National Football League

NFL lineman applies to become Uber driver because 'more money' better than NFL money

Published Apr. 23, 2015 9:19 a.m. ET

Brett Smiley

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle A.J. Francis may have inadvertently crafted a slogan for Uber to attract more supplemental income-seeking drivers.

Francis applied on Wedneday to work for the personal driver company. His application and background check is pending.

People ask me why would you want to be an @uber driver if you play in the NFL... You know what's better than NFL money? More money.
— A.J. Francis (@AJFrancis410) April 23, 2015

"I've been using the app for two years," Francis told the New York Daily News. "And every driver I talk to says it really helps supplement their income."

Too often we hear about athletes going broke shortly after their playing careers as a result of financial mismanagement, getting wringed by extended families, bad investments and so on. So, good for the 6-foot-5, 330-pounder for muscling up with a Dodge Charger with an eye toward some extra income.

"I always worked odd jobs," the Maryland native and former Terrapin told the Daily News. "I mowed lawns in summer and shoveled snow in the winter. I got a job in a deli cutting meat. I was a bouncer at a night club in college."

To put Francis' NFL earnings in perspective: Predominately as a practice-squad player (who has yet to play in a regular-season game), he took home $437,000 total over the 2013 and 2014 seasons and signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins that will pay him $510,000 in 2015. But he collected no signing bonus in that deal and none of it's guaranteed.

But you know what is guaranteed? Francis' sense of customer service. It will come with every ride.

"I'd go wherever they pay me to take them," Francis quipped. "The customer is always right."