Russell Okung, NFL Offensive Tackle & Bitcoin Advocate
Biography
Russell Okung was born on October 7, 1988, in Houston, Texas. He played college football at Oklahoma State University, where he was a consensus All-American. In 2010, he was selected sixth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Draft, beginning a distinguished NFL career that has spanned over a decade. Okung played for the Seahawks (2010-2015), Denver Broncos (2016), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2019), and Carolina Panthers (2020-2021).
During his career, Okung earned a Pro Bowl selection (2012) and won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2014. He was the president of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee and served as a player representative, making him one of the most influential voices among NFL players on financial and business matters. Beyond football, Okung has established himself as a tech investor and Bitcoin advocate, becoming the first professional athlete to be paid in Bitcoin. His career NFL earnings exceed $70 million.
Orange Pill Story
Russell Okung’s Bitcoin journey began around 2019, when he became increasingly vocal about the need for athletes to understand and invest in Bitcoin. In May 2019, he made waves by tweeting “Pay me in Bitcoin,” a statement that initially seemed like a throwaway comment but turned into a mission. Okung began publicly advocating for Bitcoin, studying its monetary principles, and engaging with the Bitcoin community on social media.
In December 2020, Okung made history by becoming the first major professional athlete to convert a portion of his NFL salary into Bitcoin. Through a partnership with the payments startup Strike, Okung converted approximately half of his $13 million annual salary with the Carolina Panthers into Bitcoin. At the time, Bitcoin was trading around $27,000 per coin. The move generated massive media attention and inspired other athletes to explore Bitcoin. Okung’s advocacy wasn’t just about personal investment — he framed Bitcoin in terms of financial literacy and economic empowerment, particularly for Black Americans and underserved communities.
Bitcoin Philosophy & Quotes
“Pay me in Bitcoin.” — Russell Okung X/Twitter, May 2019
“Money is more than currency. It’s power. And when you have money that can’t be taken from you, that’s true financial freedom.” — Russell Okung CBS News, 2020
“Bitcoin is the ultimate form of empowerment. It gives people control over their financial destiny.” — Russell Okung CoinDesk, December 2020
“I didn’t get into Bitcoin for the money. I got into Bitcoin for the freedom.” — Russell Okung Sports Illustrated
“Athletes are one paycheck, one injury, one lockout away from financial ruin. Bitcoin changes that equation.” — Russell Okung Fortune, December 2020
“When I said ‘pay me in Bitcoin,’ people laughed. They’re not laughing anymore.” — Russell Okung Washington Examiner
“Bitcoin is not just a financial tool. It’s a civil rights issue. It’s about giving people the freedom to transact without permission.” — Russell Okung Sports Illustrated
“I tell every athlete I know: learn about Bitcoin. Your career is short, but Bitcoin is forever.” — Russell Okung TotalProSports
“Sound money isn’t about getting rich. It’s about protecting what you’ve earned.” — Russell Okung Benzinga, 2024
“The NFL taught me about competition. Bitcoin taught me about freedom.” — Russell Okung BNN Bloomberg
Involvement with Bitcoin
Russell Okung’s involvement with Bitcoin has been groundbreaking for the intersection of professional sports and cryptocurrency. In December 2020, he became the first major professional athlete to receive part of his salary in Bitcoin, converting approximately $6.5 million of his $13 million Panthers salary through Strike. This historic move was covered by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and every major sports and financial news outlet.
Okung co-founded Bitcoin Is_, a nonprofit educational initiative focused on spreading Bitcoin awareness and financial literacy, particularly in underserved communities. The organization frames Bitcoin not as a speculative investment but as a tool for economic empowerment and financial sovereignty. He has spoken at Bitcoin conferences including Bitcoin 2021 in Miami, where he discussed the intersection of Bitcoin and social justice.
Through his advocacy, Okung inspired a wave of professional athletes to explore Bitcoin. Following his lead, other athletes including NFL player Sean Culkin, NBA player Spencer Dinwiddie, and MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer announced plans to accept cryptocurrency payments. Okung used his platform as a former NFLPA executive committee president to advocate for Bitcoin education among players, arguing that financial literacy and sound money principles should be central to athlete financial planning.
Media Appearances & Coverage
Russell Okung’s Bitcoin advocacy has been covered extensively across both sports and financial media. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Bleacher Report all covered his salary conversion to Bitcoin. CNBC, Bloomberg, and Forbes profiled his advocacy for Bitcoin in professional sports. Bitcoin Magazine and CoinDesk have featured him prominently as a leading athlete in the Bitcoin space. He has appeared on the Anthony Pompliano podcast, What Bitcoin Did, and numerous other crypto-focused shows. His “Pay me in Bitcoin” tweet became one of the most iconic moments in Bitcoin and sports crossover history.
Notable Bitcoin Tweets
Russell Okung made history as the first NFL player to receive part of his salary in Bitcoin. His bold 2019 tweet “Pay me in Bitcoin” became a rallying cry, and when he finally converted half his $13 million salary to BTC in 2020, it proved to be one of the most profitable financial moves in sports history.
“Pay me in Bitcoin.”
— @RussellOkung, May 13, 2019
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“Money is more than currency. It is power, it is freedom, it is sovereignty over your own life.”
— @RussellOkung, December 2020
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“Getting paid in Bitcoin is the first step of opting out of a broken financial system.”
— @RussellOkung, 2020
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Related Bitcoin Quotes
