work 35-40 hours a week.”

Garrett Webster shared his family’s struggle following his father’s death in response to a post by Dov Kleiman about Cam Newton’s financial woes. Mike Webster’s family did receive settlement money after appealing to the Supreme Court, amounting to between $300,000 and $400,000, divided among five people. However, this came after 20 years of debts, bills, and court cases. Despite Mike passing away at only 50 years old, his pension benefits did not pass down, as these benefits are only activated if the recipient lives past 55.

Garrett contrasted his father’s post-football hardships to Cam Newton’s struggles. Newton’s lifetime earnings in the NFL reached an astonishing $133 million. Garrett suggested it would be “insane” for someone who earned as much as Newton did to experience financial struggles and called it an “insult” to players like his father, who made far less but suffered more.

Newton’s financial struggles continue despite the large amount he earned during his football career. Newton admitted to difficulties adjusting to life without his previous income and accepts responsibility for his financial predicament. He attributed it to lifestyle inflation and not adjusting his expenses in line with his income reduction.

Garrett’s story reminds us that even successful and well-decorated players can end up in challenging financial circumstances, even giving decades to their sport. By contrast, Newton’s situation highlights that financial struggles can still occur despite massive career earnings if appropriate lifestyle adjustments are not made.