Donald Trump’s Business Ventures You’ve Never Heard About

He Owned The Football Team The New Jersey Generals

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Trump bought the New Jersey Generals football team in 1983. He hired former New York Jets coach Walt Michaels, and in 1985 signed Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie with a $7 million, 5-year contract, making the athlete the highest-paid pro football player and the highest-paid rookie.

The Generals, part of the United States Football League (USFL) franchise, merged with the Houston Gamblers, and Trump owned 50 percent of the new team, which stayed in New Jersey and kept its name. The 1985 season was its last. The 1986 season was canceled due to an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, and eventually, the USFL folded.