BREAKING: “$150 Million? Keep it!” – Joey Aguilar’s Bold Rejection of Ohio State, 49ers, and Eagles Sends Shockwaves Through NFL, Cementing His Status as the Heart and Soul of the Tennessee Volunteers
In a sports world driven by dollar signs, endorsement deals, and franchise loyalty often governed by financial incentives rather than emotional investment, Joey Aguilar’s bold decision to turn down an estimated $150 million combined from the Ohio State Buckeyes, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Philadelphia Eagles stands as a jarring reminder of something that seems nearly forgotten in modern athletics: heart.
Aguilar, the electrifying quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers, has long been admired for his dual-threat capabilities, poised leadership, and uncanny knack for rallying his team in clutch moments. But as his stock skyrocketed over the past two seasons, culminating in a dominant campaign that saw Tennessee contend for a national title, many assumed that Aguilar’s transition to the NFL—or a bigger college brand—was inevitable. He had the stats. He had the spotlight. And now, we know he had the offers too.
According to sources close to the situation, Aguilar was courted heavily by Ohio State with a name-image-likeness (NIL) package rumored to be worth north of $10 million per year. The move would have made him one of the highest-paid college athletes in history. Yet Aguilar declined the offer outright. He then reportedly received not one, but two proposals from NFL franchises—the 49ers and the Eagles—each aiming to lure him into the professional ranks with promises of long-term contracts worth up to $70 million, including guaranteed incentives and endorsement tie-ins. The offers were framed as fast-track opportunities, allowing Aguilar to bypass the traditional draft structure through unique development deals and branding contracts, similar in spirit to what Major League Baseball sometimes negotiates with high-school phenoms.
But Aguilar didn’t bite.
Instead, in a statement that has since gone viral across sports media and social platforms, the 22-year-old quarterback addressed the rumors head-on during a press conference at Neyland Stadium. Standing tall in the signature orange and white, with the Tennessee “Power T” gleaming on his chest, he looked the cameras in the eye and delivered a message that has since rippled through every level of the football hierarchy.
“$150 million? Keep it,” Aguilar said bluntly. “I didn’t come here to chase dollars. I came here to win, to build something special with my brothers, and to be part of a legacy that’s bigger than me. I love this university. I love these fans. I love this state. And I’m not going anywhere.”
The reaction was immediate and explosive. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called it “the most defiant and passionate statement of loyalty I’ve heard in over a decade.” Pat McAfee dubbed it “a haymaker thrown at the business-first culture of modern football.” Even former Tennessee legend Peyton Manning weighed in, tweeting: “Joey Aguilar just became a Volunteer for life.”
In the wake of this bombshell, Tennessee’s fanbase has erupted in support. Overnight, Aguilar merchandise sold out across official university stores and online platforms. The Vols’ athletic department reported a 400% spike in donations in the 24 hours following his announcement. And ticket sales for the upcoming season—already robust thanks to the program’s resurgence—have now soared to record-setting levels, with Neyland Stadium expected to reach capacity for every home game.
But what makes Aguilar’s decision truly remarkable isn’t just the money he turned down. It’s the context of his choice in an era where even the most storied college athletes are encouraged—if not outright expected—to jump at the first lucrative offer. NIL deals, transfer portals, and early NFL declarations have drastically changed the ecosystem. Loyalty is often transactional. Players follow the money because that’s what the system incentivizes. Aguilar, however, has opted out of that paradigm.
And it’s not as though he lacks the credentials to cash in.
Last season, Aguilar threw for over 4,300 yards and rushed for another 800, accounting for 49 total touchdowns while leading the Vols to a 12-1 record and an SEC Championship appearance. His ability to extend plays, hit tight windows, and read defenses with maturity beyond his years has led scouts to liken him to a mix of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. And yet, despite this meteoric rise, he has never wavered in his commitment to Tennessee.
Those close to him say his mindset is shaped as much by his upbringing as it is by his current environment. Raised in a modest household in Northern California, Aguilar was instilled with values of loyalty, hard work, and humility. His father, a high school coach, taught him to value the game beyond the fame. His mother, a teacher, reinforced the importance of roots and relationships. When Tennessee came calling during his high school recruitment—a time when Aguilar was still considered a three-star project rather than a blue-chip gem—it was head coach Josh Heupel’s belief in him that sealed the deal.
“Heup saw something in me before anyone else did,” Aguilar said during his press conference. “When other schools said I wasn’t ready, Tennessee gave me the keys. I owe everything to this program. I’m not leaving that behind just because someone finally woke up and realized what I could be.”
That sense of loyalty is part of what has made Aguilar beloved not just in Knoxville, but across the state of Tennessee. He’s visible in the community—attending youth camps, helping rebuild storm-damaged neighborhoods, and even guest-teaching classes at local schools. His commitment to the program isn’t performative; it’s deeply personal.
And now, with the pressure of NFL suitors and mega-deals behind him, Aguilar has a chance to do something even more rare: finish what he started. The Volunteers are entering the upcoming season as consensus top-five favorites, with Aguilar firmly at the helm. The offensive line is returning three starters, and his primary weapons—an explosive receiver corps led by All-American Malik Rucker and tight end transfer Quentin Boyd—are locked in for another run.
Aguilar’s decision has already had recruiting implications. Just hours after his announcement, five-star wide receiver Kayden Foster decommitted from Ohio State and flipped to Tennessee, citing Aguilar’s “unmatched leadership” as a major influence. Defensive standouts from Georgia and Alabama have also begun listing Tennessee as a top choice, with insiders suggesting Aguilar’s presence has turned the Vols into a “destination program.”
But the larger story may be what Aguilar’s choice means for college football as a whole. While the sport continues to grapple with the balance between amateurism and professionalism, Aguilar’s loyalty stands as both a challenge and a beacon. It invites a reconsideration of what it means to be a student-athlete in the 21st century. It dares the system to remember the values that built its foundation: grit, loyalty, and purpose beyond profit.
As one SEC coach anonymously told The Athletic, “You can’t coach that kind of heart. You just pray your guys see it and understand that there’s still room for soul in this game.”
Joey Aguilar isn’t anti-NFL. He’s not anti-NIL. But what he’s made clear, in a way that transcends stats and salaries, is that his journey isn’t complete. Not yet. Not without Tennessee. Not without the team that believed in him before the cameras came.
As he walked off the podium after his press conference, a reporter shouted out one final question: “So what’s next, Joey?”
He turned back, cracked his signature grin, and replied, “A national title. Then we’ll talk.”
In that moment, the message was clear: Joey Aguilar doesn’t need the NFL to make a statement. He already has. And it echoes from Neyland to every corner of the football world.
