Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset - How Ben St. Juste Beat the Odds to Succeed in the NFL

Episode Date: March 10, 2025

Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Shawn French, host of The Determined Society, and Benjamin St. Juste, the starting defensive back for the Washington Commanders. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of making it to the NFL from Canada, the importance of discipline and determination, and balancing professional and personal life. Don't miss out on this episode filled with invaluable insights and motivational stories. Subscribe to our channel for more compelling interviews and life-changing discussions! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Congratulations on the amazing season. It's bittersweet because it's like we're one game away from going to the Super Bowl. Beautiful message by Coach Quinn in the locker room. He was like, you know, don't let this moment overshadow like what we're accomplished. People that don't go through nothing in life once they had a big challenge, they have no strategy for it. Like you have to go through stuff in life and maneuver through it and find solution. That's what makes you better, more resilience and stuff. You're a deep-ass dude.

Like, I respect the shit out of it. Sean French, what else? One luck, I let the pain inspire me. I'm from all and everything I'm doing. Up until it's done, I'm me for the entirety. I'll put it in overtime. I'll be working. Just know I'm a go for mine because I earned it.

They watch and I know it's time. I confirmed. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Determined Society. I'm your host, Sean French. Before I introduce today's amazing guest, and it's going to be a great one, you're going to love him. Please, if you haven't already subscribed to the YouTube,

Spotify and Apple Podcasts, please click that follow button and let us know what you think. Also follow at the Sean French on Instagram, SHAWN, and at the Determined Society. So today, ladies and gentlemen, I have with me someone that was literally four quarters of away from playing in the Super Bowl this year. He is the starting defensive back for the Washington commanders. My man, Benjamin St. Jude. What's up, dude? What I appreciate you.

Thank you for having me, man. I'm grateful you're here. You know, it's so funny, you never know who's moving in five more, five doors down from you, right? Five doors down. And I found out later. Like, honestly, like, when I said hi to you before, like, I was just saying hi because, you know, you're new in the neighborhood.

I'm like, hey, what's up, man? And, you know, I'm trying to talk to you because I talk to everybody. You'll see that. I'm walking around my dogs. I'm like, I'm like, I talk to everybody. They're like, someone says, hey, did you know that he's, he plays for the commanders? I'm like, no way. That's pretty cool, man.

Yeah, I got a nice, warm welcome from a few people. my neighbor in front of me is a Giants fan. Oh, Rudy! Yeah, he let me know off rip. He's like, well, thank you. Like, you know, we welcome you in the neighborhood, but I'm a Giants fan. So I was like, all right, I get it. Dude, Rudy's great.

Have you ever gotten to, like, a real, like, long conversation with Rudy? Not yet. My wife been a few times. She's way more talkative than me. I mean, in general, she's just way more in the neighborhood than me because I'm busy and all that stuff. But I'm starting to learn a little bit more about everyone's story, where they're from. and all that stuff. So I'm looking forward to talking with Rudy, yeah.

No, dude, Rudy's great, man. He's hysterical. But, dude, the neighborhood, it's funny because your wife does a good job. She does a good job around the neighborhood, stopping and talking, and, you know, walking the new break. Congratulations, baby. On the baby, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's been great. It's better.

She was born right before training camp, which was, like, really hard. It was a gift in the curse because I got a little bit of time two weeks before training camp started. Yeah. But then once training camp started, the season started, like, I'm gone. Like, I wake up. early in the morning, she wakes up. I see her 15 minutes. I'm going to the facility.

I come back home around six, bedtime, 6.30. So I got maybe 45 minutes with her. So I didn't really have the time to be a real dad throughout the season, but it was really cool to have her on the sideline for games. And I feel like it was her lucky charm every time she came to games. We won. But now in the off season, I get to be a real dad and take off a little bit of responsibility.

So my wife can still be herself, you know, not just a mother. So Julia, right? Yeah, Julia. Julia. Julia. Okay. Yeah. I mean, dude, I hear you, man. It's hard because when, you know, it's like our kids don't choose their parents, right? They don't choose who we are and what we do. And it's hard. Like, how did you, how did you manage that during the season? Because I would have to imagine, like, it was hard for you emotionally. Like, okay. Like, my daughter is brand new. And I'm, I'm here. You know, I'm trying to get to somewhere, you know, that we haven't been in the last 31 years. But also you got your little heartbeat that's beating out. your body, you know, chilling at home. Yeah, yeah, you nailed it. It was tough.

And it was tough every day just because, like, sometimes I would go by a few days. And I'm like, I didn't really do much with her, you know. I missed out on, you know. When it comes to what your family eats and drinks, you know your choices matter. You're the expert because you know what fits your life. And getting it right starts with good information. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing more information. about our ingredients at good to know facts.org.

No spin, no judgments, just the facts straight from the experts for more than 140 beverage ingredients. Visit good to know facts.org. Some anniversaries like first month, second month, third month, or like her trying some new thing, her trying some food and all that stuff. But obviously it's part of the game. It's a sacrifice. I think when we went through a rough patch, I think we lost like three straight.

I remember Bobby Wackner, good veteran, good leader in her team, did a speech and he was like, you know, he's been there done that. He's seen like what it takes and all the stuff. He's like, honestly, it hurts. And I hate to say it, but you guys are going to have to sacrifice things for us to take that next step. Like if it's like less time with your family, less time with, you know, your kids, less time on a video game, less time doing all the other stuff to sacrifice to give it back, give back that time to the team. So we can take that next step. you're going to have to do it. And your family date, like, it's such to say,

but they're not going to understand. They can tell you they understand, like we understand yet, but they don't really understand why you're not there, but it's for a greater goal that you want to achieve. You know, it's interesting because

I had a conversation with my wife last night, right? And the show has gotten to a point where we're getting the opportunity to do cooler things. Like, we're getting to go places. Excuse me. And that's going to take time away from me being home.

And the direct response was, is it going to be like this every month because, you know, your son has baseball, the girls have gymnastics and I'm like, and I'm thinking in my mind like, oh my God, really, like is this really where we're going with this right now?

Like we spent four years building this platform. Now it's exploding. We have to capitalize on that or it was for nothing. But at the same time, I get it, man. Like I understand it. And our wives see us completely different. Yeah.

Your wife doesn't see you as a football player, dude. She just sees me as her husband. Even though she was an, uh, too, you know, ran track and feel, I understand the schedule, the sacrifice, and everything. At the same time, she's past that. That's in the past, you know, she's a mother now. She's a wife and quality time and with family and all that's what she cherish. And I guess the balance for me is that every time that I'm there, I'm going to be 100% present.

That's what I try to work on. No phone. Go on walks. No phone. No call. Don't call me. Don't text me. I'm not going to pick this up.

Like, my 100% attention is going to be with my family when I'm there because I know that later on, like you said, there's going to have to be some sacrifice and I'm not going to be there. I love it. Because everybody talks about balance as an entrepreneur, and you're also an entrepreneur too. We'll get to that. But they talk about balance, right? You can't balance everything in your life. It's literally impossible.

And I always say it's about when you have that time is being fully present and you hit that. Like, how are some of the, and I'm going to learn from you right now because I have a hard time shutting off. Like, my dude, it is hard. How have you been able to be like, okay, I'm going to leave my phone over here when it's time to be with the baby and the wife and I'm going to walk and not bring my phone? How do you deal with that? I think most of this stuff and people are always trying to find like a secret sauce, a secret like, oh, what's the technique or whatever?

They all come back to discipline, honestly. You can be, you can wake up one day. Let's say I tell myself, like, I'm going to read or I'm going to leave my phone at home when I go and walks. When I say that the first time I might be extra motivated for the first week I might be like, oh, we're going on walks

the phone is not there. I'm fully present. Then I'm like, wait, like I got this really important business call. I might have to like take it or wait. Like my agent said he was going to call me so I might bring it on the wall.

So the next thing you know, but in two weeks you have your phone in your pocket every walk that you know with your family. Yeah. But that discipline of good, bad, however you feel, you leave that phone there,

whatever goal that you set, it doesn't matter what mood you in or if you're motivated or not, that discipline will always kicks in and you'll put that phone away. So that's what I try to do. And honestly, like I've tried multiple things. I talk with like multiple coaches and all that stuff about certain things. And it always revolve around the discipline part of it.

You literally hit every facet of the show in one part of the conversation. But that's the thing, right? So even with, you know, your job, football, your marriage, time with your kid, the walks, everything. It's like everything in life is going to boil down to discipline and determination. right? How disciplined are you in those moments where you lack the emotional motivation side of it? And dude, I'm motivated maybe I tell people this and I don't, it may be more. I'm motivated maybe three to four days out of the month. I don't want to wake up at four o'clock in the morning every day and go to the gym. But I do it because I said I would. Right? I'm trying to build something here and there's disciplines

every single day. And I know if I do all these little things, I'm going to grow into this person that deserves this. I'm just upset. You know, like that, that to me is. is everything. And even if it doesn't work out, that's what I always tell people, because, like, there was a lot of kids from back home or just in general to ask me, like, what can I do? What can I do more to make it to the league or whatever and all that stuff? And I tell them, like, this discipline of consistently working on your craft and doing all that stuff. And sometimes they ask me, like, but what if I don't make it? What if it doesn't work out? So what? At least you did everything that you needed to do to make it where you at. And if it doesn't work out,

you have no regrets. There's nothing worse than not doing it. And then, having to regress the rest of your life man i should like you know i'm saying did three episodes like i said i was going to but i only did one a week your chance your opportunity is gone now like you can't go back and then you got to live with that the rest of your life and then i think what what people learn along the way that's what i've learned and i'm sure you can attest to this is like you build yourself into somebody that if that one thing doesn't work out you're prepared for the next thing right because life's going to throw things at you you know you're going to eat shit sandwiches like it's going to there's going to be times, man.

You're like, what is going on? But as long as we stay consistent in these moments where people aren't seeing, like when we're doing the work and, you know, and it's silent. Yeah. Like, that's what's going to build the next version of you. 1000%.

So real quick, so you grew up in Canada, Montreal, Canada. And, you know, I think, did you play hockey too? I did. I did. I did. That's the first sport I ever play.

Obviously, I keep telling people that like Montreal or just Canada in general, like, the winters are extremely long. I would say, like, we start, it start getting really cold, like, mid-October. And you don't really see snow, like, fully melted until beginning of May. So it's very, very long. So you have to pick up some sort of winter sport or whatever. And then hockey, obviously, being the national sport, my dad cleared up the backyard one time, put the holes with some water and made an ice rink for us to start skate.

Because my dad is a multi-sport athlete, you know, taught me how to snowboard and ski, taught me how to play basketball, football, hockey, and all that stuff. So picked up the skates at four. I played until I was, like, really, like, 14. I thought about every local arena I was there with my friends and all that stuff. And I was really talented. But I thought that I could be better at football. My dad was a football player.

I asked him, was his favorite sport. He said it was football. So I was like, you know, well, let me be different. You know, like, it's very – it's not easy, but it's – it's – it's – it's – it's – it's – it's – for Canadian kids to go to the NHL, you know, like guys do remote school, get drafted at 18. Like, that's the path.

Like, I want you to take. I was like, nah, I'm going to try football. I'm going to be different. I'm going to be the kid they remember for making it to the NFL from Canada, from Montreal, playing football, not hockey. So, man, how many kids from Canada make it to the league?

So right now in the NFL, I would say, like, there's about, like, eight to 10-ish. Like if we saw like an emergence of like Canadians players, like eight to ten like active like maybe seven like on roster and everything. But from Quebec to. Wow. It's me. And then Matthew Bergeron that got drafted to a second round two years ago by Atlanta Falcons.

It's wild. So that's that's it. That's wild. How does it feel for you? Because I mean, it's great to be in the NFL. You're like you're setting the example for kids in your country of what is possible. Mm-hmm. That's, honestly, it's a big responsibility,

but it's a responsibility that I carry with a lot of pride and honor. Just because I saw how art it was growing up, the lack of resources that we had, like in terms of football on the educational aspect of it, on recruiting, there was no recruiting and all that stuff. And I saw how much talent we had, we just didn't have the exposure. So I told myself, like, if I ever make it to the big leagues,

then I have to give back to my community. I have to give back to those kids because I know that we have the talent, I know there's going to be more. And we're starting to see it. We're starting to see more Canadians. Guys are proud. Coaches are starting to go recruit in Canada.

Like, they believe it. Before that, it was like, I had my era when I was coming out. It was like, I send my highlight tape or I send myself to a coach. He's like, oh, yeah, that's sweet, but you play in Canada. Like, I'm saying? We don't know your, we don't know your, what's it called, the level of competition. You got to come here to the U.S. You got to prove yourself.

Yeah, yeah. And play against a four or five stars and we want to see if you're good. And that was my era. Now they're starting to be like, okay, we saw some Canadians. You know, they can play. all that stuff, we'll recruit that area. That's interesting. That's funny, but like, I get it, right?

Like, I totally understand. You said something that I thought it was very interesting. You told yourself, you made a promise to yourself that when you made it to the league, you would give back. Now, you run the biggest American football clinic in Canada. And it's very rarely talked about here in the States. Like, can you walk the audience through how you're giving back to the youth and what it means to you in the community?

Yeah, like I said, I never forgot about that dream that I had as a kid. So then when I got drafted, nothing was really in place. My foundation wasn't in place. My brand wasn't in place. But I had the vision that I wanted to give back. So I went on Instagram. I posted a store and say, hey, I'm going to be at this field at this time. If there's any kid that want to pull up and learn some techniques or play football, whatever, I'll be there.

Post it, show up, 150 kids show up. Just like an Instagram story and everything. So we had a great time. And the kids loved it. And that kind of sparked the idea. I was like, if 150 kids can show up off an Instagram story at a park for two hours, at a football field, what can we do if we set up a team, a foundation that we resources, come on and all. So that's what we did. We created the original foundation, which is tied in also with my brand, but we also do all the football camps, nonprofit football camps.

First year, we hosted 500 kids show up to my whole high school. second year 2022, 623 shows up, 223, third year, 550 again, and then we're going on four years of 500 plus kids that show up. Jeez, man. And honestly, it's just, it's awesome because we have the football component on the field where I bring all NFL, NCAA, NCA, CFL players to teach the kids and have fun and all that stuff.

But we also have the educational aspect of it. Like I said earlier, growing up, we lack resources. on education, kids don't understand if they should take the ACT or the SAT in Canada. It's very different. Like the system is very different. They don't understand if they need to take the SAT and SAT, what score they need to have, what classes they need to take, how to get recruited by colleges and all that stuff. So we bring a whole bunch of specialists and, you know, people that can teach them that

for the first portion of the camp. So the first couple hours is all workshops on mental health, on how to take care of your nutrition, how to market yourself once you make it, and what on the academic side of it, academic side of things, what you need to do to receive a scholarship. So if you're a parent and you drop your kid off at my camp, you know your kid is not only coming out,

coming off the field with new technique on how to be a better football player, but also he's coming out there smarter, knowing what he needs to do and all that stuff. Because I picked every single thing that I didn't have as a kid that I had to learn from trial and error, and I said, nah, these kids, they're not going to have to go through what I went through.

I'm going to give them everything that I learned. This is amazing because, like, how long is it camp? Let me ask you that question. Is it one day? Is it one day? It's a full day. So kids show up at like 8 a.m. for registration, maybe 7.30 registration. And we don't leave the field until 8 p.m. after we're done with the 7-07 tournament.

It's amazing. Like, the fact that they're going there and getting a great football education from CFL players, collegiate players, and then you, an NFL player, but diving into the academic side of it and the things are going to make them whole way past the sport. Because I think where people get lost and I think, and I know this is true, okay, because I've seen it and it's especially crazy in baseball. Parents get freaking lost, bro. They get lost in their kids.

Like it needs to be this way. They need to be playing a thousand games a year. My kids need to be seen. They need to be recruited. But they're not teaching the kids the other stuff, right? And in the fact that your foundation is focusing on the fundamentals of being an amazing human being education, nutrition, all that kind of stuff. Like, dude, that's going to help them outside of the sport.

100%. Yeah. That's the goal, honestly. Because I know, like, the hard truth is, and the hard truth is that not everyone is going to make it to, like, the NFL, but if you can get out of, if you can get something out productive of my camp, of my foundation, that you can use in the business aspect of it or whatever, you still want to work in sport, cool. We teach you the business stuff.

We can teach you all the other. this stuff to be an agent, to be like a marketing agent, to have your own, like all that. You can still be involved in sport without being an athlete because it will be like, it will be alive for me to tell you that everyone will make it to the league, but you can still have an impact in whatever aspect you want, a work field you want. It's fascinating, dude. Yeah. It's fascinating.

Like, because as a parent and then also as a coach, as a coach baseball for many years, when you do a camp, you want those parents to see their kids light up when they come out of that camp. Yeah. Right? like happy and fulfilled and armed with knowledge. And a lot of times it's just focused on the technical aspects of the sport.

Yeah. You know, which is only, it's only a fraction of, exactly. Of who they, it's not even who they are. It's what they do.

Being a football player is not who you are. It's something that you do, right? You know, just like, this is something I do. This is my, this is my profession. This is my job.

Yeah. It's not who I am. It's part of what makes me who I do. I think a lot of people get lost in that. Come on, man. I have. Have you ever had moments where you got lost in that?

I try not to because it got harped on so much. I really forced myself, but I feel like I might go through that towards the end of my career. Like I'm still in the middle of it, you know, but towards the end of it, when it's slowly going to be done and I'm slowly going to realize, like, yo, this might be over with it. Like, you know, maybe I can't run as fast as I can.

Like, my body is crumbling on all that stuff. Like, I might have to find something else, and that's where NFL players, professional athletes, they're like, damn, I'm scared of shaking someone and saying like, hey, I'm such and such from this team. No, you're not such and such from this team no more. You're just Benjamin. That identity shift, right? Yeah.

I used to call it the identity crisis. I did a TED talk on it, right, about my shift from being a collegiate baseball player at LSU, which is pretty much a professional baseball player, right? Yeah, no. You get a lot of exposure there. And then, you know, the last out's recorded. you're in, you know, 2003, you're in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. And like, wait a second.

What now? Like, who am I? And I went on this journey of just burning bridges, hurting people because I was this massive void inside of me, right? I was just in so much pain. But the things that I've noticed lately is, you know, you touched on mental health, right, for those kids. Building the brand while you're in the actual peak part of your career. So that way you do have that pivot thereafter. I think it's so important, man.

It is. It is. Like, they, people in general, like, or support system and all that stuff, like, they're trying to teach us that. Like, our PA, mentors, uh, ex-alumni NFL players that come and they're trying to say sometimes people, you know, the information comes in one to hear, leaves the other. I try to really take notes on that and really understand that like right now is the best time to do most of that stuff.

Obviously, focus 100% on your craft, being the best version of yourself on the field. but outside of that, like, trying to build a little bit, because you're the, you're the hottest thing right now, you know what I'm saying? Like, when you're done playing football, yeah, people might remember you a little bit, but not as much as, like, right now. So capitalize right now, strike while the iron's hot. I'm saying, you got something that's really good, giving back to the community with your foundation.

Cool, put it forward, put it forward, you know what I'm saying, show people. You got to brand, show people and all that stuff. But, yeah, no, I don't blame each other. Like I said, what's your example with the, after leaving LSU, Like, that's, that's all we did all in life. That's all we know, you know, football and all that stuff. And we can say all we want, like, oh, I'll transition to this and all that stuff.

But there will be an identity shift when we're done. It's hard, man. Because we're behind just in life. That's it. Behind, like, the workforce and, you know, working a regular job or being in a work environment where the people, it's so different. And vice versa, people don't understand the locker room. They don't. No.

No, they don't. The locker room is the best, right? The locker room's the best. It is. You learn a lot about life, right, in those trenches of football or your sport, baseball, whatever the sport is. But, dude, to your point, it's like you, when you're done, right, when I was done, it was like, when I sent my resume, 2003 College World Series, SAC champion, you don't have experience. It's like, yeah, you don't. Like, bro, like, what did you want me to do?

I couldn't work because it was illegal. I got suspended for working a baseball camp for my head baseball coach. Dude, I got suspended because I made 50 bucks. It's crazy. It's crazy, Ben. Yeah. You have no experience. Like, wait a second.

I just did all this. Mm-hmm. I just did all this. Like, you know, what I was supposed to do, and now I'm not valued in society. And I think, and I know that's where a lot of mental health issues do happen for, for collegiate athletes, but even, but more so like major league baseball players or NBA players or NFL players, because they've gone an extended amount of time outside of college.

And that's what they did. and they were known on a national level or global level, and now they're just someone who doesn't have experience. Yeah, some of you back to square zero. In a good way and a bad way, though, because if you're able to utilize all the tools and the stuff that they teach you at the professional level or a collegiate level,

even though you don't have the experience of work, you have values that other people don't. Yep. Like the discipline that we have as athletes, way different than the discipline of someone, like, outside of like the professional athlete world, you know what I'm saying? Discipline of I wake up at 5 a.m. I got 6 a.m. lift. I need to eat well. Like people don't understand that you need to take care of yourself like an eat well.

Your nutrition. Take care of yourself. Recovery. Um, all that stuff. All the, all those small things are things that, you know, build Fortune 500 businesses. And they're looking for that. So that's why like if you're able to shift from your athletic world to the workforce and they know that you have those qualities and those values, people are looking for that. They're looking for people that can lead. Most people don't know how to lead. Athletes can lead. So all those things, if you can utilize that and use that in your advantage,

like you can make, your transition can be very smooth. Absolutely. Well, athletes understand that leading is more of a collaboration than telling. Yeah. And I think a lot of people that didn't play high-level sports think leading is managing. Yeah, it's like one person telling everyone what to do knows. Like you say, it's a collab. effort.

What do you think of this? Okay, cool. What do you think of this? Okay, cool. And then you come together and then you're like, okay, I think from based on your perspective, what you just said,

we should do this play, we should do this, whatever. I'll tell the coaches, it's a whole thing. But he's managing, he's putting the pieces together and all that stuff. It's not just him saying,

hey, we're going to run the ball on third down and then we're going to go on. Now, okay, I asked the OC, that's what you think. I asked the quarterback and the running back. They think this play,

he's putting the pieces together and that's what you call a leader. In my opinion. 1,000%. 1,000% because it's like, you may consult with everybody, but at the end of day,

you might do what you're going to do, but at least everybody feels heard, right? Yeah. You know, everybody feels heard and everybody collaborated in that final decision.

It is what it is, right? The big thing, man, is why I think athletes are so, so successful beyond sport is because we run the play. Just like you said, 5 a.m. wake up, 6 a.m.

Lift. Fuel my body. Do my recovery. It's like, I look at my, My schedule every day I go, okay, so I know I'm up at four. I take my, whatever I'm going to, I have my, my coffee. I'm in the gym by 4.30.

From 4.30 a.m. to 450 a.m. I'm walking on an incline. From 450 to 545, I am lifting. When I get home, 615 shake, I have everything boiled down. And my wife doesn't know this because she thinks I'm unorganized. I am pretty disorganized with some things. I'm telling you right now, like I'm a mess in a lot of areas. But I'll know from the time I wake up in the morning, every single timestamp of what I'm doing.

And then I know at 6.40-ish, I'm upstairs to help kids get ready for school. I've already made their breakfast, did their lunches. After I took care of me. But now, dude, I've got all this done. And I'm going to help them get out the door. And then my day starts. Yeah.

That's everything. Honestly, that's the biggest thing. Like, goes back to what we say in the beginning, the discipline of it. Like, yeah, people can do it for a short period of time. But, like, athletes, I, I believe athletes like master that throughout, you know, college and pro levels and all that stuff because every little, it's a game of inches. I mean, it's cliche, but it's a game of inches is a game of details and all those things they matter.

And, yeah. Well, as an athlete, we're taught to suck it up, right? And like, athletes go through a massive amount of adversity. I think now is a good kind of segue into, okay, you know, Canada to Michigan, played for hardball, play your freshman year, a lot of snaps, a lot of snaps, right? Yeah. And then there was some adversity there, right? Walk everybody through your freshman year, then like a little bit of adversity,

and then transferring to Minnesota, then ultimately third round pick, man. What was that journey like? Yeah, it was crazy at that time. I was coming out of Canada as the number one player in my class, you know, a lot of hyped, a lot of, you know, eyeballs and spotlight for me and all that stuff from having like a scholarship

from a Power 5 school. And the crazy part of those, also how I got this scholarship. Like, I remember in 2015, I kept watching these highlights of, like, college players. Like, you know, the Tyrant Matthew, the Patrick Peterson, all those guys and all that stuff. LSU legends, you know what I'm saying?

They had the DVU and everything. And then my mom walked in and was like, you keep watching all these highlights, but you're not going to camps. Like, you're not registering for camps. You're not going out there. Like, that could be you. like wow but I was young I was young I didn't have that much like health esteem yet I didn't have

the confidence that I have now and all that stuff but I was like you think I can do it it's like okay what do you like I'm saying like what are you losing by not doing anything what are you losing by by by going we can bring you to a camp or whatever like just just put up half of it how much is the camp is I think it was like 500 I put up 250 for my my job that I worked during the summer my parents put the other 250 we drove from Montreal down to Ann Arbor that was about like 10 hours My parents were like, cool, we'll go, we'll go visit and, you know, check out the state of Michigan. You go to this camp. Like, they had no intentions, or they had no expectation, as we can say.

Like, I had no expectation, too. I was just like, let me test my talents against these American players, you know. I went. First day went well. Second day, I'm like, oh, like, you know, I can ball with these guys. Like, this cool, whatever. Third day, I get pulled to the side. Harba was like, hey, I want you to stay, you know, and compete against a group

of guys, a group of receivers that were like high-rated four or five stars, guys, and all that stuff. He goes back to, he's trying to see, like, you know, can the Canadian really ball, you know, can he really play? I went out there, I did my thing. And then he's like, come to my office. He's like, look, kid, like, you've been, you've been bawling all these past couple days and want to offer you a full scholarship to come here and play.

Get the fuck out of here. So I'm like, but I had no reactions because going back to, I had no expectations. and also there's also a language barrier. I'm from Montreal, Canada. I grew up speaking French. I don't speak English very well at that time. Now, obviously, my English is so different. Yeah, you're doing great job.

Yeah, I'm doing great. I'm 17. I just turned 17. Everything, all the educational, all my education is in French. My household is speaking French. I understand football terms, but I don't understand English like that.

I don't understand what scholarships, what college football and all that stuff. All I know is from the highlights that I saw. So he's like, I'm offering you a scholarship. I'm like, what's that? okay he's like I mean he's like kid you're not happy or whatever excited I'm like can somebody like help me whatever that's when this uh translator that do all that translate all the transcripts and that works with the nca explain okay he's offering a full year full uh four year

scholarship you'll be here freshman to senior year if you decide to leave your junior year to go NFL no no no no we'll do this I'm like oh so it took me a few it took me like a few weeks to realize like oh this is big this is a power fine school this is Michigan this is like offer me a scholarship. So I was like, damn. I was like, okay. But then the ball started rolling. Like, you know, I just needed that little spark, you know, thanks to my parents that, you know,

pushed me out there to go and prove myself the ball started rolling. You know, I got an interest from like Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Ruggers and all that stuff. I ended up going to Michigan to get a good balance, you know, education, great educational school and great football. Yeah. Everything was nice when their freshman year, um, play. played a little bit on defense, played a lot of special team, learning.

I'm expecting more playing time my sophomore year. In the spring ball, I pulled my hamstring. Oh, okay. Like, this is my first injury. Never got hurt before. You're just a hammy. Yeah, hammy. Come back for spring ball.

Pull the other one. I'm like, oh, okay, I'll go back. Okay, we'll take care of both. Well, again, by training camp of 2018, I pulled my hamstring six times. Damn. So I was like, man, I must be doing something wrong. at this time, I don't have that much knowledge on how to take care of my body, rehab and all that stuff. All I know is just play football. I know how to show up to practice and just go ball.

And I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready for the beginning of season. So they came up to me. The training staff came up to me and they're like, go ahead and just sign these papers. That will give you more time to go see some outside help and maybe recover faster because obviously they were like, hey, it's not working here. Maybe you want to see some. I'm like, yeah, I'll go check out some outside help, you know, some outside help, you know, second opinion doctors and all that stuff. Sign the paper, go out, meet these doctors, train for like two months,

like strain the hamstring and everything, come back. I'm like, am I good for the 2019? Because I missed the 2018 season. So I'm my good for the 2019 season. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll get you back on the spring ball or whatever. I go through a passive physical and all that stuff. I'm still not back on the wrong stuff. I'm like, yo, what's going on all that stuff?

they tell my parents to come down to Ann Arbor and they tell me yeah like we just don't feel comfortable just based on your injuries to bring it back on the roster so yeah you you can't play here no more I'm like what you mean I can't play here no more he's like yes and that and that was my first taste of the business side of even at a collegiate level is the business oh hell yeah dude yeah you're good St. Juice but you're good St.

were hurt for this period of time, we had to replace you. So basically when I signed this paper, my scholarship went to somebody else, but they didn't tell me. I'm saying. That's kind of like what happened. But I'm a kid. I'm like 19, 18, 19 at the time. You don't know what you're signing?

I don't know. Like, my parents are not there. I don't have any, like, mentors to help me and all that stuff. So that put me in a super dark place because I was like, wait, that's my dream. Like, that's what, I work so hard. And now, like, what, I have to go back home? Like, no, I feel ashamed. People are going to say that back on that maybe I quit or I wasn't made for this.

All, like all the people that said, yeah, yeah, we knew he wasn't cut for this. Come on. Nobody makes it out of Canada. It goes to, like, Michigan and goes to NFL. Like, we knew it wasn't going to make it. So I was like, it was very, very dark time, honestly. And what got me out of that is just there was no other option for me. Like, that's what I worked so hard for.

So I was like, there's no way I'm going back. So that's what I put in my mind. And I just put one thought in my mind. I'm not going back home. I'm not quitting this football stuff. I don't care what it is. I knew I could get my degree. I made sure I got my degree.

I told my mom was going to get a degree. I got my bachelor's degree from Michigan. And I talk with a few people, some resource. And they told me, like, not because Michigan disqualify you medically that other teams can't pick you up. So I'm like, oh, other teams can pick me up? Cool. And that was before the transfer portal thing and all that stuff.

So I made sure I graduated and I graduated as a grad transfer. and that's when Minnesota took a chance on me. And they were like, yeah, yeah, we'll clear you. They cleared me and went out there and played. And, you know, that was 2019, that was my best football season with them. But that period of time, it was very, very dark. I was down bad mentally, physically. But I just told myself, like, I'm not quitting.

The thing that I love about the story is not that you ended up getting to Minnesota having a good year in 2019 and got drafted as a third rounder. My favorite part of the story is how you dealt with that heartbreak. Like how you dealt with the bullshit. Oh, it was bad. It was bad.

You could have given up, dude. Yeah, no, it was bad. It was like, I could use the cafeteria and I used a cafeteria like before all the guys use it because they didn't, they kind of wanted me to exclude myself. I couldn't work out in the morning but not like while the other guy.

And those were my friends. Like, I went to war with them. them. Like, I went on games and all that stuff. Like, we won, lost game and all that stuff. And they were like, nah, like, since you're not on the roster, you can't do this. And then after a short period of time, I lost access to, like, the facility to use it. When I went to games on Saturdays at the big house, like, I had to watch it from the stands. I couldn't be on the sideline.

Like, all small things that can play, like, that can play, like, in your head, like, as a young kid. But going back, I just told myself, like, nobody isn't going to know me as a quitter. I'm not quitting. I'm not going back home. I'm not quitting. I'm not keeping doing this football thing. something is going to pop up, an opportunity is going to pop up. Dude, I want the audience really keen on that because at that time you're what, 17 years old, 18 years old?

Yeah, 17, got the offer, 18, enrolled at Michigan at 19 that happened. 19 that happened at 19 years old, right? That's what I want them to digest, because there's adults right now sitting in their shit, drowning in it, right? And I've been there before. And I'm not, for you watching, I'm pointing at you, and for you listening, I want you to take this into your earholes, I'm not calling you out, but what I'm saying is where you're at right now is not necessarily need to be where you're going to end up. And we all have a choice, right? We have a choice

every day to choose, either forge forward and go after our dream or sit in the shit and ruin our life. Yeah. Like, isn't there a saying that's like if you, like you're halfway through hell, like why are you staying there? Yeah. You're halfway. Like, why are you going to stay there? Yeah. So that's literally what I told myself, like, you know, I'm in the gutter right now. know, I just got told that my dream of playing here at football is done. Yep. And the coldest way possible. It's cold, though.

And I just told myself, like, people back home, not going to know me as a quitter. Keep going, something going to pop up. Had a great year in 2019, third rounder. Yes, sir. So that moment, you know, you get the call from... Coach Ron Rivera. Yeah, Ron Rivera. That man went through some shit, dude.

Yeah. He's a beast, man. But you know, you get that call. What was it like in that moment looking at your mom and your dad and celebrating? It was, I'm still trying to put words to it because like it happened so fast. Like I remember seeing like, I remember Coach Rivera calling me telling me like, we're going to draft you in this pick and seeing my name go through the board on TV and getting announced and all that stuff. And the best way to explain it was like when I saw that, it was like a whole retrospect, a whole movie in my head went back of all the,

good, the bad, the injuries, the highs of going to Michigan, the lows of getting, like, you know what I'm saying, disqualify, the highs of at Minnesota of having a great season, the lows of the 2020 COVID season, my draft stock tanking. And then the highs of finally being drafted, like, top 100. Like, that's what the whole thing went through, like, everything from the kid that started playing hockey that had no idea they would make it to the NFL that probably woke on this little car that's cool, like what I want to do in life. playing the NFL and they were like, uh, yeah, funny.

Yeah, okay. Here we are. Yeah. That was the whole, everything that was going through my head. Dude, that's, that's an amazing moment, right? It was. Because I, I've, I've had that moment on the opposite end. Mm-hmm.

You know, I sat there in the year 1999, so that was a 1999 season. So the year 2000, that's the year that LSU beat Stanford in the College World Series. And I had, you know, professional organizations, you know, tagging me as their normal catching prospect. That's catcher. And my coach is telling me like, hey, you can go anywhere you want college-wise. I'm like, well, where are the offers? You know, and then it was like, well, you're probably going to go day one in the draft.

I felt the board completely. I, dude, Ben, I'm not joking. This was back when AOL had, it was dial-up internet. That's how old I am. He's like, dang, you old, bro. Sitting there in my parents' guest room, like literally on the AOL network, watching the draft for three days. And every single time

a new pick would come up, I relive the pain of not getting chosen. And then I noticed, and this is where I noticed I was different. I called my catching coach, Matt Brown. I lost touch with Matt Brown. I don't talk to him anymore.

I don't know where he's at. Like, hell, if he listens to this, please reach out because I would love to talk to this guy because he changed everything for me. He always believed in me, right? always believed in me, said I can go anywhere. I was one of the best defensive catchers he's worked with. Excuse me. I called him to say, hey, Brownie. I was like, I'm going to run something by you here. Do you think I could play at LSU? He goes, no doubt. So it okay. He goes, why do you ask?

I was like, well, the draft's over. I have no place to play. My career's over. He's like, this should not happen, Sean. We failed you somewhere. You should have a college scholarship signed right now. I go, well, I turn some down, right? Um, I, I, I go, I just noticed that both their catchers got drafted. I said, can you, do you have a, he's like, I got a guy. I got a guy there on the inside. I'll call him. Called them.

Two days later, they called me. And I signed pretty much for books in a, you know, a lollipop. Because I had no leverage, right? Yeah. But the point is, is like, that's when I realize, like, I'm always going to look for the solution. Always. You know, I may be hurt. I may be depressed at that moment.

I may have, I may have taken a big. beating emotionally those three days. But I'm not going to let it define me. Mm-hmm. You know, not going to let it define me. That was a hard time, though, dude. No, it is. And how old were you when not having?

So I had to have been, because I had already gone through junior college, right? Yeah. So I had a blood clot my sophomore year. So, like, it was my third year. So I was like 21, dude. So I'm a late October birthday, right? It's young, young 20s taking, like,

like I said, like, this is what we did a whole life. Mm-hmm. And you look at a screen, and you never see your name pop up. Like, that could be the end for a lot of people. For a lot of people, bro. And, bro, and dude, after that 20, after 19, the 1998 season, my first year in college,

I got in great shape. I got lean. You know, I wasn't fat anymore. And then, you know, I ended up getting a blood clot, a blood clot, and all the offers are gone off the table. And then I get back. So I lose a whole year. Right.

And then I get my, then I get another year. So I hit 426. I crushed it. And then no draft. And then LSU for nothing. And then when I got there,

I got hurt. I had surgery there. So I've been constantly at this point fighting to stay above water. And I just think that those moments are what makes us in pressure-filled situations

that I go through now. Yeah. I didn't come off of it then. Why the fuck? But I come off of it now. I'm sure. It makes you tougher. It creates the,

these coping mechanism that you can have, all these things that your brain relies on to, if you don't go through nothing, like people that don't go through nothing in life, like it doesn't matter if you're an athlete or not, but people that don't go through in life, nothing in life, like once they hit a big barrier, like once they hit a big challenge,

they have no strategy for it. Like you have to go through stuff in life and maneuver through it and find solution. That what makes you better. Like that what makes you more resilience and stuff. I think it's the buy-in, bro. The buy-in? The buy-in.

The buy-in? Yeah. You buy in. I mean, that adversity, all that shit, that's your buying. Embrace it. Come on, man. It makes you, makes an easier life in the end, right? If you go through everything and you come up out of it, then you can navigate things.

As we start landing the planet on the show, I don't want to, you know, not discuss. Congratulations on an amazing season. Amazing. Amazing. I mean. I noted it in the way you wanted it to. So, yeah, I'm about to say it's bittersweet because it's like you're, we're one game away, four quarters as you. you said from going to the Super Bowl. But beautiful message by Coach Quinn in the locker

room, a very emotional from us losing. Obviously, people were sad, but he was like, you know, don't let this moment, this game, this loss, like overshadowed like what we're accomplished in this season. Like 31 years, this franchise never been like that was the last time that had been an NFC championship. 14 wins from last year, four wins. You know, a generational talent at quarterback That's gonna take care of this franchise city for the years to come Moment of the Year Hell Mary against the Chicago Bears

That was wild, bro You know what I'm saying? Yeah, that was wild That's those moments are engraved and hit Like we're stamped in history So it was like, don't let what just happen Overshadow everything that we've done And um

Dude, it's just the beginning for your organization That's what I'm saying It just, that was just, this is part of it. Yeah. You had to fall short a little bit, right? Mm-hmm. And next year. Now you know the standard.

Now you know what it takes. Now you know what you might need to sacrifice a little bit more. And for me personally, like, I didn't, I didn't get the chance to play in a playoff my first three years, my fourth year. I get to, I get so close to Sub-Bowl. So now I know what I'm chasing. Now I know what it takes. I know what I need to fix. I know what I need to do better.

Because collectively, we had a great. year but for me like if I get to like expand on it like please I'm in a I'm in a process of like I got I was up three years starter playing well and all of stuff high some high lows but like this year there was a there was a lot of expectation for me I was supposed to be you know the best corner best version of myself I was supposed to sign like you know I'm saying be on pace to sign like this huge contract and that stuff and that can still happen but based on some inconsistent plane that I had, some stuff that I fall short.

I'm in a position where now, like, I had to do a lot of introspect and, like, reflect on what I can do better, you know what I'm saying? That's amazing. Was I ready for this next step? Yeah. Maybe, maybe not. But this is something that I've been working on, like, this whole off season, not just physically, like, physically, but also mentally, like, you know, what prevented me for

having the season that I said that I wanted to have? Because not taking away from anything from the team, we had a great, we had a great season. But personally, myself, my coaches, people around me were expecting a little bit more. And I fell short sometime off that. And I want to fix that. And that's that I think the mindset that, you know, all great competitive have, you know. That's commendable. So.

But that's what makes you you, right? Like, you're allowed to do that. I think that's something that every athlete, every entrepreneur, every mom, every dad, doesn't matter. Go through what could you have done better? Always, always looking for the small little detail that I can take you. to be the best version of yourself, you know, that little 1%.

I love it, man. I love it. That's a great perspective. And no doubt you guys will be back. You'll be on top of your game next year because now you're getting to that next version of Ben, right? To where you get the opportunity to really self-evaluate and just like, okay, what was it? And when you're least expecting it, you'll find out. Yeah.

That was it. And then you know you attack that moment right there and that specific thing. And then next year, you're having the year that you want to have in the next year, same thing. And then you look back eight years later, I'm like, damn. I did it. Hey, that's a 12 year career, man.

The back half of the eight years, man, I was the dude. Yeah. It was the dude. That's the goal. That's what we're aiming for. Yeah, you're going to get it. You're going to get it, man.

Before we land the plane, dude, like, you're looking fresh, bro. Talk to me about that, bro. The original out. That's your clothing brand, right? Yeah, it's the brand right there. Well, I know where you live, so I know where to come and snack some gear, bro.

So that's... Yeah, I'd love that, man. Talk to talk to me about the, the, background of the brand and everything like that. Yeah, so this started at the same time as the foundation in 2021 got drafted. Outside of football, I love fashion. I love style, street wear and all that stuff. Always been a big guy today.

And I was like, you know, might as well invest in something that I created, you know, my own brand and all that stuff. So I partner with my guy Remy. He's a graphic designer, creative director from Paris. We got together and we created the original. And what it stands for, the D. is the English part of it original with it. At the end, it's how you spell it in French.

Right. To embrace and represent, you know, the French culture that we have, but also with where we had right now. So you mix the two together. And our slogan is you design yourself. So, um, love it. Don't die copy. Don't try to copy somebody else.

Don't try to be somebody that you're not. You design yourself. So be yourself. You know, we make clothes that everyone can wear, you know, every, it doesn't matter who you are. This is going to be comfortable. It's made by athletes, but it's for everyone. So we have, we started very small with t-shirts, hooting, all that stuff.

That's sold out. We transitioned to some track suit. That's sold out. And now we have, you know, sweatpants, socks, bandanas, beanies, beanies, backpacks. Like, we got a new collection coming out soon. And yeah, that's what I do. Like, on the side, trying to build this small brand. I'm very hands-on with everything.

Like every package that every customer gets, you know, I carefully package. did put the sticker and message and everything in it like i do it myself at some point we'll have a bigger team that's going to help and everything yes yes at some point you're not going to be able to do that yeah but uh but yeah no i i i enjoy just as much as i love football and that's that's my passion like style and clothes that's my passion too well dude i'm telling you man i can go on the grandma look at you and the wife always always always fit i appreciate it always look good i'm like damn look at these guys um no great i actually have a shirt for you it's not here i'll have to um I'll hit you up and I'll bring it to your house.

I, you know, we now have merch too and, you know, I want to gift you one of our shirts and, you know, are actually our link went live today too. So, you're not doing it the way you're doing it, but it's just, you know, something else, man. I just, I love your mission, man. I love what you're about. And I learned a lot about you today, man. You're a deep ass dude. Like, I respect the shit out of it. Appreciate it.

Likewise, man. Thank you, bro. This was, this was very fun. This was not scripted, very genuine, organic. conversation about staying determined, staying disciplined, going through stuff

and coming out the other end stronger and hopefully by, you know, a couple months or even next year, then, you know, we get to have this conversation. I got a nice Super Bowl ring. Oh,

we're going to do it again. We're going to do it again after you win this Super Bowl way. That's what we're looking for. We're going to do it, man. The cool thing about it for me was just the opportunity to get to know someone else

a little bit deeper, right? Because we have five doors down from each other, man. It's always in passing. Now our conversation, and our friendships are going to be much different, right? Able to learn more about each other. And that's my favorite part about this platform is that when I have somebody on,

we're able to go deep. And sometimes I mesh well with guests. Sometimes we don't, right? It is what it is. But like, bro, like I value this and thank you for your time. And, you know, dude, like you literally scream determination and grit. And that's what I want the audience to get out of today. Appreciate that, man.

I appreciate you. So guys, thank you so much. Go ahead and follow Ben. We're going to drop all his links here. even to his website for his clothing brand. If you feel compelled, go check it out. Buy something nice for yourself or your family. And until next time, guys, stay determined.