Net Worth Ranker
What Is Irving Fryar’s Net Worth?
As of 2025, Irving Fryar, a former American professional football player, has an estimated net worth of around $250,000 [2, 3]. This estimation reflects his earnings from his 17-season career in the National Football League (NFL) and subsequent activities [3, 11]. Despite the financial challenges he has faced due to legal issues, Fryar has remained active in his community through mentorship and public speaking engagements [3].
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Irving Dale Fryar Sr. was born on September 28, 1962, in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey [2, 3]. He attended Rancocas Valley Regional High School, where he began to showcase his athletic abilities as a wide receiver [2]. Fryar then played college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American in 1983 [2]. His outstanding performance in college led to him being drafted as the #1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots [2].
Professional Football Career and Earnings
Irving Fryar’s professional football career spanned 17 seasons, during which he played for four different NFL teams [3]. He started with the New England Patriots (1984-1992), followed by the Miami Dolphins (1993-1995), the Philadelphia Eagles (1996-1998), and the Washington Redskins (1999-2000) [2]. Throughout his career, Fryar achieved significant milestones, including being selected for the Pro Bowl five times and named a second-team All-Pro twice [2]. In 1998, he received the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award, which recognizes an NFL player for outstanding character and leadership [2, 11]. He was also honored with spots on the New England Patriots All-1980s Team and the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team [2, 11].
Fryar’s initial contract with the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1987 was a 4-year deal worth $1,700,000, which included a signing bonus of $1,250,000 and an average salary of $425,000 [4]. Spotrac.com estimates his career earnings through 2025 to be $2,450,000 [4]. Specific earnings from the New England Patriots were $1.5 million in 1984, $225,000 in 1985, $350,000 in 1986 and $400,000 in 1987 [2].
In 1989, Fryar signed a 5-year contract extension with the Patriots for $4.2 million [4]. On April 1, 1993, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 1993 second-round pick (#51) and a 1994 third-round pick (#90) [4]. During his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, he signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract before the 1995 season [10].
Legal Issues and Financial Challenges
In August 2015, Irving Fryar and his mother, Allene McGhee, were convicted of conspiracy and theft by deception related to a mortgage fraud scheme [1, 7]. They were found guilty of defrauding several financial institutions of $1.2 million [1]. According to court documents, Fryar and McGhee obtained six home equity loans on McGhee’s home, with five of them taken out within a six-day period in December 2009 [1, 12]. They also falsified wage and employment information on loan applications, claiming McGhee earned a large salary as an employee of Fryar’s church, the New Jerusalem House of God [1, 7].
Fryar was sentenced to five years in prison in August 2015, but he was released after serving only eight months and enrolled in the state’s Intensive Supervision Program [1]. As part of his sentence, Fryar was required to repay $615,600 in restitution to five lenders who were victims of the fraud [1]. Despite maintaining his innocence, Fryar acknowledged the difficulties the case presented to the jury [5, 6].
Post-NFL Activities and Community Involvement
Since retiring from the NFL, Irving Fryar has remained active in his community [3]. He has engaged in public speaking, sharing his life experiences to motivate aspiring athletes and individuals facing personal challenges [3]. Fryar founded a church and, for a time, worked as a high school football coach in Robbinsville [1, 8]. His efforts were recognized in 2023 when he was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame [3].
