A few weeks before the likely end of his football career, Mark Brunell’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case ended Monday when U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerry Funk confirmed his reorganization plan.
While the plan to reorganize his debts acknowledges that Brunell’s income will drop sharply once he stops playing football, it calls for the former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback to pay $350,000 to unsecured creditors to settle their claims. He intends to sell some assets to pay off those creditors.
Brunell is making a total of $960,000 in salary and bonuses this season from his current team, the New York Jets, according to court documents. Those documents also state that this is likely his last season, and he and his family plan to return to their Ponte Vedra Beach home after his retirement. He may take a job as a sales representative for a medical device distributor, the documents said.
The 41-year-old Brunell is playing his 19th season in the NFL, including nine years with the Jaguars from 1995-2003. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints. He joined the Jets as a backup quarterback in 2010, earning $1.5 million for that season.
Brunell filed for Chapter 11 in June 2010, citing losses from failed investments made with earnings from his football career. He listed assets of $5.5 million and liabilities of $24.7 million in the initial filing.
According to the disclosure statement filed in court with his reorganization plan, the bad investments included real estate and several Whataburger franchises.
At Monday’s hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Jacksonville, one of Brunell’s attorneys, Jacob Brown of Akerman Senterfitt, said he was forced into bankruptcy because of losses incurred when the real estate market collapsed.
“There’s no impropriety here. He’s a good man. He works hard. He’s done what he needed to do in this case,” Brown said.
Brunell did attend Monday’s court proceedings. He declined to comment on the case after the hearing but he did offer his thoughts on recent Jaguars news, including the announcement last week that majority owner Wayne Weaver is selling the team.
“It’s a new beginning for the Jaguars and I can’t speak highly enough of Mr. Weaver,” Brunell said, citing Weaver’s involvement in the community beyond owning the team.
“The Jacksonville community is better for it,” he said.
Brunell spent one season playing for Jack Del Rio in 2003. But Del Rio drafted Byron Leftwich to succeed Brunell at quarterback, so Brunell was traded to the Washington Redskins before the 2004 season. But Brunell had kind words for Del Rio, who was fired by the Jaguars last week.
“I wish him the best. He’s a good football coach,” Brunell said.
The exact end of Brunell’s career depends on when the Jets’ season ends. The team currently has a 7-5 record and is in contention for a playoff berth.
“I sure hope so,” Brunell said when asked if the Jets will make the playoffs. “We’ve got a tough schedule for the rest of the season.”
The Jets have four games remaining and Brunell said the team might still not make the playoffs even if they win them all.
“We still may need help,” he said.
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