'I put the brakes on that one' - how Goldberg blocked WWE's NIL deal for his son
Goldberg's legendary wrestling career may have ended at Saturday Night's Main Event, but he is still calling the shots, especially when it comes to his son's
future
. The Hall of Famer faced Gunther in what was billed as his retirement match, receiving a hero's send-off with nods to his WCW legacy and emotional tributes.
But behind the curtain, there was more than just nostalgia.
WWE
tried to start a new Goldberg chapter with Gage Goldberg, Bill's son, by offering him an NIL deal.
However, Goldberg revealed he turned it down after seeing the numbers. While Gage's potential in wrestling is obvious, his dad believes the time needs to be right before stepping into WWE.
Goldberg says no to WWE's NIL deal for Gage
Despite WWE's eagerness to bring
Gage Goldberg
into the fold, the wrestling legend isn't quite ready to hand his son over to the squared circle.
In a recent interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, Goldberg explained that WWE offered Gage an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal, a program created to sign college athletes to developmental contracts before they even train at the Performance Center. But Goldberg had concerns, especially when he saw how little money was involved.
'They tried to give him an NIL (deal), but when I found out how much they were going to give him, I put the brakes on that one.'
Goldberg, Stephen Thompson, Chris Curtis, Patricio Pitbull, Steve Garcia, Mario Barrios, | 7/15/25
He did not rule out a future in wrestling for his son, though, adding that WWE would be 'ignorant' not to see Gage's potential. For now, the younger Goldberg has his focus elsewhere, and that is perfectly fine with dad.
Gage Goldberg's dream lies on the football field
While wrestling is in Gage's blood, it is not his first love. The University of Colorado athlete is currently playing college football under the legendary Deion Sanders. In fact, Gage has been vocal about wanting to make it big in football, calling WWE a 'backup plan.' His father confirmed that mindset, saying
'The kid is like me.
He wants to be a football player. That's a dream of his… He's got it in his blood. But it's not his priority right now.'
The Goldberg Family (Image via Instagram)
Goldberg
made it clear that Gage still has time, and there's no rush to jump into the WWE spotlight. The NIL deal may be off the table for now, but the door is not completely shut, especially if the price (and timing) is right.
While WWE may have closed the chapter on
Bill Goldberg
's in-ring career, the next generation is not far behind. Gage Goldberg's future in pro wrestling remains a possibility, but for now, his focus is firmly on the gridiron. If and when he does step into a WWE ring, it'll be on his terms, and likely with a much better deal.
Also Read:
'I can see this sparkle in Gage's eyes': Triple H sees star potential in Bill Goldberg's son for WWE future
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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