Kurt Benkert really loves gaming. In fact, he might be more known for his off-the-field interest more than being a backup QB in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers QB is already a fan favorite, despite being the 3rd-string QB. He’s making more money off the field than on it, although he has every intention of sticking around in the NFL.
Just recently, he took to social media to show off his skills on Call of Duty.
Days later, he gets a random drug test by the league.
Earlie this year, he was asked if he gets paid to do what he does in gaming.
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So, I get paid on Twitch. I stream a lot during the offseason. Like four times a week for five hours a day. So, I’ll stream like 20 hours a week where I’m playing video games and talking in the chat — people who subscribe to me — and I get paid for that. G Fuel Energy and Thursday Boots are the two product sponsors I have. So, I’ll have their logos on stuff. Those are products that I use but I actually started using them before I was getting paid. I just like their product and we came to a mutual agreement to promote for them.
And six months ago, I got signed to a professional team for gaming. “Ghost Gaming,” I’m on their roster. I get paid on a bunch of different avenues for all that stuff. That turned into one of my bigger deals. I’m a brand ambassador and a consultant for a website-builder called Universe. It’s a mobile app that’s really easy. You can build your own website from there. I started using them to build my LinkedIn bio. We just struck good luck there and I got a good deal with them and signed with them for a year of work.
I just leveraged social media and what I do with brands that I already enjoyed working with. And it turns into money and events.
Benkert went undrafted in 2018 but signed with the Falcons before being cut right before the regular season. Atlanta signed him to its practice squad, but he’s never thrown an NFL pass in a regular-season game.
He got his first taste of preseason action back in August when Jordan Love hurt his shoulder during a game and only played a half. Benkert relieved Love and went 8-for-12 for 88 yards and an interception.
