Former Alabama football walk-on signs for millions with Steelers

Alabama football’s Levi Wallace found a new team

When Levi Wallace enrolled at Alabama, he had no scholarship with the Alabama football team. He wasn’t even on the roster until he flashed at intramural games and earned a try-out. After scratching and clawing his way onto the roster, he inevitably became a starter, national champion and scholarship player for the Tide.

He went undrafted after his Alabama football career, but he landed with the Bills on their practice squad. Once again counted out, Wallace worked his way onto the 53-man roster and became a starter for the Bills. After a few years of making near the league minimum, he signed a one-year deal with Buffalo worth $1.75 million. It was the first time he made over a million dollars without incentives in a single season.

Wallace earned another contract, and it is with a new squad. He will go play for the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the team. This will pair him with Minkah Fitzpatrick, his former Alabama football teammate, in the Steelers secondary.

Wallace’s career earnings stack up to just over $4.1 million. If he earns a few bonuses and incentives, he could double that with one season. While becoming a millionaire is already impressive, this type of boost is what turns personal wealth into generational wealth.

Wallace’s story should be told more often. He chose to attend Alabama in hopes of making the roster. He finally got a chance, and he did not waste it. He took nothing for granted, and the coaching staff developed a no-star athlete with no college offers into an NFL starting corner.

Wallace will line up against plenty of elite receivers in the AFC North, but he’s never backed down from a challenge. We’ll see what he can do on a new NFL team.