Assuming 57 players on a roster, that's 1824 total NFL players. That number represents a large, unique, and diverse pool of young men with different life circumstances, family dynamics, and individual experiences. There is no "typical" story among them so it's a difficult question to answer.
We've seen just about every possible "behavior" that exists. Some players have gone on to be U.S. senators. Some have gone on to be prison inmates for life.
What I would do is not different. It's not even rare. It just isn't discussed at length.
When it comes to money and earning a living, I think every pro football player could use some help from resources that they trust. That would be family and their own quality education. I firmly believe that the greatest issue facing NFL players when they leave the league is the fact that they did not complete their education. It is very important, not just the subject matter but the training in analytical reasoning that is an integral part of any discipline from mathematics to art history. I would also consider the advice of respected teammates that appear to be making the right choices.
The average pro football career is three and a half years and 70% of NFL players are broke two years after they leave the game. It may be a mistake to even think of pro football as a career. For most, it is an opportunity to get a great head start on financial security while playing the game you love at it's ultimate level. Many, many players fail to recognize this and behave as though that money will always be there. The number of players that enjoy 10+ seasons of high salaries are a very small subset of the total.
The actual contract amount that a player gets is only part of his earnings potential. There is also the possibility of additional income from his association with the NFL such as advertising, investment opportunities and partnerships. The quality of his NFL performance will influence his ability to make money after his career is over.
It is a fact that winning championships increase your ability to generate income long after your NFL career is finished. People love winners. Too few players, in my opinion, consider this. Therefore, it is prudent in many cases to accept less in a contract if there is a higher probability of winning a championship. However, it must also be understood that this is a gamble.
Keep in mind, I am much older than NFL players, I have the advantage of experience. I also do not have nearly the temptations available.
I would hope that the game itself has taught me discipline. After all, that is the reason sports are included as part of a young person's education, to teach the concepts of discipline as well as teamwork, commitment, and personal sacrifice. If the game has successfully taught me these virtues then there is nothing "different" that I need to do.