Being a millionaire, former NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland says, is not always "sexy."

• For 10 seasons, Brandon Copeland played as a linebacker in the National Football League with six different teams.
• Since 2019, Copeland, 33, has been a co-teacher of a financial literacy course at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
• He authored a new book titled "Your Money Playbook" with the objective of teaching consumers how to succeed in managing their finances.

Brandon Copeland, a former NFL linebacker, now focuses on personal finance coaching instead of sports coaching.

In 2019, the 33-year-old retired NFL player who played for six teams across 10 seasons, began co-teaching a financial literacy course to undergraduates at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, his alma mater, while playing for the New York Jets.

"Professor Cope," a member of the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board and co-founder of Athletes.org, created the course known as "Life 101" based on his own experiences with money.

An Orlando resident has authored a new book titled "Your Money Playbook," which presents a football coach's blueprint for achieving financial success. The book covers topics such as budgeting, debt reduction, saving, estate planning, and starting a business. However, the author advises against using the term "side hustle" in the book.

CNBC spoke with Copeland about his path to financial education, why he believes becoming a millionaire is not glamorous, and how it's important to think about Chipotle burritos when planning for the future.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

'Put the money to work for you'

What sparked your passion for educating others on personal finance and financial literacy?

Brandon Copeland: Despite years of education, unprepared for significant financial decisions in life, such as buying appliances and protecting oneself while renting.

In 2013, during my rookie year with the Baltimore Ravens, I learned about 401(k)s when the NFL Players Association informed us of the advantages of contributing.

In December 2016, my wife and I purchased our first house in New Jersey. At the time, I was playing for the Lions in Detroit. During the closing process, my wife called me and asked if everything looked correct on the documents. They emailed me the 100-page closing documents, and I was overwhelmed by the various titles, warranty deeds, and other legal terms. I was concerned that I might be getting taken advantage of, as one of my biggest fears as an NFL player has always been someone exploiting me.

What is the key message you want readers to remember from your book?

The realization that money could be used to generate growth was a significant discovery for me as I began earning. As a child, I had no understanding of this concept. I often share with others that they must either use their money to create opportunities or spend their lives working for it.

Many people are scared of the stock market, but I believe that everyone is an investor. If you have any money, you're making an investment decision, whether it's keeping it under your mattress or putting it in a high-yield savings account. The stock market can offer a higher return, with an average of 9% to 10%, if you invest in an index fund.

You can make wise investment decisions to work for you and escape the "rat race" at some point.

'That's a lot of Chipotle burritos'

What advice would you give someone who is new to investing and has been hesitant to put their money in the market?

To begin understanding the financial market, it is recommended to download and turn on notifications from financial news apps such as CNBC, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg. These notifications will provide insights into market movements and help you comprehend the language of money. Whether you decide to invest or not, this will help you become more comfortable with financial concepts.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of your finances, start by examining your bank accounts and their balances. This will give you a bird's-eye view of your money and enable you to make informed decisions about where to allocate it. For instance, you may discover that you have a sizeable sum in your traditional checking account, which you can transfer to a high-yield savings account that offers an annual interest rate of 4%. This could potentially result in an additional $500 in earnings per year. By taking this initial step, you are now actively engaging with your money and considering the minimal effort required to maximize your returns.

As a child, if someone offered me $500 to do nothing and press two buttons, I would eagerly accept. I would view this as an opportunity to enjoy a lot of Chipotle burritos, dinners, and time with my family at the water park. This would motivate me to make the investment decision quickly.

In the book, one of the initial suggestions is to verbally declare, "I am capable of being wealthy." What is the reasoning behind this?

Football can take away your money or job in an instant, leaving you feeling vulnerable and anxious about your financial security. Even when you're making money, you can still have anxiety around how you spend it, your lifestyle, and the potential for unexpected changes.

Positive affirmations such as "I am worthy of wealth and financial security" and "I have the ability to achieve financial stability" can be helpful in building self-confidence and motivation. However, it's important to remember that affirmations alone may not be enough to achieve financial success, and it's important to take action and make changes in your life to achieve your goals.

Consistently engaging in positive actions not only strengthens positive perceptions of oneself but also has a tangible impact on mental health. It is incredibly challenging to be highly productive in society when there is uncertainty about whether the doors will be locked or changed upon leaving the house.

Why being a millionaire 'is not a sexy thing'

What is the most common money myth that people believe?

For many communities I serve, it's important to put your money in the bank.

GI: You mean keeping it in cash and not investing it?

You believe that banks invest your money in other people's projects and homes, earning a return on your investment. However, you think it's a myth because you put your money in the bank and expect it to be invested in your own projects or homes. It's important to understand that banks invest money in various projects and homes to generate a return, and it's up to you to determine when you can start investing your money in your own projects or homes.

Some myths about wealth suggest that it is not attainable or desirable. Many millionaires believe that wealth is not glamorous and often feel pressure to create the next social media platform in order to achieve financial success. However, true wealth can be achieved through simple, consistent, and disciplined decision-making. The toughest part of achieving wealth is delaying gratification and disciplining oneself.

Often, we fail to prepare for the circumstances that may arise on any given day.

GI: How do you balance today versus tomorrow?

I visited a school recently and asked the athletes there to write out their desired life outcomes five years after graduation. By expressing my aspirations and stating, "I want this with my life. I want it to look like this, and I want vacations to be like this," I can now evaluate my current actions and determine if they align with my future goals.

Many of us do not take the time to clearly define our goals and desires, leading us to aimlessly pursue education and careers without a clear sense of purpose. As a result, we may find ourselves feeling unfulfilled and directionless in life.

I use people in my life to keep myself accountable and maintain a balance between delayed gratification and enjoying the present. Having accountability partners who provide honest feedback, such as "You're slacking" or "You're doing a good job," can help me stay on track. Additionally, I reflect on my own goals and desires and assess whether my actions are contributing to achieving them.

Simultaneously investing and carrying high-interest debt, like credit card debt, is like putting the heat on high during the winter in Green Bay, Wisconsin, while also keeping the windows wide open.

People often invest money in the market with the goal of earning high returns, such as 6%, 9%, 10%, or 12%, but they may be making only the minimum payment on their credit card or not paying at all, which results in an even higher interest rate of 18%.

You are setting yourself up for failure by not being able to keep up with the pace of the situation.