After a decade-long journey in professional lacrosse, many thought it was the end for the star performer of the game, Paul Rabil. However, he was not yet ready to give up his dreams of making lacrosse a better sport for youth to prosper.
So, when Rabil launched his league, the Premier Lacrosse League, in 2019, many were shocked, while others were awe-struck by the dedication of this lacrosse legend. Well, the PLL, in its last three seasons, has morphed into one of the most significant lacrosse leagues.
Additionally, the league has given birth to top athletes like Blaze Riorden, Kyle Bernlohr, Matthew Dunn, and many more. As such, the rise in popularity of lacrosse is often credited to Rabil.
So, today we will uncover Paul Rabil's biography and dive into his personal life.
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Paul Rabil Comes From A Family Of Sports Enthusiasts
Growing up in Maryland, the PLL star midfielder participated in all kinds of physical activities. Paul Rabil's parents, Allan Rabil and Jean Anne Rabil had a keen enthusiasm for sports. As such, they had always encouraged their three children to become as athletic as possible.
Soccer, basketball, swimming, track, and field, etc., are only some of the sports the Maryland native played during his high school years at DeMatha Catholic. But as he grew older, Paul Rabil's older brother, Mike Rabil, grew attached to baseball and football, while he fell in love with lacrosse. Concurrently, his older sister, Becca Rabil, was more into fashion and design.
Little Rabil Grew Up With ADHD
Paul was no older than 12 when he started playing lacrosse. He had borrowed a lacrosse stick from his neighbor. However, for Rabil, playing lacrosse did not come as naturally as you might think. He struggled on the field and could not prove himself beneficial to the team.
Despite being diagnosed with ADHD, Paul Rabil proved himself a competent athlete. Photo Source: Rabil's Instagram.
It was around the same time that Paul was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder and ADHD. A series of tests during his sixth grade informed the Rabil family of the bad news. But young Paul was not the one to give up so easily. He continued playing lacrosse and grew more passionate about the game when he joined Johns Hopkins University.
During his years at the university, Rabil transformed into a much more mature athlete. He was twice named the NCAA Division I champion and got listed on the All-American team four times. Following his graduation, it was a clear-cut path for Rabil. The D1 lacrosse talent had his sights set on MLL.
Paul Rabil's Professional Career
Being a top prospect from Johns Hopkins University, Rabil was drafted first overall by the Boston Cannons in the 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft. He spent seven seasons with the franchise, securing the championship once in 2011. During his seven-year tenure with the Cannons, Paul started in 82 games and scored 185 goals.
Afterward, the Johns Hopkins graduate was traded to the New York Lizards, along with fellow teammate Mike Stone, for veteran Max Seibald in 2015. His move to the Lizards proved to be a favorable one. Scoring 52 points, Rabil guided his team to the MLL title.
For the next three seasons, Paul continually improved his performance in the MLL. Yet all was in vain, as he never even came close to winning the championship. Aside from his on-field lacrosse career, Paul also played box lacrosse. He spent five seasons with the Washington Stealth and was crowned champion once in 2010.
Paul Rabil Co-Founded PLL With His Brother
After playing for 11 seasons in the MLL, Paul decided to improve things for lacrosse athletes across the US. At the time, even top professional lacrosse players were paid a measly sum with very few prospects for sponsorship. In addition, those athletes were compelled to find another job to fund their livelihood.
Consequently, Rabil partnered up with his older brother, Mike, and established PLL in 2019 as a direct competitor to MLL. In an interview with CNBC, the Maryland native promised a better customer experience and increased chances for sponsorship through better use of social media.
After 11 seasons in MLL, Paul Rabil co-partnered with his brother, Mike Rabil, to establish PLL. Photo Source: Rabil's Instagram.
Rabil also played three seasons in PLL, two with Atlas LC and one with Cannons LC, but could not win the title each year. In September of 2021, Paul announced his retirement from professional lacrosse through the PLL Twitter account. However, despite his retirement as a player, Paul is constantly occupied working as a co-founder of PLL.
Paul Rabil Net Worth And Earnings
Famed as one of the best midfielders, the Johns Hopkins graduate has also amassed considerable wealth from his career. He played for 14 seasons in professional lacrosse. As such, Paul Rabil's net worth is heavily influenced by his earnings as a pro athlete.
As aforementioned, Rabil was drafted first in the 2008 MLL Draft. Subsequently, the athlete was offered a salary of $6,000, which is a paltry sum compared to athletes' wages in other sports. However, as Paul established himself as a prominent athlete, he started getting better offers and an increased paycheck.
As claimed by the New York Post, the average annual earnings of an MLL player range from $10,000 to $25,000. Concurrently, the NLL offers its players around $15,000. So, Paul Rabil, a veteran in both leagues, must have gathered substantial income during his playing years.
Paul Had To Look For Alternative Source Of Income
During Paul's initial years, the salary paid by his MLL team was not enough to make ends meet. Consequently, he took a job as an investment sales analyst at a real estate company. Simultaneously, the celebrity sportsman also started his YouTube channel. According to Social Blade, the channel makes anywhere between $590 - $9,400 in a year.
Fast forward a few years, and Paul, alongside his brother, launched a line of gyms as franchises of Snap Fitness. Similarly, he also co-founded PLL in 2019. He must have earned hefty cash through his entrepreneurial endeavors.
Aside from his professional career, Paul Rabil has collected immense wealth from his off-field endeavors. Photo Source: Rabil's Instagram.
During his playing years, Paul also secured sponsorship deals with popular brands like Red Bull, New Balance, Polk Audio, Under Armour, Chevrolet, etc. As such, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Paul Rabil's net worth is estimated to be $300,000. This makes him one of the richest lacrosse players in the world.
Rabil is also the proud founder of the Paul Rabil Foundation, which is committed to assisting children with learning disorders to prosper in studies and sports alike. Thus, he likely spent a few extra bucks to aid the program.
Paul Rabil Was Married To Fellow Maryland Native
As the dashing athlete continues to make history on and off the field, curious followers are eager to get insights into his love life. Well, Rabil is not the kind to flaunt his intimate connections publicly. However, the frequent headlines made by his romantic endeavors never fail to surprise lacrosse fanatics.
The celebrity sportsman was previously married to fellow lacrosse athlete Kelly Berger. The couple initially tied the knot in 2014. Sadly, the former husband-and-wife duo could not do well in their married life and ended their relationship in 2017. It is still not clear as to why the couple had to resort to a divorce.
Paul Started Dating A Mexican Actress
Paul Rabil's ex-wife, Kelly, has retired from professional lacrosse and now works as a fitness instructor and a vlogger. Meanwhile, her former husband, Rabil, has been romantically connected with Mexican actress Eiza González.
Paul Rabil's girlfriend, Eiza, was previously linked to stars like Timothée Chalamet, Dusty Lachowicz, and Liam Hemsworth. Nevertheless, she appears to have moved on from her past as she made her relationship with Paul Rabil Instagram official.
In early 2021, the PLL co-founder reached the milestone of becoming an all-time leader with the most points and goals in pro lacrosse history. Afterward, Paul Rabil's girlfriend, Eiza, took the opportunity to post the couple's image, congratulating her sweetheart.
Paul Rabil's lover, Eiza Gonzalez, complimented her partner through an Instagram post. Photo Source: Eiza's Instagram.
In addition, the duo was also spotted attending the star-studded event at Nobu Malu on the Fourth of July.
We are certain Paul will harbor as much success in his love life as in his professional career. And we hope to get privy to his romantic endeavors in the upcoming years too.
Fun Facts And Trivia
- Rabil is an avid Instagram user, boasting over 414K followers.
- He stands at the height of 6 feet and 3 inches.
- Rabil's list of favorite shows includes Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos.