Syracuse University’s football team is receiving a significant boost from Community Bank, which has announced a new initiative to support athletes on and off the field.
This is especially important because many athletes face financial struggles after their professional careers end, and some college athletes who don’t go pro often feel lost without the structure and support of their sport.
Fran Brown Leads the Way in Teaching Financial Literacy to Syracuse Players
As part of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Program, Community Bank will donate $50 to Syracuse athletes for every new account opened between now and the start of the football season. Even small amounts of money like this can be valuable to college athletes, helping them cover everyday expenses like food, transportation, and school supplies.
For athletes balancing sports and academics, this extra financial support can make a meaningful difference.
INTERESTING: Fran Brown says every Wednesday from 2:30-3, his team is working on financial literacy. And every player will have an LLC.
“All the players that left, they’ll be coming back. And that’s how you build a program, not just a football team.” pic.twitter.com/UJp59pciY3
— Samantha Croston (@SamCroston1) March 18, 2025
Brown has been a vocal supporter of the NIL program, setting a goal to raise $6 to $8 million annually. At a press conference on Tuesday, Brown stressed the importance of financial literacy for his players, explaining how understanding money management can benefit them beyond football.
“I think it educates young men with financial literacy to understand to know that ‘I can put my money up to different places,'” he said. “I can have it in the stock market. I can get bonds and things of that nature that people don’t talk about all the time.”
David Meluni, a Syracuse sports management professor and Orange United NIL Collective board member, praised the program’s impact.
“I love this aspect that a local, regional entity educating them on how important it is to start saving as young as possible, because candidly, how many of the football student-athletes will go to the NFL,” Meluni said.
The Community Bank partnership features weekly financial literacy sessions for players. Brown said his team works on financial literacy every Wednesday from 2:30 to 3 p.m. “So, then someone’s coming in, and it teaches two to three things so that they can be super successful whether they make it to the NFL or not,” he said.
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The NIL program at Syracuse is more than just a financial boost — it’s preparing athletes for life beyond football. By combining financial support with education, Coach Brown and Community Bank are helping players develop the skills and knowledge they need to handle money responsibly, whether they go pro or not.
This initiative ensures that Syracuse athletes are not only prepared for success on the field but also equipped to make smart financial decisions in the future.
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