Stay Tranquilo - From Last Chance U to the NFL | Life After Sports with John Franklin III

Episode Date: June 24, 2025

From Last Chance U to the NFL and back again — John Franklin III opens up like never before. In this powerful episode of Life After Sports, John reflects on a journey defined by perseverance, faith, and purpose.He shares what it was like going from Florida State to Auburn to FAU, how he battled through constant position changes, injuries, and being overlooked — and how it ultimately led him to his real calling: being a mentor, coach, and vessel for others chasing their dreams.John talks Tom Brady, Jameis Winston, the truth behind “making it,” and how therapy and faith helped him turn his pain into purpose.The speaker highlights the power of **relentless drive** and how it helped them get into the 1%. They learned to embrace proving people wrong as a **motivation**, turning doubt into a **superpower** for **personal growth**. This **motivational video** encourages viewers to chase their dreams.🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Listen on Spotify & Apple📲 Follow @staytranquilo x @proathletecommunity#LifeAfterSports #JohnFranklinIII #LastChanceU #NFLStories #FaithDriven #ThousandHours #StayTranquilo #PACCommunity #Perseverance #Motivation #AthleteTransition #YouCantCheatTheGrind #faith #nfl #tombrady #jameiswinston Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I'm a firm believer that we all have the power to make our dreams come true. It's just how bad do you want it? Yep. It's very simple. I always just think like, damn, like, why did I have to keep proving myself? Right. And it was my therapist got me to see. Like, bro, that was your superpower.

Like, that's why you were able to be in the 1%? That's why you were able to do all this because your superpower is proving people wrong. So instead of, like, being exhausted by it, like, embrace it. Because you know you're going to prove people wrong. So, you know, I go back all the way now. When I sit back and think, I go back to last chance. And like, why did God choose me to be that person? Right. Like, bro, like, I get hit up all the time on Instagram by people I'll never meet from countries I've never visited on the other side of this world that know me.

Even though they don't know me, they know of my story to a certain extent. But they rock with me because of the lesson and the message that I got across because it's a life lesson. You know what I'm saying? And to me, like, that's what, like, makes me get up every day because I know I have a community people that kind of, they might be looking at me. Right. So it's my obligation now to make sure that I'm that that's what to push them through. What's going on?

We're here at the pack of end in Nashville. We got Mr. John Franklin in the building. My guy. We have been chopping it up all week. Started off, you know, with the fireside chat. Just talking about some podcasts. John's got a podcast himself, which we had done. definitely want to dabble in and get your perspective on that. But before we get into any of that,

I want to be able to tell your story, talk about your journey, you know, from day one to where you are today. So tell the people a little bit, one, about yourself, what your, you know, kind of path into football and just where you're at now. Yeah, man, appreciate you for having me on, too, bro. This is dope. And just getting to meet you over these past couple days. Like, sir, just always dope connecting with cool people and genuine people, bro. So appreciate you having me on. But for me, uh, from Fort Lauderdale, a real South Florida, baby. You know what I'm saying, 954? You know what I'm saying?

Man, uh, we, I wouldn't say with football, but we're just sports in general, man. It started when I was four. Um, I knew at four years old, I wanted to be a pro athlete. And like clear as day, I can remember it to the day. At that point, I was playing football, basketball, uh, and baseball. but I didn't know what sport I used to want to have I had hoop dreams Like that was kind of where I wanted to go But football is always just the easiest for me

You know what I was usually the fastest kid on my team And just knew what the fuck to do So fast forward Played all three of those sports Got in the middle school through track in the mix Got to high school Did all four Then

I never play I didn't play tackle football until seventh grade I played flag from four until seventh grade So I got started late but I feel like that's kind of like how I was able to be like so fast and elusive in that sense so

when I got to high school the coach kind of forced me to play quarterback I had a strong arm I never wanted to play quarterback but he saw me throw kind of like in baseball and like just like little league and shit and kind of wanted me to play quarterback and he held me to that

so then I just like shit I could have the ball if you play like I like this It's nice. I ain't got to really depend on nobody. Then, you know, the quarterback. Everybody knows the quarterback. It was cool. I ended up doing good at it.

And then my 10th grade years when I really kind of hopped out on the scene for real, became a starter on varsity. And then just took off from there, bro. Ended up fast forward into that. Going to college just signed at Florida State. At that time, James was the starters the year we won the national championship. So I walked in on that. shirt that year.

It's a good time to be at in town. It was great. I mean, any time is a good time to be in town of it. If you know, you know. Sox. But that was the legendary times to be in Tallahassee. So we won a Natty next year.

Backed Up James, played a little receiver. Then I got brought back into the quarterback room. Ran track for the track team. We won a couple of rings there. And then ultimately, you know, just decided to leave. You know, things wasn't working out. I wasn't really feel like.

my I wasn't really given a real opportunity in my opinion so it's like you know I'm not fit to sit here and let my clock burn I kind of just saw what it was and just took it for what it is and I did the harder thing and just betting on myself and it was at that point where I told myself like bro like I'm going to do this my way like because at the end of the day if it don't work out I got to live with it so um from that moment on I just did it my way and if it didn't work out that's fine like I just didn't want to live it would regret. So I ended up leaving there and ended up at this junior college, East Mississippi Community College, you know, where I'm most known for from being on the show last chance you,

season one, OG season, you know what I'm saying? Yes, sir. And, uh, man, before the show even came out, it's something I don't even really talk about much because a lot of people don't even know, like, during that show, that's where I call it my crossroads. Um, I was ready to quit football, bro. Just dealing with certain coaches and just feel like I had to keep proving myself over and over and over, bro. Like, I just got exhausted with it. I'm like, bro, like, I know I'm good enough. I've proved I'm good enough.

So why are y'all playing with me? You know what I'm saying? But, yeah, it was crazy. I was really ready to give up. I remember being in my dorm room crying by myself. And I'm in the middle of Mississippi. I'm a Florida boy in the middle of Mississippi. I'm a Florida boy in the middle of Mississippi.

I'm a lot about going back in time. It's crazy. Experience racism, like real-life shit that I never can't expect experience before. It taught me how to survive, bro. Like, that's the lesson that being in the middle nowhere with nothing by myself taught me how to survive. Ended up being the number one junior college quarterback only playing a half of a game, every game. Last game of the season, Auburn went there to watch me, and I went Bukoo. six touchdowns before a half and ended up getting a scholarship all over afterwards.

So went to Auburn. Ended up playing in every game, but didn't get the fair chance to start, in my opinion, which I was brought there for it. But hey, you know, I learned that at that point in time, I just kind of felt like all this stuff is going against me, but like God kept opening doors. So like when I was in junior college, that's when I really had my first personal relationship with God, you know, grew up going to church the whole nine. But like as far as like me, myself and I, that was like,

It was my first time. So at Auburn, you know what I'm saying? I was able to do some good, cool things playing in the SEC. That's where it's at. I don't know. That's a different breed. Yeah. And then like just being in Alabama itself, like, you know, they don't have a pro team.

So like you're everything to have these half of their state is either Alabama or Auburn. So like, you are a big deal. And they let you know. I mean, even to the point where like, I remember I bought my first and only car when I was at Florida State. my freshman year. It was a red charger. I still have, on the car I ever had, but off Craigslist, like $6,200. Nice. And, yeah, it was a win reg a lot. And when I got to Auburn, everybody used to, like, give me shit about it being red. I'm not like that. Bro, it was like that. Damn. I'm like, bro, what the fuck? Like, bro, I ended up painting my own car white.

Oh, you know, I want to deal with this anymore. Yeah. It got to the ball. Like, this is my car, and you guys are taking it away from me. I'm like, bro, this is OD. So I ended up painting white, still white to this day through the white rims on there. So I was cool with it, you know what I'm saying? But it's just, you know, I like a lot of people ask me like which spot was better? I always say going to school was Florida State but playing football was Auburn just because of like the culture and SEC like it's a big deal. So I played a season at Auburn and then, you know what I'm saying?

They went and got another quarterback Jared Stidham, my guy, Jared. And I kind of like got a feel. But it was an NFL scout that came and talked to me. And he was like, if you could do, if you could show your versatility, like, you could do more things. We know you could play quarterback, but I would do it. So shit to me, I was like, this is somebody at the next level where I'm trying to get to, trying to give me a little heads up. So I'm like, cool. Ended up moving a receiver in that spring.

And then, like, just had, like, basically I was kind of told that I might not play my last year. And I was like, oh yeah I was like, all right, cool, I'm gone. You know what I'm saying? I wasn't one that like, because I took my dream so serious, I was never going to play around with it or let nobody else play around with me. You know what I'm saying? So ended up leaving and going on the FAU.

It was Lane Kiffin's first year. It was on a lane train. Ended up winning a conference championship there. I played some quarterback and some receiver there. Just to get reps. Because at that point I was done with the bullshit. I just wanted to go train and then better myself and take my shot at the league

but an agent that I was dealing with at the time was like you know just go and get some reps you know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? You're doing a due position so I just go get some rest for you go to league I'm like cool so I did that it was close to home I needed to be around family at that point so I did that then after there

pro day time comes around and I was training to be a receiver ended up firing my agent a week before pro day met the new agent on pro day He was like, you know, you're going to do quarterback, running back, receiver, you're going to do DB, and you're going to catch kicks after. Mind you, I've never backpedal,

play defensive day in my life at this point. So I do all this shit in Pro Day Row. Ended up getting a minicamp invite to the Seahawks for DB and receiver. I didn't stick there. Then the next week I ended up going to the Bears and they end up signing me as a DB. Back pedal was ugly as fun.

That's a whole other monster, bro. It was crazy, bro. I tell people, like, the hardest position to play on the field. I don't know about the trenches, so I don't speak on that. But playing DB was the hardest physical position I ever played because you're going backwards. And you don't know where the guy in front of me is going. It's crazy. My hips was hurting.

You know what I'm saying? I ended up dealing with a bad Achilles issue that ended up being a tear that I played on for six years. Still need to get surgery on that. but dugging it out, you know what I'm saying? And, you know what I'm saying? So boom, go to training camp, end up getting cut. It was like, oh, bro. That was one of the hardest times I went through

because it was like this is the first time football was really taken away from me. So, you know what I'm saying? I went home at my parents' crib, lost about 10 to 15 pounds. I'm already a small guy as it is and depressed for like six weeks, bro. But I'm still grown. And you feel me?

Like, but not knowing when I'm going to get that call. Yeah. Shit, bears end up calling me back. So, shit, now we're back in the game, you know what I'm saying? Back in Chicago. I'm on Peace Squad, but shit, it's better than being under crib. Exactly. You know, so did that.

Finished out that season with them. We ended up winning like the NFCE since we had Khalil Mack and shit. We had a good season that year. Finish that season. Did the training camp, then at offseason, I went and grind out. I was like, bro, I knew what was like, bro. I knew what was coming at me because I played offense, but I didn't know how to get to the ball. So I needed to learn the movement of the DB.

So went in the lab, when, I don't know, you know, goal feet. Yeah. And it's like, my bro, shout out of the TA. We, man, we put in work that all season. We went to work. And, bro, I came back. I led the team of interceptions at training camp. I definitely thought I was about to make the 53 and I was the last cut out of the door at the training camp.

So here we are again. Like, fuck. Like putting that word, right. Still, I can get my shot, whatever. Cool. They end up cutting me. And then I was back at the crib a little bit and I get a call from the books. Like a couple, couple, maybe a week or two before Thanksgiving.

Get a call for the books. So back in the game. On Peace Squad. Okay, cool. Better than being at the crib. Yeah, me so shit. On Peace Squad. About like two weeks being there, bro.

So it was towards the end of the season, so we getting ready to play to Texas. And they had me, they wanted me to start playing like some receiver two and, you know, ran routes one time in practice. And he was like, Coach Leffwich, Brian Leffich came over to me. He's like, hey, bro, you might not go back over there. I'm like, bro, you just don't know. Like, I didn't want to be over there in the first place. Little did you know. I wanted to be here the whole time.

Like, I'm straight. Like, I always told myself I'm not changing. When I started playing quarterbacks, I'm not changing my position until I get paid to. And I stuck to that. So I'm like, yeah, I'm cool, bro. So then, you know, did the receivership one day. And during that practice of me playing DeAndre Hopkins, VA, Bruce Arons, comes over to me. He was like, hey, I need you to be to Sean Watson's in my own practice.

I'm like, yeah? Say less. Say less. All right. So, boom. I'm like, holy, they just don't know. Like, you can touch the ball and really show you what I really do. Say less.

So that next day in practice, I go fed. Me and my boy, me and my boy, Jay Mick, we cut our defense up. I'm talking about, I'm out there freestyle. I'm just back in my element. Like, I ain't got nothing to lose, you feel that? 100%. So shit, I'm hanging out. I'm talking shit.

GM on the side. I'm like, you see this shit? I'm out there with it. I'm out there with it. So boom, bro, sure enough, after that first day, after that first day, me being DeShon Watson quarterback, the next day, I got the O-line, coach, Coach Goody, who was in charge of the run game. Hey, what kind of zone reason?

And shit, you like, I'm like, it's like a Wednesday we still got a whole other game Why you ask me about this shit? But whatever, I told him like, man Give me trips to the left Leave the end by I don't need no help Just leave me and him one-on-one

He's gonna be wrong either way You feel me? So I'm like, okay, that kind of start I'm like, I don't know what they got going on But whatever, cool We get through that week Now I'm starting to see like a little package I think it was either called Miami

Or it was called J5 One of the two where I'm at quarterback. I'm like, hmm, why are we putting this in? You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm like, I guess I'm about to play. I guess what I'm playing. But whatever, you know what I'm saying?

It had like five plays. It was two passes, three runs. And then we practicing that shit. They never told me that I was going to be up, but we practiced for that shit. So I'm like, cool. Like, it is what it is. And then I ended up getting my first chance to be active, bro. Like, the last game of the season, they called me up after only being in it for like three weeks.

And then shit, bro. That shit was scripted for that next game within the first five plays. That's how much they were like, bro, we got to get this guy out there. I say, y'all are going to give me the ball to start the game. I said, I'm going to score, bro. Y'all fucking around with the wrong one. I'm going to score, bro. That's wild.

So we get to the game. I'm hype. I'm telling everybody, like, but I'm going to score it. Like, look early. I'm going to score today. Get to the game. I love you, James. But first play, we throw a pick six.

typical James Like I love Jay Boo Slinger no me too I'm a huge Jammer's guy Risky is a motherfucker shit We throw up pick six I'm like And it's the 30 30 year

I'm like fuck So I already know That means we off schedule Yeah so that that play Now you're down seven Didn't get a drive going That play that was scripted For number three or five

Didn't get ran to the second quarter I mean second half So the whole game I was like bro Yeah now you're sitting there We lose them like me You might as well just run the shit What we're scared for

Let me spin. Let's see what happened. Cool. I just got to wait my turn, whatever. We come off second half. We're going to start it off with you. I'm like about time. You could have been to that. But you know what I'm saying? First time I ever touched the ball in the NFL game live, 11 yards.

Fuck, yeah. And to me, it was easy because I averaged 10.4 yards every time I touched the ball in college. So I'm like, bro, I'm going to walk in first down. I'm a walking first down. I don't know why you wouldn't want that person on the field. Hey, that's not for me to decide. Of course. I just did what I had to do with the opportunities I had.

It's the only time that play got called the rest of the game. So I'm like, all right, whatever, cool. End of the season. So now I'm like, okay, I got a little, I got belief because I'm like, I'm here for like what? At that point, like five weeks. And in three weeks I'm active, I got a head coach that like really sees me and believes me.

Yep. Didn't waste no time. Like one practice, you got an offense to yourself now. Crazy. And came in as a deep beat. Yeah. So I'm like, oh shit, like, this is my time. I really, I finally got somebody there a season knows what he has.

And so that summer, bro, I'm going fed training. I'm talking about I'm doing two days. I was like, bro, I'm going to make this shit count because once this shit get live, it ain't no going back. Exactly. So shit, fast forward to training camp. Now we got Tom Brady, my dog Thomas. You know what I'm saying? We got Tom.

Mr. Thomas. So my first. My first encounter with Tom, Tom came to me. He's like, hey, bro, heard a lot about you. We got a lot of special things for you. I'm like, brother, this Tom Brady coming to meet me. And he telling me, we got we? So that means him and BA been in conversation.

So cool. So being around Tom, going to make you elevate your game. Just like, he ain't got to do nothing. He ain't got to say none. But you just knowing like, bro, I got Tom throwing your ball. I got to be on point. I don't want to let him down. So I'm coming in that bitch ready

I'm gonna be confident You know what I'm saying We're going through training campaign My five play package Has grown until like 20 plays And it's installed too Sheesh So if anybody that knows

You know what I'm saying About installs and training camp Like everybody learns the playbook And your first Four installs is your base playbook Mine's was an install too So in my head I'm like They plan on this shit

Being a part of it all. offense like for real for real so I'm like bet so shit we get to install too and B.A. was like we going live bad let's go I hate it like the defenders but oh I would a tackle you now you got a chance to show that shit this shit get real active when I when I can get tackled it get even scary because I don't like getting tacked so that's when I get a little faster and get a little bit shifted you know what I'm a little dude I I'm a little dude so yeah you know shit we go live I went to car up that shit as soon as that

as soon as that period was over BA comes over to me he was like he ever thought about catching punts I'm like nah you gotta be a crazy man and be back there I'm straight just keep me on kick the turn he's like I need to balling hands a lot this season I was like if you need it I'll make it happen

yeah you know what I'm saying so cool I basically just had the head coach telling me I'm going to make this team bro that was the most confidence any coach has ever given me bro next day are we in one-on-ones i'm going fair i'm like five and oh because like mind you i just got told like i'm about to make this shit so hey one from i'm free like barely being able to be

on the roster to hey we need you in every facet of our game right now boom so i'm feeling free i'm like okay cool we're gonna one-on-ones on five and oh cooking shit my six rep aco first time i ever had injury first surgery and bro it was like it was so deflating because I'm like bro I was literally the day before I just was told I was gonna make this team the next day season and injury and and that tone like I did only cried one one time bro it was when they told me after I went to got my MRI and they brought me back to trainer and was like Johnny you tore it I like I like I like I like I like I like I like I cried for right dinner there because I'm like to me I was like bro.

I was right there bro. Like it was right there for me. But they ain't know what I'm in the training room. I had guys like Tom, God was like JPP, Domican Sue all come up to me. He's like, showed me their scars from Taryn A's like ain't only the tough survive. At that moment I ain't sharing more tears. I was like what we got to do to get this, get me back up and going because like I'm good.

Like I'm, you already just letting me become a better version. Yep. But you know what I'm saying? the surgery went to grind and I had like a little setback so that the year they won a Super Bowl you know what I'm saying I got all the perks I got the bread I got the I got the I got the ring I was able to buy a house off of it so you know what's saying yeah it was it was really nice you know what I'm saying yeah it was like I still wanted to be there you know so I knew I knew I was going to have a big impact on that whole season yeah but you know saying God had the plan so

that next year comes after the Super Bowl um I had like a little setback in my recovery, so I wasn't ready to go during training camp. But it was cool. Like, they came, brought me up to the office. And, like, usually when you get brought up to office is not for good shit. Yeah. So I'm like, fuck. I ain't got, like, you know, you hear it about you here in the league, like, your greatest ability is your availability.

I'm like, bro, I'm not able to be out there right now. So like, what, like, it ain't nothing good you can really tell me. But, you know what I'm saying? Sit me down. It's like, hey, we're going to give you to week nine. Like, we're going to put you on pup. Get all over your right. you good.

So I'm like, damn, they really, they really fuck with me. Yeah, that's huge. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, damn, cool. So I ain't got to like kill myself to try to get back so I could show that I was available. But a week later, I guess the temperature changed.

Something happened. And then we ended up saying they want to do an injury settlement. So shit. I'm like, all right, well, I'm on my way out now. Like, that was that. So that was like my last, last thing in the NFL. And then once I did get cleared and all the way back up in 2022, I went to the USFL, played two years. I played with the Tembay Bandits.

And I played with the Memphis Showboats, which was the bandits. They just rebranded us. Played receiver. And I had my own packages at quarterback as well. And that was good for me just to be able to like come back off of something that was adversity I never faced before. Yeah. So I did that. And then 20 last year, I ended up doing a training camp for the Emmington Elks and the CFL.

And when I got out the NFL, bro, like, I crashed hard. I had to do a lot of self-work to know that that wasn't the end, but to, like, find that I was more than football. Right. And it was hard, but it was neat. It's needed, bro. So I was good. I was good not going back to the NFL once I did all the therapy and all that stuff. But I wasn't done playing football.

So that's what made me do to the USFL. But after the USFL, like I said, my Achilles was getting real bad at that point still. And that's when it wasn't until then. I actually knew that it was torn. That whole time you were playing. The whole time, everybody was just telling me, oh, it was just Achilles 10 and 90s. Achilles 1090s. he's like no bro you got a real tear right now like you need to have surgery but I'm like

I've been dealing with this for so long like I'm straight so at that point like why why yeah like if it's because I'm gonna have to do the same surgery whether it's fully rupture or where it's at now right so if it goes it goes like you worry about it done yeah so like that was my mindset to it and then I had lost my best friend um Alex Collins in 23 and he played we we with the high school together He's probably famously known. You know, the guy used to do the Irish dancing when he scored a touchdown. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, so that's my best friend. We played together in high school. We got to play together in the USFL for the showboats. And crazy, that was his last time ever playing, or we were teammates. Wow. And my last memory with him was my wedding in 23 in July, and I lost him the next month.

And so, like, I kind of, like, that was the only thing. And then I had my son that he never got a chance to meet. So, like, that's what kind of drove me to, one, I got to do it because I know he was trying to get back to NFL, so that's what made me go to Canada. I always wanted my dream. My dream was never to win Super Bowls, never do that. My dream at four was to make it. And then it came to, like, I want my son to take a picture. I want my kids to be able to see me do what I do.

So that's the one thing. Let me get this one more push. Yeah, let me just get this one more push. At least I got to do it for him because he's not able to do it. So I did it. Didn't work out. And I was like, all right, I'm done with this shit. Yeah.

Like, at that point, I was already over business. but like my body is like I'm done shit. So fast worth now. I'm a dad, my husband. We got a one year old, my little man, JR. And I have a real passion now for coaching. And it's crazy because it's something that I was so turned off from for so long due to my experiences.

But even like through events like pack, man, I'm finding out like my real core value is impact. And I even circle that all the way back to last chance. You like I always question out that I'm older. It's like, yeah, it was cool to be on Netflix. But the thing I carry the most pride in is the message that I got across because I'm a very resilient person. When I hear the word no, it doesn't equate to know. It equates to like not right now.

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I'm a firm believer that we all have the power to make our dreams come true. It's just how bad do you want it? Yep. It's very simple. You know what I'm saying? And like, I always always.

I was just saying like, damn, like, why did I have to keep proving myself? Right. And it was my therapist got me to see. Like, bro, that was your superpower. Like, that's why you were able to be in the 1%. That's why you were able to do all this because your superpower is proving people wrong. So instead of, like, being exhausted by it, like, embrace it because you know you're going to prove people wrong. So, you know, I go back all the way now when I sit back and think and go back to last chance, you know, like, why did God choose me to be that person?

Right. Like, bro, like, I get hit up all the time with Instagram. by people I'll never meet from countries I've never visited on the other side of this world that know me even though they don't know me they know of my story

to a certain extent but they rock with me because of the lesson and the message that I got across because it's a life lesson you know what I'm saying and to me that's what makes me get up every day

because I know I have a community people that kind of they might be looking at me right so it's my obligation now to make sure that I'm that that's what to push them through. And I think through coaching, like, that's what I'm chasing now. It's to fulfill, like, to fulfill that core value and to, it gives me a way better sense of fulfillment than I ever did playing, like helping somebody else reach their goal.

Because I've done what I want to do from 100%. So I'm content. Yeah. Like, everything I do now is just like the cherry on top. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, I baked the cake. I iced that shit.

I ate it. Like, I don't like cherries. It's only like, you've been able to be the cherry on top at this point. So, like, that's where I'm at now, bro. And, you know, I'll be coaching here, whether it's in college or in NFL pretty soon. Yeah, I mean, you've had every possible walk of life through your football career. So that level of connection now with the people that you're going to impact, you now have an actual emotional connection to them, right? You know, there's the 1% of the 1% that make it to the NFL, right?

Right. Then there's another layer of that one. percent that have long careers and successful careers in the NFL, right? So imagine the different walks and the different paths that every single major sport athlete, right, football, baseball, basketball, whatever it may be. Like, you made it there. That's a next level accomplishment that millions of people would die to get to. Right.

Right. So when you put that into perspective, it's like, yeah, I did do it. Maybe I didn't get to do it at the capacity that you wanted to do it, but you did do it. Right. And now you could be that leader and that motivation for those people that want to do what you did. Like they look at you as inspiration. And last chance you was maybe that extra avenue to one get your story out, but now create a level of connection to a person like you. It's like, shit, he had to grind through it.

You know, like he did it. Then it was taken away from him. But then he still found the way to do it again. And then it was taken away from him again. And you've still continuously found a way to do it. And if that's not a testament to life, like, I don't know what it is. Because reality is some shit we just can't control. You could be doing everything right.

Yet the universe, God's got a completely different plan for you. And the more that you embrace that plan and accept it to be what it is, like, that's where the true power comes in. Because you can't fight what's not meant for you. Yeah. And, like, you know, we always got the cliche saying of control what you can control over. But that's like one of the realest. It's a dead truth. You can drive yourself going to fucking.

crazy trying to force shit to happen. I'm like, but like at the day, bro, like, no matter what I did, I was gonna tear my ACL. It was part of the plan the whole time. You know what I'm saying? But like what I learned through tearing my ACL, like as much as I thought I wasn't cheating to grind, I cheated the grind.

Yeah. I was never a person that liked the weight room, bro. I hate that shit to this day. Like I don't like working out, but I'd rather go on the field and like get right on the field as opposed to going to gym and lift some weights. But tearing my ACL had to, it changed my perspective like now if I don't go get if I if I skip three reps I'm not

getting over nobody yeah I'm getting like I'm fucking myself over right exactly that's my need that's my quad that's smaller than my other one like and my biggest fear was not being able to get back to where I was right so I had to be better and the only way to be better is to do something different yep so what I had to make sure okay even if I if I had 10 reps and I banged out seven, that's a good amount. And I might get tired, but shit, if I get tired, okay, get myself a little bit, but I get those other three reps in. Like, I used to just stop at seven.

Right. At least I did something. So, you know, saying I was able to reinvent myself and better myself instead of feel sorry for myself. Because at the end of the day, bro, like, my shit's broke. Okay. Why am I going to keep wasting energy and crying about me not being able to play? Yeah.

that's not going to change what can change the solution. That's one thing in my agent when I first got cut, bro, I was ready to fire his eyes because he says some shit that kind of like pissed me off. He says some shit. He's like, bro, you got to take the emotion out of the business. I'm like, bro, my emotion is the business. Like, this is my life, bro. What he's talking about?

But what he was saying and I didn't receive it at the time, bro, it is what, like business is business. Like, life is life. Don't waste your energy on the problem because you're not. always going to have problems. Yeah. So if you constantly complain and constantly put your energy into the problem, when are you ever going to fix the problem? Yeah, exactly. You're going to be exhausted from fucking complaining so much that you're never going to have the energy to fix the problem. So save your energy. You are what you're,

whatever it's happened has happened. There's no undoing it. There's no going back to it. Nope. So make it better or or fix it, whatever the case may be. But say like, like focus on that. Not, oh, this happened to me. Yeah. Work. shit had happened to other people and they've been alright. Exactly. You can't play the victim. Like that, there's no power in playing that game.

And you don't get nowhere. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, nobody's gonna feel like, in the head and a day, nobody really gives a fuck, bro. That's true. We think we do and you want to play this like sympathy card.

And yet at the end of the day, people are going to just look at you and be like, bro, I don't know what to tell you, you got to figure your shit out. Everybody got their own life shit. Like, we all got problems. So I can't really, I can be there for you in a certain purpose.

Of course. Like, I got my own shit. It's on you to get it done. Yeah. And if you choose the moment about yours, then that's on you, bro. But I ain't on that way. So, yeah. I've learned a lot throughout it, bro.

And it's funny because I always get asked if I had to do it over without changing anything. I'm like, nah, bro, because I learned so much throughout it. Like, the most important thing I learned was how to survive. Like, I can do with very little nowadays. NBA, okay. I don't need a bed. I don't need it. a fucking, even though I got a nice

size house, shit, I was, I've never been to jail, but I feel like I know what it feels like being at, when I was in a ju-girl room. Like, I know how to survive. I know how to, oh, I might not have food. Shit, I got bread, I got peanut, but I got jelly. That shit could take you a wrong way.

It's true, bro. You feel like, we don't, and then when you go outside of America, you see how the rest of the world live, though. I was legit about to talk about that. It almost makes it seem like who has it good. Right. Us or them. Because one thing that people that don't have what we have is pure happiness.

I've seen little kids in the DR with no shoes. This dude's literally talking what I was about to talk about. Happy to see a soccer ball. And I've seen millionaires miserable because they have nobody to kick you with. And it's just like, who really has it good? It's true. You know what I'm saying? It's a damn fact, bro.

When you see shit like that, it puts it into perspective. I'll tell you a story. Like, we did a mission trip in the DR. That's what I did when I was at Auburn. It took us on a mission trip. And dude, that shit changes your whole perspective. And one is the kids, right? Like, the kids are happy.

The people are happy. And they're living in these little shacks made by palm trees and metal that they were able to find. No lights, no AC. No, exactly. No electricity, nothing. And they're there living off the land with whatever food they can get. chicken is like is like a luxury right like when you when they're cooking chicken from the farm it's like oh my god we were able to get chicken or what we're able to get eggs right showering and

getting water for them is like you got to go down the mountain go to the go to the river pick up some water there it's not clean water so then you got to go boils and horses in that same water and people taking showers in that same water no you can't drink that straight up so you got to go back you got to boil that water so you can actually drink it and it's safe and reality is it still may not be and people die from it and it's just just the way of their life and like illness is a real thing out there because they don't have accessibility to medicine hospitals a hundred of jamaica i don't like i want hospital in jamaica something happy you might be fucked we take shit for granted out of you yeah you know and we don't even think about these things

we go about her daily life complaining about shit that's irrelevant and it's like you see that and it's like they don't got nothing and they're they're super happy happy bro So happy. And around family. You know what I'm saying? Like, bro, it's like once they got their people. Once I seen that, I was like, bro, there's nothing that I complain about. Yeah.

Like, that's true. Frame, if we want some clean water, we can go to our fridge and. Exactly. All right. And people were bitching about, oh, bro, but like, you know, this isn't like the purified water. I'm like, bro, what are you talking about? Turn on a sink. That's good enough stuff at the time.

Better than what they got. I'm good. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, and. And I feel like that's one thing I always tell I wish, I tell people like, bro, go outside the country, though. Go really see how they live in.

Yeah. You think your life's bad to go out there and then you come back and you let me know if your life's bad or not. Even your worst day probably is their greatest day. Exactly. There was a lady there, right? A little probably, I don't know, 60 years old lived by herself. Her husband had passed away.

So she's just by herself, right? She lives in this little community. And she knew we were there with a bunch of these high school kids, right? and she had heard that the kids wanted soda, right? Like, because they don't have soda. Like, it's not just there, right? So the kids asking for soda all week, she heard that. And she went down with her, barely any money that she's got.

She went down to the little supermarket and bought 10 liters of soda so the kids could have soda while they were out there. Selfish. Like, a lady with nothing, yet her inclination was to give when you have nothing really to give. And here's here. ecstatic seeing these kids so happy all the kids coming up giving her a hug and like that changed so much for me because I'm like here we here we are and we struggle to give it's like oh I can't

give because like you know like you know I just can't and yet this lady legit can't and she still did probably gave her laughs at that like she couldn't buy eggs probably now she couldn't probably get the chicken that maybe she was going to get later that week but she said what's more important than this is giving And that's why it's super hard for me now just to even allow certain people or deal with certain people just because like... Yeah, yeah. I'm saying, I have a short fuse for that. Me too.

Me too. Like, I'm like, bro, what are you complaining about, bro? Yeah. Yeah, like, it's very hard for me to even give you a chance to get it out because I'm like, bro, like, I'm going, bro. I'm going or you get the fuck out of your water to too, but I ain't, I'm not saying here to listen to this shit. Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about that time when you were in Juko, right? Obviously, like, the Netflix show was like a big, big thing.

Tell me a little bit more about, like, that whole time of your life. Obviously, you got cameras on you. You're, you had disagreements with the coaches. You were thinking about quitting football. Like, what was that whole phase of your life? Bro, it was, like I said, it was a very survival period for me. Like I said, I've been to the walkball house where me and a couple guys going there. One of my boys might have been sagging telling him pick his pants up.

Okay, cool. I picked the pants up. Now we're getting the cops calling us and telling us we got to take our food and go and leave. Sheesh. For pants? And we complied. It wasn't like we were, you know what I'm saying? But all right, cool.

Shit, just being in the middle of nowhere, closest McDonald's is 35 minutes away. Walmart, 45 minutes away. Shit. school from Monday to Thursday and in Mississippi, at that time, you can only have six out-of-state players. So everybody gone Monday to Thursday. If I don't have a visit or if I'm not going nowhere, I'm at the crib with six other dudes. Like, what are we going to do, bro? We got to keep ourselves entertained. So you learn to do it without less. Like, shit, well, I remember the shit we used to do. Like, we'll play baseball with a broom and a soccer ball in the parking lot.

You just see a whole bunch of dudes just playing, like, football players. Because, bro, like we're bored, but we ain't trying to be inside all day. Exactly. But then I really learned how to grind because it wasn't shit to do, because I'm in the middle of nowhere with access to nothing, let's go put in some work on the field, bro. Like, let's get back. Like, ain't we here to get up out of here?

Right. So they'll go put in some work. Like, let's do it. We ain't got nothing else. Might as well better ourselves and give ourselves the best chance. So that's where I really wear how to work and grind for real and fall in love with it even more than I did because that was, That was fun.

It was something that was productive that I can do to help me get out of my situation. But, you know what I'm saying? I'm very, very grateful for that period. Like I said, like my relationship with God started in that period. And like, when I say my relationship with God, I ain't like, okay, I go to church every Sunday because I don't. But like, I don't think that's where faith is, bro.

It's just like, well, I talk to God, just like, I'm talking to you. Like, keep it 100. it. I mean, I'm not trying to be nobody that I'm not trying to be. You see me? Like, it's a personal relationship. Like I said, I was in church my whole life. I knew about God. I knew about church. But that don't mean, like, I know God. You know what I'm saying? Like, that was a difference. I knew them because I knew them for me and how I wanted to know them. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So that time in junior college girl, like, it was like, it was fun just because

the guys you with some of the closest guys who I'm still with now because they go through it with you. You know what I'm saying? The people that I met there, like Ms. Wagner, like, she was at my wedding. Like, that's my dog. You feel me? Like, it was a great time. And the funny thing is, I hated every single second while I was there. I hated that place, bro. I hated that shit, bro. Oh, my God, I hated that place. But, like, I miss it in a sense. Right. Because of what it taught me. Yeah. Just the people into the genuineness in it. So, bro, like, I'm, if it's any point that I'm most grateful for, is that point. in my life for sure sure and how's faith still relevant in your life today right like now it's post

football career it's family it's you got a kid right like how much has faith translated into your life today oh man um it's it's don't that's my north star that's the one that gives me the direction um bro like nobody can not nobody can tell me that god it's not real i feel like because I've, like, man has tried to shut me out so many times and close those doors. And every step of the way, I've elevated. Boom, Lee, Florida State. Go to Juko. Okay, you go to a bigger school in Auburn, SEC.

All right, cool. Go to FAU, change positions. Damn. Getting the NFL playing a different position. Like, how am I going to get into the NFL play in a position? I never played in my life. Like, but you can't tell me that's not God, bro. My back pedal was trash, fam.

Facts. I know multiple d-bs that was better than me at that point in time that should have probably been in the NFL, but I was there. I didn't do that. I'm not going to sit here and be, and I put it working, but I'm not going to be and I even sit here and think I created that for myself. Yeah, God did. You feel me?

So it's like, after you see this so many times, how could you not? The evidence is there. You feel me? Yeah, like it'll be kind of disrespectful. Fact. So that's how I view it. Bro, like, bro, nobody can't tell me. Like, I know it.

I know it. It's true. From my own experience, not from nobody telling me about their experience. And I think that's when, you're saying, that's when you really do build your faith is when you know it for you through your experiences. Not for anybody else trying to force it on you. Not for anybody else trying to tell you about it. I feel like you've got to go through it or grow through it. Yep.

You know what I'm saying? So there's evidence every day of our life that, you know, that God exists and that he's working for you. not against you. And to even add on that, but like, past four years I haven't worked a job, I ain't hurting for money. I got real estate properties.

I ain't, I'm like, I've been straight. Yeah. I got nice shit. Yeah. I got jury. Mm-hmm.

I go out of country. I travel frequently. Right. For someone to not work, somebody's provided that for me. That's coming from somewhere. Mm-hmm. And who, I mean,

ain't nobody handing me no check. X. Right. So shit. Who else is there? Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like it's like some certain shit you just can't even like deny because it's right in your face too many times. So for real. You're a goofy if you do deny. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So no, it's it's evident every day, right? I got a Bible passage right here and it was like in a time where doubt and uncertainty and confusion and anger and all these emotions going on. But it was the backbone to make me realize. is that even when shit's not right, everything is right. Because God's got the plan and it's a plan to prosper you and not to harm you.

It's a plan for hope in the future. That's the passage that in those moments of doubt, you got to rely on that, right? Because that faith is what's going to keep you going. It's going to carry you through those moments where it's like, shit, this doesn't make any damn sense. But at the end of the day, it makes total sense. Bro, my, you spoke to something that just, like, my favorite Bible verses proverb 16 and 3 is my second. tattoo ever, it's on my, it's on my abs, on my stomach. And it's commit all your,

commit your plans to the Lord and your actions will, and your actions will succeed. So if I, if I'm doing what I'm doing for the right reasons, it's already done. I shouldn't have to worry. I got to do the work. You got to do the work, but when it's backed by God,

I'm straight. And it might not happen next year. Right. Might not happen five years from now. But it's going to happen. And maybe I'm not ready for it to happen right now. Maybe I'm not mature enough or in a position for it to happen because I'm like, fuck it up if he's given to me too early. So like that goes and play too, bro.

And it's like if you commit it, commit your actions to the Lord, commit your plans to the Lord and your plans will succeed. You're good, bro. You don't even got to worry anymore. That's a damn fact, bro. So today your life, right, obviously is not around football as much. Like what does your, I guess, next iteration, you know, faith-oriented, but like plan? Like, what do you feel like your purpose and your plan now is in this next chapter of your life? Yeah.

I have a real heavy pull to coach. I have a foundation. It's called the Dripway Foundation. Drip means dreams require immovable persistence. I feel like that's what I embody. And it's half tailored towards sickle-suit. of anemia awareness because I carry trait. I carry the trait.

And the other half is towards leadership and mentorship in the youth. So I have a real strong passion and like over discovering why certain things have happened to me. I know it's my purpose now to impact. And like I said, inspire others to make their dreams come true. And I feel a heavy pull towards doing that what younger men of this generation because they know me, they look up to me. When I go to these colleges, like, they come ask me questions. Right.

And not, like, they ask me deep questions. Like, what's your greatest piece of advice? And, like, things that they really want to know because they, they walk. Like, like, Tyrion Arnold, you know, Tyrion he, top 10 draft pick for the lines last year. The one that got on, when he got drafted, he's like, I love you, mama. And you started crying and shit. But bro, I met him. He trained at House Athlete in Tampa.

I met him last year. He was like, bro, you're the reason I picked up a football. Wow. I'm like, damn. That's a lot of responsibility. That's big. That ain't a little. Like, bro, we talk about like he's a dude.

He went to Bama. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's like, bro, like, he's over, I used to be in the backyard saying I'm J5. I'm like, damn. That's crazy. Like, imagine. how many other teary our arms there are that fucking said the same thing.

I've met a couple. But I was like, bro, like, that's heavy. So, you know, I know that's my superpower is that I have their attention. And I just want to help guide them to make it, like, bro, whatever your dream is, like, I just want to pour to you to make sure that you get there. Because I feel like nowadays it's a lot of distraction, even more distractions. distractions, especially with the money being given to them. For sure.

Everybody, you feel me, putting them on pedestals and even early. Now the high school kid can get paid in Florida, as we know. So I just feel like, one, I wanted to, I always wish I had somebody that was able to keep real with me about what it's like at the top. Because that shit ain't easy. And peaches and cream like they make it seem. Right. And it's not a lot of people that will tell you that.

For me, I wish somebody told me so I could have had. handled moving out of it a lot better than I did. And I feel like that's what, like that big brother, bro. Like, I just want to be able to be the big brother that they can know that he got my best interest in heart. He's been where I'm trying to be. I'm probably one of the most popular people besides Tom Brady or a couple others. And I don't have their NFL abilities.

Right. But you got that. I got that notoriety. And to just be able to pour life into him and know, like, bro, you got everything you need to do. what you want to do. That's, I feel like, people need that. That's my purpose and that's my calling, and that's what I'm after now, bro. And even though I'm doing it through the lens of coaching younger men, it's still a life story.

That's why I get through with the podcast and other stuff. Like, yeah, it's a football. I was a life story told through a football lens. And this happens to doctors. This happens to scientists. This happens to teachers. is like just apply it apply to principle. Exactly.

Don't worry about what it looked like, you know what I'm saying? So that's my calling. I actually chose the pathway at PAC to do the elite public speaking because I feel like for a while I didn't want to get out there and share my story, but the meaning of how I got through it because I know that that will save people's lives. And that's a damn factor. That's kind of where that's my next calling, real. Yeah.

And it's moments like that along the way, right? It's like you feel inclined to do it, but you got guys like that coming up to. It's like, dude, you made me pick up a football. Right. It's like, that's just God speaking through that vessel saying like, see, this is what? This is why you're important. This is why what you're doing is real. And it makes and it makes you believe in it that much more.

Because it's like, to your point, that's one. Then there's two. Then there's 10. Now there's 20. And God knows how many more out there. Like I remember when I started this, I would get some crazy DMs. from people saying like, bro, like, I was about to kill myself, you know? And like the message you put out there, like, made me not.

Yep. I've had that from a military that sent me a video. I was like, bro, like, I was ready to do it. You made me not. Well, he ain't a football player. Right. So somebody is going to battle for us. Regular dude.

And it's like, damn, bro. It's power in that. But to know it. and to protect it. Exactly. But to do my part and sharing it, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's, that's, and that's going to be bigger than anything I ever did so far. Beforehead.

Because it's of service for others. And like I said, it brings me so much more fulfillment to anything I ever did already. 100%. So I'm like, I'm like, all in on that shit, bro. It's true. I mean, like you said, like football was just like this vessel for you to be able to live out that purpose. And we talked about it like on the last pod that we just did, Enki Johnson. I used to listen to Inky almost every morning.

You talk about a guy that his identity was strict from him, but use that pain into the biggest purpose that you probably can have. And if he doesn't go through that injury, would he have been able to impact the millions of lives that he's been able to impact? And again, that's God in a moment where it's like, yo, I know it doesn't make sense now, but trust me, it will. And every day, he probably still looks back at that moment, like, you know, the what-ifs, because we're human.

Right. But there's the constant reminder being like, nah, man, this is exactly where you're supposed to be because this is what you were destined to do. Yeah. Before you were even conceived. That's crazy part about it.

It is. It is. All our maps are. The plans, it's been planned before we was even conceived, bro. It was like you, like one thing I struggle with was I'm a planner, so I always try to like make things happen.

Right. You got to get out of the driver's seat, bro. Yeah. That's true. Sometimes you need to- Which is the hardest thing to do. It is, bro. Right?

Because you feel like you're losing control. But boy, that's when everything opened up. You just be like, how did I even get here? Yeah. Get out of driver's seat. And get in the passenger. Sometimes get in the backseat. Just let the ride go.

Just going to ride. It's like this. I like to meditate. And a lot of times during my meditation, I get this like, I guess, like a vision, you know, like internally. And it's like legit, like God just lifting me up. It's like this hand. like big hand the clouds the sun and he's like you're fighting all the shit it's like you're trying to move through their fucking trenches and it's like nah just stop for a second and just let let them get

you there because reality is the only way you're going to get there is when you let that trust and you let go right it's like living like god live and let go like legit let let let god do his thing because the only way you're going to get to the places that you won't even fathom where you can get to. We definitely block a lot of our blessings. We're trying to like steer shit and like blind faith. You know what I'm saying. You don't need to know where you're going. We just need to go for the ride, right. Exactly. That's what the definition of faith is. Trust in, trust in what you don't see, what you can't see. And honestly, what we be willing for ourselves is so fucking small. Yeah. Compared to what like, is there already like there for as long as we

get the fuck out of the way. We got to get out of our own way. That's all you want. That's so much more. That's peanuts. Yeah. Like, that's how you think of yourself? It's like, when you get there, you're like, damn, I didn't know if it was waiting on me like that. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying?

So, like, that's another big piece of advice is just, you got to do the work, bro. It ain't just for them to sit back and it's weight. Right, right, right. Like, because, you know, that gets taken into the wrong perception. Okay, yeah, I'm just going to take off the driver's seat and I don't got to do anything. Yeah, but nah, like, you just don't have to force it. Exactly. Like, you said it.

Like, you found your purpose. you're doing the work to do it. Once you're doing the work, then that's where you can let God just take care of the rest. Because when it comes to what you can control, it's the work and the mindset that you have to achieve it.

After that, you can't really control. All you can control, it's put it in the time, put it in the effort, put it in the work, continuing to learn, continuing to grow. Those are things that you as a human being can control. After that, that's where the letting go comes into play. Yeah, I never like, when I was with the Bears,

He was one of my OG vets, Akeem Hicks. He told me he was like, it took him five years to make a meal in league. And like, you know, Akeem had a great career after him. But he was like, bro, you do the right shit over and over and over, you're bound to hit your head on the bag. Yeah. You're just bound to do it. You just do the right shit and you're going to hit your head on the bag. That's the best way.

That's how, like, when he told me that, I was like, bet. Yeah. Tell me, all right, so you know, played with guys like James, Tom. Like, give me a little insight into being around those type of guys. Man, James is one of the realest people I know. Bro, he moved me into my apartment day one of getting the FSU. My age, he's a starting quarterback. I'm here to compete.

Right, potentially take his job, if anything. But here he is. Here he is helping me move in. When I got to the Bucks, I remember I told you you got there two weeks before Thanksgiving I had me and my wife went to James house for Thanksgiving no way it's always been like that

wow like I know football because of James Winston like when he was that year we were on a natty and I was redshirted like I used to just play football off instinct like bro I ain't I'm a you gotta stop me I don't care what you're doing like I know what you're doing

but I don't care like you got to stop me I got the ball. But he's like, nah, bro, we need to know this shit. So he used to, I used to hate it too

because it like took so much time. But he used to be like, no, come on, we're going to watch film after practice. Like, he'll bring me in there with him. Like, bro, it broke that shit down.

Like, you would think my coaches would. Not saying they would, but you're a coach, you're trying to get the guy ready. Yeah. Like, I'm two year,

three year playing down the road. James made sure I was ready. Like, took the time out personally, bro. Day after day. Then give me the option to not dip out

Hey, let's go, you know what we got to do. Right. So I know coverages. I know fronts. I know schemes because of James for my freshman year. That's crazy.

So that's the type of guy he is. Nobody can ever say nothing bad about James. No, no. You could tell him. You see him. He's a big personality. And that's exactly what he's the people. He's a people person, bro.

Like, everything you see is not a gimmick. That's him. Funny dude. Like, but one of the realest dudes that ever came across, Tom Brady, bro. Like the one thing I respect about Tom Brady, bro. Like the one thing I respect about Tom Brady so much, he does everything everybody else does.

And you would think, oh, it's Tom Brady. Yeah, he has his own trainer. Yeah, he has his own nutrition and shit. But if we got a workout and we got to do, and the other quarterback's got to do this on that workout, Tom is doing these same exact shit. He'll go do his own shit after the day. Like supplemental to it. But you would think, oh, like, and I've been on teams where guys two aren't.

consider the goat, which we really only consider one person to go at this point. Maybe patching my own up there. But they, you know, feel entitled. They could do their own thing. They ain't got a workout today. I've never seen Tom Brady not do what everybody else on the team did, bro. That was the most, how he always says, like, he still has, like, carries himself, like, he's that six-round player.

Bro, it's so true, bro. I've seen it, like, time and time again. Like, you would think, like, oh, you drop a pass, like, he's going to rip you. bro, he's gotten more pissed at himself for missing than anybody ever seen Drop A Wall. You would think it's the exact opposite. I can't fuck up. Mind you, we all probably got that. Yeah, you got the feeling, but he ain't actually putting that type of pressure on you.

Yeah, and it's crazy because somebody that has all the credibility and their right to do whatever fuck he wants pretty much. Humbles himself so much to where he's no. bigger than anybody on the team. And that speaks a lot of arms to me. That's the one thing I tell people about Tom Brady, because I feel like you know that about him, you can't help butt fuck with him at that point. I don't care if you've rooted against him or not.

You got to respect the man that he is. Oh, my God. You know what I'm saying? Like, even people of LeBron, like as much people might hate LeBron, bro, LeBron put his whole circle in position, bro. Yep. Like, that's one person I always admire.

Yeah. Based off how he moved. He's not my favorite basketball player. Right. But how he moves? Yeah, you got to have that respect. You can't do nothing but respect that. shit, bro. Yeah. The man has put his whole fan group in position not to do shit for him, but

to survive and take care of their people. Exactly. Like, bro, that's, that's, that's the most selfless shit that you can do for him. Yeah. And, and it comes from a place where it's like, I was able to achieve what I was able to achieve. I want you to feel a little bit of it. Mm-hmm. I'm going to bring up everyone with me in that process. It's just not just me. And that's kind of like, even with coaching, bro, like, I went from not wanting to coach to where I just applied to go back and get my master's because I want to be a head coach now. Like, that's kind of like my ultimate angle. It's like, because I want to be able to put my people in position.

Yeah. Be able to take care of some people that don't know that, that may have been struggling for some time. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, security guard at my wife's school. Like, I already told him, bro, you're going to be my security when I get to become a head coach. You work at a fucking elementary school. That's awesome. But you already got a job when I get it.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. To be able to, biggest FSU fan areas, but just to be able to be able to be in. be able to experience it, bro. I've been blessed to experience some shit that a lot of people won't ever get the chance to. But if I am in a position to, oh, yeah, you best believe you're going to get a chance to experience that shit. Taking care of the people that are taking care of you.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So tell me a little bit about the pods now that you got going on. Yeah. That's a nice little passion project of yours that you got rolling. Yeah, man. So we got the pod. Make sure y'all too.

It's called A Thousand Hours Out of Mud. me and my boy Richard Davis. I met him when we were with the bandits in the USFL. It's been like one of my closest guys since, bro, like a brother for real. He even moved down to Tampa. So, like, we kick it all the time. Like, it's just super solid dude. But he had his own podcast called A Thousand Hours.

And I had my own podcast called Out the Mud. And when we was in the USFL, he's like, bro, we got to merge this shit. So we merged it. Now it's a thousand hours out of the mud. Boom. Perfect. What does it mean? A thousand hours.

Got to put it. Like our slogan where we close every show, you can't cheat the grind. You got to put in that thousand hours, bro. Got to put in that time. Got to put that thousand hours. And then it's like, you can't cheat the grind. Got to put in that time. A thousand hours out of the woods until next time.

So it's like, bro, you know what I'm saying? We both were undrafted guys. Both have Super Bowls. Both in the 1%. Like shit. Like we got just as much credibility as Tom Brady. You know what I'm saying? So he played with the Eagles.

Play with the Chiefs, play with the Titans. And our, last, in 2024, we did maybe like 15 episodes sit-down style. But our, you look at all the podcasts and they're tailored towards the top 1% of the industries.

We don't fit that mold. So while would we try to force that on our pod? Like, yeah. What about the other 89, 98% of people that are us that make up the NFL that make up the rest of doctors

that make up the rest of therapists so that's our target artist we have the stories too just because the pivot and I am athlete and no shade to them but just because they bring on the Sequin Barclays

and the Lamar Jackson's like 90s majority of us ain't going to be to Seyquan Barkley or Lamar Jackson but we got just as much stories if not more because we got to go through more shit. But who wants to hear our shit?

And it's more relatable, right? Because that 0.1% is not, not, it's not achievable. Anything's achievable. But the reality is people like you are the ones that more people are going to relate to. Right. So, but who's giving in the platform to get able to come on and tell their stories? So that's what we could focus on. You know what I'm saying?

And so we created it, you know what I'm saying? We have mental health therapists on there. Our physical therapist, Julie, is on there. Our trainer, E.O. Murphy's on there. We have top football NFL players on there. Mid-major NFL players on there. Untrafter guys on there. So we did that last year.

And then this year, we just recently created a new show under the brand called Mud Talk. And Mud Talk is specifically geared to the high school and college football player. one to be that big brother to be able to give advice but to also be able to learn what they're going through right now too and give them the platform to share their stories because who's thinking about a high school kid right now right so we got from number number one quarterback in twenty twenty seven tre taylor to guys like yonis sinker that just got drafted by the same things. Trey wants to know how he got drafted. Exactly. He needs to tell him how to get drafted. You know what I'm saying?

So that's that gap that we, that we. And there's another gap right here, which is the kid that's in middle school, that's watching the high school kids saying like, yo, I want to be that five star kid. I want to be that. Or have three-star kid. Boom. And then we are going to integrate coaches because these kids need to know what these coaches are looking for.

True. How not to fuck up your image. So you can not. get that offer. Yeah. But the coaches need to know how to relate to the kids too. You feel me? Because that kid is the one that is going to allow you to keep coaching.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So that's our focus right now. That's our like passion project right around that we've been doing. We do that virtually so we can get access to more kids now. But another big piece in the, um, a thousand hours out of the mud podcast, the sit down when it's just me and Rashar, we do this segment called The Journey. and it's like our way of doing like our story telling our story

because I always wanted to write a book but I'm not a big writer I'm not a big reader I like podcasts I like going on YouTube I watch a documentary so by the end of it in the journey we take it back from our first experiences of football all the way through and we haven't even got close to even being past elementary school yet but it's our way of telling our story through our lens because everybody like I said they see me on Netflix they want to know

They think they know. Like, no, let me tell you. You saw six hours of six months. I know it really hasn't. So by the end of it, we'll have our own audio book. So that's our little piece to ourselves as well as once again, you know what I'm saying, helping people and the guys that's in those aspects, the four-year-old that might be John Franklin and like, I want to go be a professional football player. Yeah. Oh, let me listen to him because he did it.

That was his dream too. Those are two things. You know, 1,000 hours out of mud and mud talk. We're on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify. Also looking for any brands that want to sponsor it. Fuck, yeah. Just make it happen. We got the people.

Yes, sir. Yeah, you got the platform. Yeah, so that's what we do. And it's like therapy, bro. It is. It's just, it's therapy for me specifically. It's therapy that because a lot of stuff I don't really get to talk about. I had to hold on to because it would affect it.

You know what I'm saying? It would affect it. My NFL career would affect your teams. I don't know about it. Yeah, yeah. Shit, y'all don't do nothing for me now. So I'm trying to let it be known, you know what I'm saying? So, yeah, that's what we do.

And I love it, bro. Hell yeah. All right. Well, before we wrap it up, I want you to, you do it two ways. But either tell the people what you want the people to know about you or tell the people what's something that you would want to leave as, like, your legacy. My legacy definitely would be a story of perseverance, bro. I mean, it's been displayed, so it's out there.

But, like, that's what I carry with me as a badge of honor. Like, I feel like so, so much of today's world as soon as we don't get, it's a microwave world. So soon as we don't get what we want the first time, it's like, I'll go do something else. Or maybe it's not for me. Like, maybe it is for you. Maybe you just need to have a little bit of balls. Right. Try it in and, like, do it another way.

Pushed down once doesn't mean it's not for you. You know what I'm saying? So definitely a pillar and a face of perseverance and resilience and impact through the perseverance. You know what I'm saying? That's definitely what my legacy is and I would like it to be. And then something people don't know or I wouldn't want them to know about me. I'm just a regular dude, bro. Like stop treating like athletes and celebrities like they're just, God,

Like, bro, we are a regular-ass people, bro. You'll be, I laugh because I always see people be like, and I walk past people, you just hear a whisper like, hey, I think that's the dude from that from that place. Well, why not? Just see if it is. Yeah. I'm not going to bite.

Exactly. You know what I'm saying? And the thing is, like, if you have the balls enough to come talk to me, guess what? You're going to get my full, undibited attention. I'm going to answer whatever you want to know. And maybe you might leave with something that can help you. You know what I'm saying?

But like my mom always said you're ready at no. So why are you scared to ask? Like clothes mouths don't get fed. You know what I mean? So like I don't bite. I hear the whispers. You know what I'm a human too? You got to approach you like you approach anybody else.

You cut me out. You cut me. I guarantee you my blood's red. I guarantee you I put on my pants one leg at a time. So you know what I'm saying? Like that's one thing I always want people like, yes, we were athletes. Yes, we were in front of the camera. Yes, even your movie stars are popular.

But we are humans, bro. Yeah. We feel how you feel. We think how you think. We mess up how you mess up. So don't villainize us, but don't put us on a pedestal. You feel like we're better than you. I'm the first one to tell them.

I'm no better than you. My life just got put on TV, bro. And I didn't ask for that shit. Right, right, right. I mean, I reap the benefit of the reward, but I also shit had a lot of work to do because now I walk into rooms and I'm fighting a battle of I'm not the person that you've seen on TV. But I welcome the conversation every time. For sure.

So that's just that's it, bro. Hell yeah. Well, appreciate the time, bro. Like, hell of a fucking story. Pleasure. Hell of a hell of time. It's been a good week. You know, shout out pack, obviously for putting all this together.

Yeah, hell yeah. They just, they do, they do this, you know, bring people together, allow you to tell stories, allow you to connect with like-minded people, which is extremely powerful when you leave these weeks motivated as well. Yeah, man. I feel we, I pour out a lot to other people and stuff like this feels my cut back up, you know, so maybe go out there and pour it out again. So, definitely shout out of the pack.

Yeah, yeah. Well, go tune into the pod, watch, you know, the journey, see what's next, you know, coaching, legacy, all that. But again, thank you for the time. Love, my brother. Hope you guys enjoyed.