Stassney Brown’s Take on Rashawn Slater’s $114M Contract
Jordan Collins: Okay, I guess you need me to spell this out, but let me guide you through the latest football drama in just a few clicks. Seriously, if Rashawn Slater’s sky-high extension snuck past your radar, consider this your crash course. I shouldn’t have to explain, but here we are.
On July 27, Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater officially locked in a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $144 million, complete with a $29 million signing bonus, according to multiple outlets. Drafted 13th overall in 2021, Slater immediately made an impact with consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 2022 and 2023, earning his reputation as a cornerstone of the Chargers’ line. Just days earlier, Slater and ex-wife Stassney Brown finalized their divorce, setting the scene for a splashy social media showdown that some might call headline gold.
Enter Dov Kleiman, a football influencer known for dissecting NFL deals on X. He wasted no time posting that the timing of Slater’s split and his massive payday was “legendary,” adding that Brown “won’t see a dime of it.” Normally, chatter about splits and settlements fills tabloids, but Kleiman’s comment stapled Slater’s personal life to his professional triumph—and that, frankly, crossed a line.
Stassney Brown, who tied the knot with Slater in 2022 and confirmed her single status on New Year’s Day, keeps a relatively private profile. Nevertheless, she stepped up swiftly to slam Kleiman’s remarks as “deplorable,” writing, “I hold nothing but support for Rashawn. His contract is not about me. Let’s focus on his career and success. He deserves his moment. Please stop including me in this narrative.” Rarely do we see an ex-spouse intervene so publicly to reframe the conversation, but Brown made it clear she intends to keep the attention on Slater’s gridiron achievements.
Kleiman, unfazed, hit back almost immediately. “It wasn’t about you. It was about Rashawn keeping the money that he worked hard for. I didn’t mention your name,” he replied. Known to NFL Twitter audiences for his contract breakdowns and trade speculation, Kleiman’s refusal to back off only fueled the debate over athlete privacy and public perception. Was his post a savvy callout or just cheap gossip? You decide.
Meanwhile, Slater celebrated in true champion fashion. He shared an Instagram update featuring a sun-soaked family portrait at the Chargers’ practice facility, complete with supportive teammates in the comments. “Blessed to accomplish a dream of mine with my family by my side,” he captioned the snapshot. “None of this happens without these people and so many others who supported me. Just getting started, LFG!” With an average annual salary of $28.5 million, per NFL.com, Slater is now the highest-paid offensive lineman, cementing his status among the sport’s biggest earners.
To give that payday some perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly commands roughly $200 million per year with Al-Nassr FC, while Lionel Messi’s deal with Inter Miami CF averages north of $20.4 million annually, according to the MLS Players Association’s 2025 salary guide. Yet even as these male superstars rake in massive paychecks, women’s sports face a glaring gap. Forbes’ 2025 list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes did not include a single woman. Alex Morgan, a World Cup champion who retired in 2024 after her final season with the San Diego Wave, still managed to earn roughly $600,000 on the field and $7 million off it last year.
Brown’s composed response highlights a modern approach to public splits: rather than indulge in salacious detail, she opted to elevate Slater’s professional story and draw clear boundaries. This could set a new tone for how high-profile exes and influencers handle similar situations moving forward.
Between headline-grabbing contract announcements, divorce filings, and frenzied social media exchanges, the core message remains the same: Rashawn Slater earned every penny with his exceptional performance on the field. His ex-wife wants the focus to stay there, and honestly, you probably should too. There, now you know.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, NFL.com
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
