FOS Explains: The NFL Player Born Into the McDonald's Potato Fortune

Connor McGovern is an NFL journeyman who has made roughly $33 million on the field–but that’s nothing compared to his family’s business.

The NFL center grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. He spent much of his childhood riding around with his dad, helping harvest potatoes from the family farm.

But it wasn’t just any farm.

His family–worth over $500 million–owns RD Offutt farms, the country’s largest commercial potato producer. These potatoes end up at some of the biggest fast food chains in America–McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Raising Canes.

In 1964, McGovern’s grandfather Ron Offutt–known as the “Sultan of Spuds” –founded the family’s business empire. Offutt started by growing potatoes in Minnesota with his dad. Higher yields and higher quality crops generally meant more money for farmers. So the business spent a lot of time experimenting. 

Eventually, he began using sandier soils and irrigation techniques to create better, more uniform potatoes. But Offutt soon realized that he could make a lot more money by expanding his business and owning parts of the whole supply chain from farm to table.

Off the farm, McGovern became a two-way star at Fargo Shanley High School, where he played on the O-Line and D-Line–and led his team to back to back state titles during his junior and senior years.

He redshirted his freshman season at Mizzou and would go on to start 40 games on the O-Line.

As his college career progressed, McGovern’s talent began to draw attention. By the 2016 NFL Draft, he was considered a solid prospect and expected to go in the later rounds.

But pursuing an NFL career wasn’t exactly a no-brainer. 

The McGovern family sat around the dinner table one night for a tough–but unique–conversation. McGovern’s grandpa said, “You realize you’re walking away from more money in the family business in comparison to going to the NFL.”

But, it didn’t matter. Connor wanted to play football.

The Denver Broncos drafted McGovern in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. His eight-year career has included stints with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. 

McGovern’s recent run of playing time could delay his entrance into the family business. Whenever he does switch careers, though, he’ll have to work his way to the top, just like his other relatives. 

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