Sean Culkin Released by Chiefs; Wanted 2021 Salary Converted into Bitcoin

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistMay 10, 2021

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Sean Culkin during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Sean Culkin made headlines when he announced he planned to convert his full paycheck into cryptocurrency. Well, at least until the Chiefs released him on Monday, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.

Sean Culkin @culkin22
I fully believe Bitcoin is the future of finance and I wanted to prove that I have real skin in the game — not just trying to make a quick buck. I will be converting my entire 2021 NFL salary to #Bitcoin.

Culkin, 27, was attempting to make Kansas City's roster as a backup to Travis Kelce. He's played for the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-19) and Baltimore Ravens (2020), registering two catches for 36 yards in his career.

At a time when people are rallying around Dogecoin—even if Elon Musk himself has admitted it's basically a grift—it isn't shocking to see another NFL player try to go full crypto with his salary. Veteran offensive lineman Russell Okung had part of his salary with the Carolina Panthers paid out in Bitcoin:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
An NFL first: #Panthers OT Russell Okung will receive half of his $13M in salary in Bitcoin. As part of a partnership with @in_strike and thanks to creative payroll solutions from the #Panthers, @russellokung will fulfill the goal he set when he tweeted “Pay me in Bitcoin!”

Okung 💯 @RussellOkung
Paid in Bitcoin. https://t.co/Ey6oOcmLjA

To the moon! But in the case of Culkin, unfortunately, out of the locker room.

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