After The Gridiron

Philip played 4 seasons of professional football with many stops along the way with teams in the NFL and NFL Europe.  He, like many, was a multi-sport athlete growing up, participating in baseball and wrestling in addition to football.  He attended Lehigh University in part because they would allow him to play two sports, as well as the fact that it was close to home.  Coming out of college the same year as Tom Brady, Philip was also overlooked and signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Buffalo Bills.  Post career, he dove head-first into coaching which is a passion he received from his dad, who is also a coach.  He also established himself in the business world starting a few companies with his dad as well.  For more on Philip, follow the links below.LINKStwitter: @philipstambaughinstagram: @777ps

Kory enjoyed a 5 year pro career, spending time with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders in the NFL.  He rose to stardom in the CFL playing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  He was a natural athlete as a child and was an excellent baseball player.  However football is the path he ended up taking.  He went to Purdue University, were he excelled in Big 10 competition.  He didn't get much of a look out of college, facing obstacles not only from players, but from coaches as well.  He ended up with the Riders and took full advantage of his opportunity.  He parlayed his performance up north into another shot in the NFL.  However, an achilles injury ended his chance.  After football, he struggled to cope without the game.  He has dipped into his artistic side, doing some acting as well as writing.  He's also now working in Tampa, doing some camps for kids with the city.  For more on Kory, use the links below.LINKSwebsite: Sheets24k.comtwitter: @Sheets24Kinstagram: @sheets24k

Sedrick enjoyed a 4 year career in the NFL, spending time with the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins.  After a great high school career where he shared a backfield with some standout players, he chose Michigan State University coached by Nick Saban.  While there he became an All-American runningback.  In 1999, he was a 4th round pick for the Lions.  He's now coaching at Gulliver Prep in Miami.  For more on Sedrick, use the links below.LINKStwitter: @coachirvin

Noel achieved his dream of playing in the NFL, playing for 3 years with the Cleveland Browns.  Sports was not a big part of his life as a child, with his parents not wanting him to participate in organized sports.  He eventually entered the sports arena in an unusual sport; cycling.  He eventually made it to the football field where became a well sought after prospect.  He excelled academically as well, which allowed him to be accepted to many schools on his academic merit alone, before he decided on a where to go for football.  He chose the University of Virginia, which had the athletic and academic combination he was looking for.   He had a stellar career there, earning All-American honours athletically and academically.  Injuries derailed his career, which had a promising trajectory.  Now retired, he is the Director of Verdence Capital Advisors, an asset management company.  They also have a sports & entertainment division, which allows him to stay involved in the game by advising the players on how to best manage their wealth.  For more information on Noel, please follow the links below.LINKS website: https://verdence.com/ (www.Verdence.com) sports & entertainment division: https://verdencepro.com/ (www.VerdencePRO.COM) twitter: https://twitter.com/nolamo77?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (@nolamo77) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolamo77/ (@nolamo77)RESOURCES http://www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Kamau enjoyed an 11 year career in professional football playing mostly in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions. He was a late bloomer in football, not playing until the end of his time in high school. He was a great athlete, competing in track as well as basketball in addition to football. He always wanted to be a professional athlete, and decided that football was his best path to achieve that goal. He went to the University of New Hampshire, where he was able to compete as a three sport athlete. There were a few coaching changes while he was there and he had some difficulties with some of them. Chip Kelly was one of the young coaches that came to the program near the end of his time there. That is where Chip was able to groom his system and Kamau was a beneficiary of that system. He was drafted by Calgary, and had a few different stops in his career. His best season came while with Edmonton in 2008, when he was honoured as the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian. After football he has done a few things, including coaching with Team Canada as well as in the CIS at York University. He is now founder of Athletic Paradigm, a training program for athletes looking to accelerate their performance. For more on Kamau, please follow the links below. LINKS website: https://www.athleticparadigm.com/ (www.athleticparadigm.com) twitter: https://twitter.com/coachkamaup?lang=en (@CoachKamaup) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamauizm/?hl=en (@kamauizm) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com/resources

Solomon had an outstanding 10 year career in the CFL playing for the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Baseball was his first love as a sport, but football is where he would make a name for himself. He was not highly recruited out of high school, but went to the University of Hawaii where he developed into a star. He left as the schools all-time leader in tackles. Despite his success, he didn't get much attention from the NFL. He trained for months hoping for an opportunity. That opportunity came from the CFL, a league which he had no idea about. CFL coaching legend Wally Buono gave him a shot, even though it took two workouts to do it. He made an impression right away, winning the leagues Rookie of the Year award in his first season. He went on to win many awards, as well as a Grey Cup Championship in a memorable 2011 season. He's now still involved in the game, serving as the President of the CFL Players Association, and working towards a return to the field for this season. For more on Solomon, check out the links below. LINKS: twitter: https://twitter.com/solomone56?lang=en (@SolomonE56) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solomone56/?hl=en (@solomone56) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com

Bonus episode with Paul Epstein who is a 15 year veteran in the professional sports industry as an executive. He shares his experiences in sports and how it led him to write his new book, "The Power of Playing Offense, A Leader's Playbook For Personal and Team Transformation." LINKS: instagram:https://www.instagram.com/paulepsteinspeaks/ ( @paulepsteinspeaks) linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulepsteinspeaks (Paul Epstein) website: https://paulepsteinspeaks.com/ (www.paulepsteinspeaks.com) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com

Ottis (OJ) Anderson enjoyed a stellar 14 year NFL career, playing with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants. He grew up playing sports like baseball, but football was his passion. For university, he chose the University of Miami primarily because it was close to home. He had offers from all the top schools in Florida and across the country, but with his strong bond with his mother, he saw no need to go elsewhere. At Miami, he blossomed into an elite back which saw him become a 1st-Team All-American. His NFL career started off with a bang, as he was only a handful of yards away from leading the league in rushing as a rookie. His team success came as a member of the Giants, winning 2 Super Bowls, and earning Super Bowl MVP honours in Super Bowl XXV. After football, he was involved in the insurance business for many years. He is currently a Patient Ambassador for Novo Nordisk, a healthcare company that he has teamed up with as he shares his journey with diabetes. He is also involved with Tridelix, a 5-D imaging company that is producing some amazing things. For more information, please follow the links below. LINKS twitter: https://twitter.com/OJAnderson24?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (@OJAnderson24) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otis_ojanderson24/?hl=en (@otis_ojanderson24) company: https://www.novonordisk.com/ (NovoNordisk) company: https://tridelix.com/ (Tridelix) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com

Sean played 4 seasons of professional football with stops in Detroit, Indianapolis and New York. He also kicked in NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores. He played other sports growing up but football was always his passion. He didn't have much formal training growing up, but his love for the game fueled him to work on his craft. He was a self-taught kicker and would spend hours kicking, trying to hone in his accuracy. After some time at a couple division 3 schools, he got an opportunity at the University of Pittsburgh where he finally was able to learn from an experienced coach. His leg talent got him an chance in the NFL and he was able to fulfill a dream of kicking in the pros. After football, he struggled a while trying to find a new path. He eventually got into yoga and now owns a studio with his wife called "Amazing Yoga." He has also written a book, "The Point After" where he talks about his life after football. Use the links below for more information. LINKS website: https://www.seanconley.net/ (www.SeanConley.net) twitter: https://twitter.com/sean_conley_?lang=en (@Sean_Conley_) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com

Marcelis enjoyed a 4 year professional football career, with 2 of those coming in the NFL. He spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers before going to the XFL. However, he is looking to return to the gridiron in either the XFL or CFL. As that opportunity develops, he has started a fitness apparel line, NDO Society. The NDO stands for, "No Days Off." The name is in line with his philosophy that has aided him in achieving great success on the football field. He is passionate about the environment as well, which is why portions of sales go towards the planting of trees. For more information on Marcelis, please follow the links below. LINKS website: www.ndosociety.com twitter: https://twitter.com/_hit_mann?lang=en (@_Hit_Mann) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hit_mann/?hl=en (_Hit_Mann) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com

Tom played 7 seasons in the NFL with stops in Washington, New England, Cleveland, San Diego and New York, with the Jets. He played different sports growing up, but football was his favourite. His love of the game was apparent very early, as he found ways to sneak into opportunities to work with NFL teams playing exhibition games in his city. He played collegiately at the University of Washington, where he became team MVP and Pac 10 player of the year. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 1981 draft by Washington who was coached by the legendary Joe Gibbs. Unable to earn starter status, he bounced around to a few teams before his career ended. Despite that, he was thankful for the experience because it strengthened his faith in God. Since his retirement, he has become a sought after speaker, having done talks for fortune 500 companies as well as the White House. For more information on Tom, or to book his for a speaking engagement, follow the links below. LINKS: website: www.TomFlick.com twitter: https://twitter.com/tomflick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (@tomflick) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom_flick/ (@tom_flick) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TomFlickVideo (TomFlickVideo) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com

Shannon achieved a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. He spent 2 years in the league, with stops in Carolina and Indianapolis. He also played in the CFL, Europe and the Arena League. He went to college at Western Illinois University. Coaching changes made it difficult for him to establish himself there, but he showed enough to get an opportunity. It didn't come right away though, having to wait a year for that chance to come. Despite that, he remained confident in himself, and believed he was good enough to play at the highest level. He first tried-out for the CFL, but got injured. Soon after, an NFL tryout came and he ran a great time. That led to his opportunity. He talks about covering Steve Smith and how Peyton Manning did him a favour for a fan, while with the Colts. Life after football has led him to start his company, G3Powerhouse which is an athletic and academic training program. His passion for helping people is what led him in this direction, even though he has a Masters degree in a different field. For more information about Shannon and his program check out the links below. LINKS: website: https://www.g3powerhouse.org/ (www.G3Powerhouse.com) twitter: https://twitter.com/g3powerhouse (@G3Powerhouse) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com

Mark played 2 seasons in the Canadian Football League, all with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a late bloomer, not starting football until high school. He played hockey and baseball growing up, but football was his best sport. He decided to go to McMaster University in large part due to their kinesiology program as well as the opportunity to play quickly. He enjoyed a great career there winning the Yates Cup and narrowly loosing the Vanier Cup to the University of Montreal. Making the Eskimos was a thrill for him and in his 1st game registered a sack versus the Toronto Argos, with his family and friends there to watch. He is now in medical school at Western University, and may possibly look to become a team doctor to stay involved in the game he loves. Time will tell. For more on Mark, use the links below. LINKS: instagram: @mackie_91 (https://www.instagram.com/mackie_91/?hl=en) linkedin: MarkMackie (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mark-mackie-30a887106) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Dominique played 4 years of professional football, with 3 of them coming in the NFL. He played with the Rams, Lions and Panthers. He was a 3-sport star, playing basketball and track, in addition to football. His father played professionally overseas and was actually his basketball coach in College. He had a few schools interested in him coming out of high school, however they wanted him to play a position other than wide receiver. When it was time to chose, he decided to go to Cheyney University. He performed well there, however a conflict with the new coaching staff that arrived, caused him to decide to transfer. His time at California University of Pennsylvania was not the best due to injuries and courses availability. Resigned to starting life after football, he got a call from the Rams which led to him making the team. From there, he made stops in Detroit and Carolina, before spending time in the Arena League with San Jose. Now, he's teaching 8th Grade writing and coaching receivers for Nationally ranked St. Joe's high school team. For more on Dominique, follow the links below. LINKS: twitter: @DomCurry_18 (https://twitter.com/DomCurry_18?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) instagram: @domcurry18 (https://www.instagram.com/domcurry18/) REFERENCES: www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Former NFL tight-end Irv Smith played 7 seasons in the league with New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49'ers and Cleveland Browns. His son, Irv Smith Jr. is currently playing with the Minnesota Vikings and is an obvious sense of pride for him; being able to watch him play and live out his dream. Even though Irv made it in football, baseball was his first love. He was an excellent baseball player, however his ascension in the sport was disrupted by his inability to hit a curve-ball. Due to that, he ended up pursuing football. He chose to attend Notre Dame, despite being recruited by all the top programs. Coach Lou Holtz was a major factor in that decision. After an outstanding career there, he was selected by the Saints in the 1st round of the 1993 draft. He went to New York and had an amazing experience. His pro career was mixed with peaks and valleys. He experienced the politics that come with professional sports, being replaced and released even though he was playing well. That left a sour taste in his mouth and got him to start thinking of life after football. While with the 49'ers he got his Real Estate licence in Arizona. He is now a partner with Executive Global Tours, which organize travel around the world for anyone who wants to travel alongside former players. He is also Vice-President of Primerica, assisting people with money management. For more information please use the links below. LINKS twitter: @IrvSmith8284 (https://twitter.com/IrvSmith8284?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) instagram: @bigtime8284 (https://www.instagram.com/bigtime8284/?hl=en) email: irv8284@yahoo.com global tours website: https://egttours.com/about-exec-global-tours (https://egttours.com/about-exec-global-tours) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Christo played 4 seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins. Football wasn't his intended profession since he grew up a soccer fan. However he knew he wanted to play sports professionally when he was older. He excelled at football in high school and earned the interest of the University of Louisville. However, he didn't have the classes needed to qualify academically there so he went to Eastern Arizona Junior College to start off. Unfortunately for him, the staff at Louisville that was recruiting him were fired, so that opportunity went by the wayside. Fortunately, another opportunity arose as Georgia State and head coach Bill Curry showed interest in him and offered a scholarship. With the chance play for a well respected coach, and to be one of the pioneers of the new program, he decided to transfer there. Playing Alabama got him noticed by the NFL scouts. Even with his excellent play and exposure, he wasn't expecting to be drafted. However, Oakland selected him in the 6th round. He had a few more stops with Cincinnati and Washington, but he credits Baltimore as the "best franchise he has been a part of." After his playing days ended, he was drawn to Real Estate. His goal is to own 100 doors and he is well on his way to that. He is part of the Real Estate Group "The Dream Team 613" which he established in his hometown of Ottawa Ontario Canada. For more information on Christo follow the links below. LINKS: instagram: @nationscapitalrealtor (https://www.instagram.com/nationscapitalrealtor/?hl=en) website: www.dreamteam613.ca (www.dreamteam613.ca) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Ben played 6 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals. He grew up a hockey fan, which is big in his home state of Minnesota. However, football was his best opportunity to play at the professional level. He went to the University of Minnesota where he excelled as a player. Destined for the 1st round of the NFL draft, an injury almost ended his pro aspirations. Tony Dungy met him at an event, and promised to take a shot on him. He fulfilled his promise and led to Ben eventually becoming a pro with the Colts. He won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 2006 and had an accomplished career. He started thinking of life after football near the end of his career and started his singing career while still playing. He is now a part of the international group "Reborn" with Mark Masri & Andre Venter, and have just released a new album which is available on iTunes. For more information on Ben, please follow the links below. LINKS: Twitter: @BenUtecht (https://twitter.com/benutecht?lang=en) Instagram: @benutecht (https://www.instagram.com/benutecht/?hl=en) music: Reborn_Music_Group (http://www.rebornmusicgroup.org/) RESOURCES: www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Steve had an amazing Hall of Fame career in the National Football League. He shares a quick glimpes of his football journey and his life after leaving the game. For more on Steve, follow the links below. LINKS twitter: @SteveAtwater27 (https://twitter.com/SteveAtwater27?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) REFERENCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Joe Montford is one of the greatest defensive players to ever play in the CFL. He played 12 seasons spending time with the Shreveport Pirates, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argos and Edmonton Eskimos. His career was almost cut short while at the University of South Carolina State. He sustained an injury during a game that left him partially paralyzed. Despite his injury, he never wavered in his belief that he would return to the game he loved. He did return to the field, however his injury scared-off NFL teams from selecting him for the draft. He ended up signing with the Pirates of the CFL which is where his career began. A position change to defensive-end is where his career took off and he became the dominant force that he was. After leaving the game, he transitioned to working with abused children as a counsellor. He also did some coaching as well, but that all kept him away from his family which he didn't like. So he decided to start a landscaping company which is what he's doing now. For more on Joe, follow the links below. LINKS instagram: @montfordjoe (https://www.instagram.com/montfordjoe/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Jed fought hard to maintain his career, enduring multiple releases and playing for a few teams during his time in the NFL. It's a story of hard work and perseverance. He was a natural athlete who loved basketball as well growing up. That came from his father who was a good basketball player as a youngster. Jed chose Washington State for college and played tight-end. Once he got to the NFL, he was moved to fullback. His best years were with the New Orleans Saints, where he earned Pro Football Focus All-Pro honours. He acquired his CFP certification while playing and proceeded to embark on a career in the financial planning sector once he retired from the gridiron. He has been a keynote speaker for major companies like Microsoft and has also written a book, "Your Money Vehicle" which is an Amazon best seller. For more on Jed, please follow the links provided below. LINKS website: www.jedidiahcollins.com (https://jedidiahcollins.com/) twitter: @JedCollins45 (https://twitter.com/JedCollins45?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) book: Your Money Vehicle (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08596991L/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_5rQxEb710F9F0) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com)

Jordan enjoyed a 3 and a half year career of professional football. He spent time in the NFL with the Broncos, Steelers, Bears and Panthers, and in the CFL with the Tiger-Cats and Argos. He was an athletic kid, but football and track became his 2 major sports. His speed earned him State championships as he excelled in hurdles and 200m. As a top athlete, he garnered interest from a few schools like Georgia Tech, but he ultimately decided to stay close to home and attend Tulane University. He was a team captain his Senior season, and his leadership and speed got him a shot in the NFL. A memorable moment for him was when Peyton Manning came up to him to introduce himself during training camp. Peyton knew who he was due to his ties to New Orleans. He wasn't able to get an interception off of him, but he does remember intercepting Ben Roethlisberger while with the Steelers. After his career ended, he got involved in health and wellness. He does a lot with the increasingly popular cryotherapy. He also wrote 2 books recently. He has always had an artistic side, and was able to explore his talents by writing and illustrating the books. It is a passion of his and he is looking to expand his writing in the future. For more information on Jordan and what he's involved with, follow the links below. LINKS Books: Mally_in_the_Middle (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612447082/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1) Twitter: @sullenseason (https://twitter.com/sullenseason?lang=en) Instagram: @abrahamthinkin (https://www.instagram.com/abrahamthinkin/?hl=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (www.symfonies.ca)

Marcus played 11 seasons of professional football which included stops in the CFL, NFL Europe, and XFL. He started out playing baseball, and didn't start playing football until Jr highschool. His favourite sport was actually basketball but football was his best sport. He chose East Carolina to play at the University level mainly because they were the only school that let him play quarterback. He was 1st-Team all conference as a junior so played well while there. Injuries hurt his chances at the next level and almost cost him his career. However he got a shot to go to the combine and then was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos shortly after the draft. He won a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders and was also named the game MVP. He won another Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders a few years later. After his playing career ended, he transitioned into coaching where he coached in the CFL as well as at the Canadian College level. He is now in the insurance business as well as doing some personal training for quarterbacks. For more information on Marcus and what he's doing use the links below. LINKS twitter: @MarcusCrandell (https://twitter.com/marcuscrandell?lang=en) contact: 252.661.9384 RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (www.symfonies.ca)

John played 3 seasons in the NFL, all with the Arizona Cardinals. He went to Penn State and started as a defensive end, but switched to tight-end his senior year. He chose Penn State over other schools after going to a camp there. Also, they were one of the top teams in the country that year as well. He played there with one of my old teammates, Cam Wake who became a dominant player with the Miami Dolphins. He was a priority free-agent with the Cardinals after putting up great combine numbers prior to the draft. He knew football wouldn't be there for him forever, so he started looking at options for life after football. He started a business while he was playing, and was always involved in sports related things until his current business. He started Finger Licking Dutch with his girlfriend which is a waffle cookie call a stroopwaffle. They are big in the Netherlands and he is making them available in the US. For more information on the company and to follow him on social media, use the links below.   LINKS website: https://fingerlickingdutch.com/ (https://fingerlickingdutch.com/) twitter: @johnbronson87 (https://twitter.com/johnbronson87?lang=en) instagram: @johnbronson87 (https://www.instagram.com/johnbronson87/?hl=en) RESOURCES   www.atgridiron.com (https://atgridiron.com/wp-admin/www.atgridiron.com)   www.symfonies.ca (https://atgridiron.com/wp-admin/www.symfonies.ca)

Charlie had an outstanding college career and is one of the greatest athletes of our generation. He didn't start playing sports until 5th grade because his parents didn't let him play organized sports until then. He didn't have a favourite sport, he just enjoyed playing them all. He was a natural athlete and played many sports. He and his friends even created sports to play to stay active. He was introduced to football by his dad who coached. He got to play quarterback after an injury, without the knowledge of his mother who was against it. He chose Florida State due to its closeness to home, as well as the fact that Coach Bobby Bowden was going to let him play basketball as well. He rewarded the coach with a National Title, the first in school history, and a Heisman Trophy. After college, he didn't commit to football which hurt his draft status. He wanted to play his Senior year in basketball as well as prepare for the NBA draft, so he went undrafted in the NFL. He was selected by the Knicks and enjoyed a great career, playing in an NBA Final. He is now coaching basketball in Florida and helping to shape the next generation of young athletes. He also has a foundation that is doing great things in the community as well. For more on Charlie and all that he's doing now, follow the links below. LINKS twiter: @RealCharlieWard (https://twitter.com/realcharlieward?lang=en) facebook: @CharlieWardOfficial (https://www.facebook.com/CharlieWardOfficial/) instagram: @CharlieWardOfficial (https://www.instagram.com/charliewardofficial/?hl=en) foundation: www.charlieward.org/ (https://charlieward.org/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (www.symfonies.ca)

Walter had an illustrious career, playing 13 seasons in the NFL all with the Seattle Seahawks. He was a late bloomer, not starting to play football until his freshman year in highschool. He developed into a great player, but his grades held him back from the top schools. Florida State is where he wanted to go and they had mutual interest in him. They helped him to find a Junior College to attend to improve his grades. He spent 2 years at Holmes Community College and then transferred to FSU after that. His year at FSU was one where he rotated with 2 other linemen for playing time. He had no intention of leaving early. However, the draft reports had him as one of the best linemen available for the draft, along with Orlando Pace. With such a high rating, he came out in the '97 draft and was selected 6th overall. Seattle was not where he thought he would end up. On his visit there, he only met with the offensive-line coach and didn't meet anyone else in the organization. He had a stellar career and made it to the Super Bowl, which was a first for the organization. After his career ended, he went into the media, doing some radio as well as a Post-Game show, "The 5th Quarter," which he does on King 5 in Seattle. When he found out about his Hall of Fame Induction, he was with his son, and it was an incredible moment for him. He has "Walter Jones Day" in the State of Washington, but there aren't any major privileges that he gets for it. He also has a clothing line Called, "The Best To Ever Do It," or B2EDI. They sell hoodies, t-shirts and hats, with more becoming available in the near future. To follow Walter and get more information on him and his business, use the links below. LINKS Website: https://www.b2edi.com/ (https://www.b2edi.com/) Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigWalt71 (https://twitter.com/BigWalt71?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigwalt71 (https://www.instagram.com/bigwalt71/?hl=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ATG-Geroy.png) Geroy had a long and successful Hall of Fame career playing 17 years of professional football. He spent a couple years in the NFL with the Bengals, Eagles, Steelers and Bucs, with the majority of time spent with the Buccaneers. The majority of his playing career was in the CFL and the BC Lions, but he also spent time with the Blue Bombers and Roughriders. He has developed a love for cooking since retiring and loves to spend time grilling up food on the BBQ. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, football was always big for him and his family. His love for the game developed at a young age, however he didn’t start playing organized football until 7th grade. He grew up loving basketball as well and played that along with track and field as a kid. He just loved to play all kinds of sports and compete. Basketball was his first love, however football was where he excelled the most and would be his best sports option. He chose to attend the University of Maryland after high school due to their run-and-shoot offense that they had which was similar to what he had at his high school. It would give him a chance to showcase his skills as a receiver and have a prominent role on the team. He played as a true freshman and had an immediate impact on the team. After college, he was not drafted, but was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was released by the team and bounced around a few teams, including his hometown Steelers, until he landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The next year he was on their practice roster for the whole season before being released. As a guy who tends to play best when “the lights are on,” he didn’t get a true chance to show what he could do in the NFL. He did get his chance in the CFL where he excelled when he landed with the BC Lions. He won 3 Grey Cups while in the CFL with each carrying special meaning to him. The 1st one he won in 2006, which was his 1st championship at any level.  His last one was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and in that game he recorded his first 2 touchdowns in the Grey Cup game. After retiring, he knew he wouldn’t come back even if approached by a team. He was offered a position with the Roughriders by Brendan Taman, who brought him to the league originally while with the Blue Bombers years prior. He then was offered a position with the Lions, where his family was which he happily accepted. He is now the Director of Canadian Scouting with the team and has seen an improvement in the level of Canadian talent in the game. For more info on Geroy, follow the links below to his social media outlets. LINKS twitter: www.twitter.com/geroysimon (https://twitter.com/geroysimon?lang=en) instagram:  www.instagram.com/geroysimon (https://www.instagram.com/geroysimon/?hl=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ATG-Kevin.png) Kevin had an outstanding football career playing 12 years professionally in the NFL.  He was drafted by the Rams, and also played for the Titans, Dolphins and Buccaneers.  He was a late starter, having not played football until high school.  His parents wanted to protect his young body from the physical demands of football so he played other sports growing up.  He developed into a star player and was wanted by pretty much every school in the nation.  Academics was important to him in his selection of a school so his choice came down to Notre Dame and Florida.  He was ready to commit to Notre Dame, however Coach Spurrier convinced him to join him and attend the University of Florida.  He had an outstanding career at Florida and was a top prospect in the 1995 draft.  He ended up going 6th overall to the Rams and experienced a whirl-wind of travel right after the draft.  He was drafted the year the Rams moved from LA to St. Louis, so there was a lot of transition for him.  Luckily for him, his mom was there to help him and she took care of many of the details involved in his transition to pro football.  His first sack in the NFL was a memorable one, as he earned it against the legendary Brett Favre.  He earned the game ball that day and still has the ball in his memorabilia collection.  Coach Dick Vermeil addressed the team when he took over and told them that they would win a Championship in 3 years.  They achieved that goal, winning Super Bowl XXIV in one of the most memorable finishes in Super Bowl history!  After football he transitioned into broadcasting, however he wasn’t sure that’s what he wanted to do.  He initially started in the speaker circuit, doing talks around the Country.  He did a few other things as well but didn’t find fulfilment from it.  His agent suggested that he try broadcasting, and after finally deciding to give it a try, he loved it.  He started with ESPN but is now working with CBS Sports.  He also does work with his foundation, The Kevin Carter Foundation, which he started back in 2001.  For more information on Kevin and his foundation, use the links provided below. LINKS website: www.kevin-carter.com (https://kevin-carter.com/) twitter: @kevincarter_93 (https://twitter.com/KevinCarter_93?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) facebook:  www.facebook.com/waitingforwishes/ (https://www.facebook.com/waitingforwishes/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ATG-Drummond.png) Robert had a 12 year career in pro football, which included time in the NFL and CFL.  He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and played for them before joining the CFL where he played for the Baltimore Stallions, Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions.  He started playing football as a little kid in his home town of Syracuse, NY.  He loved football because of its physicality, and it allowed him to hit other guys and not get in trouble for it.  He was fast so track was his other main sport.  When it came time to choose a college, Penn State was the front runner.  He was always a fan of them and thought that would be where he would attend school.  However, when it came time to make the decision, he decided to stay home and attend his home town Syracuse University.  The proximity to home and the fact that his mom graduated from there were factors that influenced him to go there instead.  It was a choice he was happy he made and be able to have his family support so close by.  In fact, his family not only went to games, they would attend his practices as well!  His draft year was one of the most talented drafts in history.  He was a top prospect, however with a few Junior running backs declaring for the draft a year early, he was pushed down the draft a bit.  He still went in the 3rd round to the Eagles so he was still highly regarded.  He was thrilled to be a part of the team play with and against players he grew up watching.  A huge highlight for him was getting to meet Marcus Allen after a game against the Raiders.  After his time with the Eagles he played in the CFL with the Baltimore Stallions where he shared the backfield with the great Mike Pringle.  He had to play fullback but was a matchup nightmare for other teams.  After winning a Grey Cup there he signed with the Argonauts.  He got a chance to be the primary guy there and won a couple more championships.  After a couple more career stops, he headed for retirement, the love for the game had left him.  In retirement, he knew he wanted to do something to help kids and give back to the community.  He started his personal training company The Face of Fitness where he helps young athletes to reach their potential and help them achieve their goals.  He also developed a training platform the assesses an athlete’s athletic skill level.  It has even garnered the interest of the IOC and they may be using it at some point in the future!  For more on Robert and his training, follow the links below. LINKS website:  www.rapsrating.com/ (http://www.rapsrating.com/) facebook:  www.facebook.com/robert.drummond.311 (https://www.facebook.com/robert.drummond.311) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ATG-Bryant.png) Bryant played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Viking, Ravens and Dolphins.  He is a big tennis fan, and plays consistently.  He played basketball growing up and didn’t start playing football until high school due to his size.  He quickly excelled at football and played on the defensive side of the ball as a d-lineman.  However he had to start at a junior college before going on to a top level school.  After Junior college, he decided to go to the University of Miami.  There he played with numerous future NFL stars like Ed Reed, Clinton Portis and Andre Johnson.  He won the Outland Trophy in 2001 and was a top prospect for the draft.  He traveled to New York and visited different places in the city which was recovering from the 9/11 bombings that happened the previous year.  He was picked by the Vikings, 7th overall.  He was part of the team that went to the NFC Championship game with Brett Favre at the helm.  He got his Super Bowl win as a member of the Ravens.  The game was known for the power outage that delayed the game an extra 30 minutes.  His career ended as a member of the Dolphins and he had to adjust to life after football.  He started a company with his business partner called Letz Chat.  It translates websites into different languages.  A great tool in this increasingly global economy.  He also started a company called Repent, which is a hangover cure for those that have had a few too many.  It was started with a different business partner and is growing as well.  For more information on Bryant and his businesses, please follow the links below. LINKS website:  www.letzchat.com/ (https://www.letzchat.com/) website: www.drinkrepent.com/ (https://drinkrepent.com/) twitter: @bryantmckinnie (https://twitter.com/BryantMckinnie?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) instagram: @bryantmckinnie (https://www.instagram.com/bryantmckinnie/?hl=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ATG-OJ.png) OJ played 9 seasons of professional football in the NFL, all with the Miami Dolphins.  He was a standout athlete who played multiple sports growing up.  In high school he lettered in 4 sports, football basketball, baseball and Track.  His favourite sport was basketball, however he was on the shorter side so didn’t think that would be his best option.  He was heavily recruited but Ohio State was his favourite team being an Ohio boy.  However they fired their head coach so that opened him up to listening to other schools.  Penn State shot up to the top of the list and he decided to go there, even though his mom was pushing for Notre Dame.  He was outstanding at Penn State and rose to All-American status.  He also played baseball there and was drafted by the California Angels.  Their offer to him was only $10,000 which led him to pursue his football options instead of playing baseball.  That turned out to be a great choice with him being drafted in the 1st round by the Dolphins.  He was added to an already talented receiving corps, so initially he made his mark as a returner.  He excelled at it and had some great returns early in his career.  He eventually established himself as a top receiver and led the league in catches with 90 in 1998.  A toe injury ended his career prematurely and he had to focus on life after football.  He did radio work as well as some tv work to try and stay close to the game.  He also started his foundation, Catch 81 Foundation, to help kids in the south Florida area.  He has his own podcast as well, The Fish Tank, where he chats with former Dolphins players and personnel and they share stories from their time with the team.  For more information on OJ and where to follow him on social media, follow the links below. SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS podcast: The Fish Tank (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fish-tank-miami-dolphins-tales-from-the-deep/id1409148022) foundation: Catch 81 Foundation (https://www.catch81foundation.org/) twitter: @ojmcduffie81 (https://twitter.com/ojmcduffie81?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) instagram: @ojmcduffie (https://www.instagram.com/ojmcduffie/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ATG-Jamel.png)   Jamel enjoyed a long career of professional football playing 12 years in the CFL and a stint in the NFL as well.  He loves video games with Madden and NBA 2K being his 2 favourite games to play.  He started playing football in 7th grade and played basketball primarily prior to that.  His favourite player is Michael Irvin and tried to emulate him with his play.  He went to Victor Valley Junior College after first committing to Michigan State.  However he didn’t get the necessary grades to go there so had to make the move to Victor Valley.  He dominated while he was there and also was successful on the basketball court becoming the 2nd highest scorer in the state of California.  Despite his success, it was a tough transition for him to go out to California.  He became home sick, missing his home town on the east coast.  But his love for the game propelled him to continue on.  From there he got an opportunity with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League.  He performed well at a tryout and got signed.  It was a bit of an adjustment playing with the different rules and in a different Country.  He learned from some of the veterans who took him under their wing as a young player.  His success there got him an opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys.  He had a great camp, however with the stiff competition, he was a a last cut.  However Terrell Owens had a big impact on him and his career by showing him how hard he worked to be the best.  That inspired him, and it led to him having amazing seasons with the Montreal Alouettes.  He finished off with the Riders before transitioning to life after football.  He did a few things like coaching kids as well as getting his masseuse licence.  However he didn’t feel led to do that.  He then went into becoming a claims adjuster which he is doing now.  He is also starting his training company, Upstate Fitness Connection.  For more information on Jamel, please use the links below.   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS Twitter (https://twitter.com/jamelrichardson?lang=en) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jrich_18/?hl=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ATG-Marques.png) Marques enjoyed a nice career in pro football playing in the NFL for the Jaguars, Ravens, Bills and Titans.  He also spent time in the Arena League and NFL Europe.  He has become a big fan of Broadway musicals which his dad said he would enjoy, but he didn’t think he ever would.  He started playing football his freshman year of high school.  due to his size he couldn’t play before that.  He did play other sports as well but football was his best.  His brother is Hall of Fame player Jonathan Ogden and he was a huge supporter of his brother.  Jonathan is 7 years older than Marques so there weren’t any sibling rivalries between them.  In fact when Jonathan was with the Baltimore Ravens he would come to see his little brother Marques play live.  Marques also had the opportunity to go to the Ravens’ practices and interact with the players and learn from them which was a huge advantage for him.  He wasn’t heavily recruited mainly due to the fact that most schools though he was a Junior when he was actually a Senior.  Maryland wanted him as a walk-on, but he decided to go to Howard since they were offering him a full scholarship.  He had a great career at Howard and earned All-American status.  He didn’t have a strength and conditioning coach at Howard until his Senior year there which adds to how impressive it is that he was able to make it to the NFL.  He was drafted in the 6th round by the Jags, but prior to the draft there was talk of him going in about the 3rd round.  He had the privilege of playing with his brother when he was with the Ravens which was a huge thrill for them both as well as their family.  A back injury was what led to the end of his career.  After leaving football he went into construction and was very successful.  He built up an 8-figure company in the Baltimore area managing over 100 employees.  That came to a crashing end and he ended up in bankruptcy.  He got a few more opportunities but was not successful with them.  He was in a tough emotional state and hit rock bottom.  He finally decided to turn his life around by changing his mindset and got on the right path.  He is now a motivational speaker, best selling author and changing lives for the better.  For more information on Marques and to follow him on social media, use the links below.   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS website: www.marquesogden.com (https://www.marquesogden.com/) Instagram: @marquesogden (https://www.instagram.com/marquesogden/?hl=en) Twitter: @Marques_Ogden (https://twitter.com/Marques_Ogden?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) Facebook: Marques Ogden (https://www.facebook.com/marques.s.ogden) LinkedIn: Marques Ogden (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquesogden/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ATG-Ross.png) Ross played 7 seasons in the NFL suiting up with the Redskins, Cowboys, Bills, Patriots and Browns.  With his dad being only 5’ 9” he is a surprisingly big guy.  His size comes from his mothers’ side of the family.  He also had some pretty good basket ball skills and often would bring the ball up the court even though he was such a big guy.  For University he chose Princeton, which made his grandmother extremely proud.  He excelled at Princeton, on the field and off.  He was All-Ivy League in 2000 and a 2 time Academic All-American as well.  His on-field success didn’t translate into NFL opportunities for him.  It was actually his agent that got him an opportunity to tryout with a team due to his connections in the league.  He made the most of it and performed well enough to earn a spot.  After football he was fortunate to be offered a job writing for Sports Illustrated almost immediately.  From there he did broadcasting with ESPN and Westwood One.  He was a podcasting pioneer having a podcast years before its current popularity.  He used that experience and audience to start his own podcast network which he has today.  For more information on Ross and to follow him on social media, use the links provided below. SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS website:  www.rosstucker.com (http://www.rosstucker.com/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/rosstuckernfl (https://www.instagram.com/rosstuckernfl/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/RossTuckerNFL (https://twitter.com/RossTuckerNFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) facebook: www.facebook.com/RossTuckerNFL (https://www.facebook.com/RossTuckerNFL/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ATG-Joel.png) Joel had a brief career playing 3 years of pro football.  He spent time in the arena league as well as stops in the NFL with Philadelphia, Cleveland and Tennessee.  He loves the outdoors and likes to do a lot of hiking.  It’s a chance for him to get away and clear his mind without the noises of the city.  He started playing in high school and also played basketball which he felt helped him with football.  Basketball was his first love and he played in his dad’s basketball league.  There were some great players that came through the league like Carmelo Anthony.  He was top recruit his junior year in high school however he got hurt his senior year and only played in 3 games.  Most schools shied away from him after that.  Shippensburg University was appealing to him because of their passing offence, so he decided to go there.  He excelled there and was All-Conference in 2003.  He was being projected to be a 6th or 7th round draft pick.  However he didn’t get an opportunity and went undrafted.  He ended up coaching the tight-ends at Shippensburg after graduating his senior year.  Despite that, he felt he could still play.  He asked his coach if he could get him an opportunity somewhere.  He had a connection in the arena league and that led to him being signed by the team.  He eventually got a shot with an NFL team and was signed by the Eagles.  He bounced around a few teams and then the lockout year was when it ended for him.  His next move was to start his foundation so he could make a difference for youth in his hometown area.  They do a lot of different things like sports camps, tutoring, school tours and much more.  If you want more information on his foundation and follow him on social media, follow the links below. SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS website: www.thejoelgamblefoundation.org/ (https://thejoelgamblefoundation.org/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/joel_gamble (https://www.instagram.com/joel_gamble/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/NFLTE82 (https://twitter.com/NFLTE82?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ATG-Jason.png) Jason enjoyed a 7 year career in the NFL playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and New York Giants.  He is an art lover, and has some pieces from some prominent artists.  He also likes to visit galleries which are all over Europe where he currently lives.  He started playing organized football when he was 14.  He played other sports as well but knew football was his best sport.  He chose UCLA over the University of Washington after having already committing to Washington.  He had his mom tell the Huskies the bad news that he wouldn’t be coming there.  He had a great career at UCLA and was a top defensive back prospect his junior year.  However he injured his foot that season and received a medical red-shirt.  The next season, he played but wasn’t fully recovered from his injury.  He was playing well but at the end of the season he was injured again.  His pro opportunities now depended on his pro day.  He ran scorching 40-yard dash time which impressed the scouts.  That earned him an opportunity with the Cowboys.  He impressed them with his work ethic and special teams efforts, which earned him a spot in the roster.  He also learned from the veterans on the team like Darren Woodson who gave him advice that stuck with him throughout his career.  He then played for the Texans which he loved as Houston was passionate for the team after just getting an NFL team back since loosing the Oilers.  He finished with the Giants, where he eventually made a switch to safety after playing corner his entire career.  He was interested in financial planning after interacting with guys and noticing that there was a void in quality Real Estate advice and services for them.  He got his MBA through the NFL program and after he was done playing went into Wealth Management.  It was a chance meeting that brought him into broadcasting for the BBC.  He ran into an executive at a pet store in Britain where he was shopping with his daughter.  That led to him being a co-host of The NFL Show, that he does with Osi Umenyiora.  The sport is growing rapidly there, and he can envision an NFL team expanding there.  There is an NFL academy as well where kids from all over Europe can attend and go to school while learning the game.  For more information on Jason and all that he’s doing, please follow the links below.   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) LINKS website:  www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/thenflshow (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09427yw) podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/jason&osi (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-jason-osi-podcast/id1331898228) instagram:  www.instagram.com/jasonbell33/ (https://www.instagram.com/jasonbell33/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/jasonbell33 (https://twitter.com/jasonbell33?lang=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ATG-Tavon.png)   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) Tavon had a brief career in the NFL, playing for two years, both with the New York Jets.  Poetry is something he has done and has written, as well as children’s books so he is quite talented and more than just a football player!  He started playing organized football when he was in 5th grade, but he started playing around the neighbourhood as a kid before that.  He played with his older brother and his friends which helped him to be tougher and excel his game to a higher level.  Virginia was the university that he chose to go attend, due mainly to the fact that it was not that far from home.  The University of Miami was on his radar as well, but with them having probation issues he decided against going there.  He did play other sports as well with track and football being his main two.  He knew football was his best sport, while track he would do just to help him with football.  His first year at Virginia he red-shirted and did a lot on the scout team establishing himself as a great blocker and wreaking havoc against the starters.  He had a great career while there but his draft year was a wide receiver heavy draft, so he was kind of lost in the shuffle of the position.  He went undrafted, but regrets missing a call from the Philadelphia Eagles who were interested in drafting him.  The Jets picked him up and he was thrilled to get the opportunity to play in the NFL.  After a couple years, he realized that opportunities would not be coming his way.  He even played arena football for a year, but after that he looked towards life after football.  He knew he wanted to help kids and give back to the community.  He started his foundation, and doing things in the area.  They did many different things and one that was needed more than other needs was a slipper drive.  So they take slippers to many hospitals in Maryland and other surrounding States.  His drive to give back is due to the fact that he felt as a pro athlete, it was his duty to give back to those less fortunate.  He also started a new company selling beard butter.  He actually had the idea for a few years, but finally put it into production.  Its an all-natural product and he did tones of research to find the best products to make the best product.  For more information on Tavon, his foundation and his beard butter company, please follow the links provided. LINKS website: www.tavonmasonlovesthekids.org (http://www.tavonmasonlovesthekids.org/) business instagram: www.instagram.com/tavonbeardbutter (https://www.instagram.com/tavonsbeardbutter/?hl=en) personal instagram: www.instagram.com/tavonmason (https://www.instagram.com/mr_tmason/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/tmason18 (https://twitter.com/tmason18?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ATG-Ken.png)   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) One of the best safeties to play in the NFL, Ken enjoyed an 8 year career patrolling the gridiron.  He played for the Seahawks, Cowboys, Ravens and Colts.  He loves to cook and travel, with Belize being a favourite vacation destination.  He started playing football when he was 7 and loved it.  He was an all-around athlete playing many sports growing up and baseball was actually his favourite sport but football was his best option for the future.  He was a top player in Tennessee and had an interesting recruiting process.  Arkansas recruited him early and he had a good bond with them, especially the coaches.  Also, they had top safeties that came out of the program that he could learn from as well.  He had a great career there and was a top prospect for the 2003 draft.  There was talk of him going to Buffalo in the 1st round, but they ended up taking Willis McGahee.  He went in the 2nd round and got a call from Ray Rhodes telling him that he was on his way to Seattle.  He loved his time there and the organization.  Then he went to Dallas where football is everything.  They had a great group and unfortunately fell short of playoff success.  The lockout season was his last year playing.  At that time the league was starting to change the rules and clamp down on the big hits which was a huge part of his game.  One thing he did while he was playing was to do some broadcasting.  He had a radio show while in Seattle and also appeared on First Take with Skip Bayless as well.  An opportunity came up at Arkansas to do the pre-game and that’s what he’s doing now.  He is also an entrepreneur, being involved with different business endeavours.  He owns some food trucks with his good friend and former college teammate Eddie Jackson, who has become an accomplished chef.  He’s also involved in a few other businesses.  For more info on Ken and to stay up to date on things he’s doing, please follow the links below. LINKS Instagram:  www.instagram.com/ken_hamlin (https://www.instagram.com/ken_hamlin/?hl=en) Twitter: www.twitter.com/ken_hamlin (https://twitter.com/ken_hamlin?lang=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ATG-Justin.png) SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) Justin played 2 years in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger Cats.  He started playing football when he was 12 years old in the Hamilton minor football association.  He initially played offensive line, but when he moved to defence, football became much more fun for him.  He played other sports growing up as well, but in high school it was football and basketball.  After his final high school season he didn’t receive any scholarship offers but did get an opportunity at a prep school in Niagara Falls.  They played American teams and American rules.  It was a great opportunity and exposure for him.  That led to him getting a scholarship offer from Fordham University.  The offer was contingent on him being able to dunk on a basketball net; and he did!  He had a great career there and was a 1st-Team All-Conference player his senior year.  He was drafted by his home town Tiger Cats, a team that his dad played for as well.  He started off well in his career playing more than he though he would.  He got his 1st pro sack against Ottawa, on a play that was not done as planned.  However injuries derailed him and he didn’t want to deal with everything involved in playing any more.  He has his degree from Fordham, but isn’t sure what path he will take for the next chapter in his life.  He wants to start a family and find something that is more stable moving forward.  To follow Justin and see what he is doing now use the links below. LINKS twitter: www.twitter.com/jv_xcii? (https://twitter.com/jv_xcii?lang=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ATG-Hannibal.png)   SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) Hannibal played 9 seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Panthers, Bengals and 49ers.  He was a late bloomer in football, having not played until high school.  In fact, he didn’t play any organized sports until then.  That’s why he is passionate about giving back to youth in his area.  Schools are not eliminating sports and even gym class in his area so he’s trying to provide an outlet for kids that want a chance to participate in sports.  He chose to attend the University of Colorado due to them being a college football power at the time, as well as a chance to get out of his environment in the Oakland area.  It was a bit of a culture shock for him initially, going to a school with a majority of Caucasians, as opposed to his neighborhood which was primarily black.  Going into the NFL, he was expecting to go higher than he did which was the 4th round.  Being highly touted, he thought he wouldn’t drop more than the 2nd round.  He didn’t consciously use that as motivation but he nonetheless became a great player in the league.  Transitioning out of football is difficult, and he did things to prepare but didn’t focus on life after football.  It’s hard to focus on life after the game while you’re still playing and maintain your level of skill.  He now is working with the Trust, which assists players in transitioning out of pro football.  The Trust started in 2013, an organization that was negotiated in the Players agreement with the league and has grown into much more than they initially thought it would develop into.  It has grown and evolved to support the needs that have come up for players after retiring from playing.  He has also started his foundation, the Hannibal Navies Foundation which help young student athletes to be all-around young men and women.  For more information on Hannibal and what he’s involved with, follow the links below. LINKS website: www.playerstrust.com (http://playerstrust.com/) foudation: www.hannibalnavies.48in48sites.org/ (http://hannibalnavies.48in48sites.org/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/bullnavies/ (https://www.instagram.com/bullnavies/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ATG-Fred.png) SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) Fred had a long career spanning 12 seasons in the NFL.  He was drafted by the Minnesota Viking, but also played for the NY Giants and St. Louis Rams.  Fishing is the thing he loves to do, which gives him a chance to get away and relax his mind.  Red snapper is what he likes to fish.  Football started for him in high school.  He grew up playing baseball and some basketball, but he got hooked on football once he got a chance to play.  He had a great high school career and was recruited by a few schools.  His parents are educators so picking a school that had a strong education was important.  Wake Forest fit that criteria and he liked the coach so decided to attend there.  He was All-ACC at Wake and performed well at the Senior Bowl and combine.  He was a 2nd round pick of the Vikings which surprised him since they were not in contact with him pre-draft.  Being mentored by John Randle helped him so much in developing as a player.  That propelled him when he went to the Giants to have his best seasons.  He also won a Super Bowl there beating the Patriots who were undefeated up until that game.  He finished his career with the Rams.  After football he knew he wanted to return to Florida and give back to the community.  So he started his foundation, Mr. Robbins Neighborhood, and does great things for the youth in the area.  He’s also looking to expand to other areas of the State due to the interest of teammates.  For more information on Fred and his work check out the links below.   LINKS website: www.mrrobbinsneighborhood.com (https://www.mrrobbinsneighborhood.org/) twitter: www.twitter.com/fredrobbins255 (https://twitter.com/fredrobbins255) instagram:  www.instagram.com/mrrobbins98/ (https://www.instagram.com/mrrobbins98/) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ATG-Rick.png) SUBSCRIBE Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3hnoI8YbzNAcJ0Tlg1Hb0B) Rick had a long pro career lasting 12 years in the NFL.  He played for the Seahawks, Packers, Bears, Jets, 49ers, Raiders and Lions.  He grew up in a football family with his dad being a football coach and was exposed to the game at a young age.  He did punt, pass and kick as well as football camps growing up but didn’t start playing tackle until 7th grade.  He played other sports as well including baseball which he loved, but football was main sport.  His dad stepped away from coaching right when Rick started high school football.  He didn’t want to have a conflict of interest, allowing for accusations of favoritism, as well as a business opportunity that came for him.  Rick still excelled in high school and was recruited by top schools around the country.  The Big Ten was his focus, feeling that he would fit in best with a Big Ten school.  However Notre Dame was right in his back yard and a power house team at the time so it was easy for him to choose them as his University. He had a great career there and finished with a Cotton Bowl victory.  He was thought of as a franchise quarterback and it was widely known that he and Drew Bledsoe would be the top two picks in the draft.  The order remained a mystery until the selection was made by the Patriots on draft day.  Neither he nor Drew knew who would be the first pick until it was made.  Rick decided to stay home with family on draft day and didn’t go to New York for the draft.  The closest he got to a Super Bowl was when he was with the Raiders and they lost the game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in San Diego.  Despite the loss it was a great experience for him to be a part of the game and the atmosphere around it.  At the end of his career he knew it was time to move on from football after playing for 7 teams.  He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do but ended up starting a wine company.  His last 4 seasons he was in the Bay area and with the Raiders he had training camp in Napa which initiated his interest in wine.  An opportunity came to start a small brand, which is how he liked it, not wanting it to overwhelm his life.  He also does work with his foundation, Mirer Family Foundation, which he started at Notre Dame.  They assist kids mostly in the Northern Indiana area, providing scholarships for students wanting to attend Notre Dame and other charitable causes as well.  For more info on Rick and what he’s involved with, check out the links below. LINKS foundation: mirerfamilyfoundation (https://www.facebook.com/MirerFamilyFoundation/) wine business: Mirrorwine (https://www.mirrorwine.com/) twitter: www.twitter.com/rickmirer (https://twitter.com/rickmirer?lang=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (http://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ATG-Anthony.png) SUBSCRIBE Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/after-the-gridiron) Anthony played 3 years in the NFL having stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers.  He endured a tough childhood, growing up in the foster care system.  Because he was in the foster care system, he was not allowed to play in organized sports at all.  It wasn’t until he reached 14 years old and was adopted that he was allowed to play.  In his first year playing he was not very good and didn’t think he could make it in the sport.  The next year he turned the corner and became much better in part from the words of someone he overheard in his class.  She said something about blaming foster care for something in her life.  That inspired him to not be defined by his situation.  He went on to become a great high school player and was recruited by top schools.  He initially committed to Washington State, but Oregon kept pursuing him.  He finally agreed to go on a visit there and loved it.  He decided to de-commit to Washington State and went to Oregon. He had a great career there and got a degree in Kinesiology.  His play garnered him an opportunity in the NFL where he was able to make it with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.  Injuries played a part in his career and he lasted 3 years before having to move on.  He didn’t have a clear idea what he wanted to do, so he started out working as a personal trainer.  It didn’t take long for him to realize that he hated doing that so then with his degree, he decided to open his own gym, Truck Training.  It was a constant struggle for him almost going bankrupt numerous times over the 6 years he ran the gym.  With his never give up mentality he kept fighting for a solution and found it with his motivational speaking and life coaching programs.  He is now helping many people and companies from the lessons he’s learned and the life experiences he has endured.  His book, Trust Your Hustle, is the story of his life that he wrote in Utah in only 7 days!  He drove out there for some solitude and cranked out his book in a matter of days.  It’s an inspirational story that will inspire you to greatness.  For more information on Anthony and his work, use the links below. LINKS website: www.anthonytrucks.com (https://www.anthonytrucks.com/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/anthonytrucks (https://www.instagram.com/anthonytrucks/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/anthonytrucks (https://twitter.com/anthonytrucks?lang=en)   RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ATG-Chris.png) SUBSCRIBE Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/after-the-gridiron) Chris enjoyed a long career playing 9 seasons of pro football in both the NFL and CFL.  He played with the BC Lions, Washington Redskins and Montreal Alouettes.  He was born loving the game and often played with family.  Organized tackle football started for him when he was in 7th grade.  Growing up in Flint Michigan was a rough environment and football was a way for him to stay out of trouble and avoid the wrong crowds.  In high school, he developed into a great player and received his first recruiting letter from the University of Illinois.  However he was initially thought to be ineligible, so schools were suggesting that he go to a junior college first.  The division II school of Northwood University was an option for him and wanted him badly.  Not wanting to go the junior college route, he was leaning towards Northwood.  Then he found out that he was actually eligible after all.  That prompted him to reach out to the big schools and let them know he was able to qualify for their schools.  Unfortunately, by that time all their scholarships were spoken for so he couldn’t go to a major school.  He was upset, but his dad told him to prove that he didn’t belong at the division II school and should work to stand out from the crowd.  That is exactly what he did and he helped them to achieve titles that they never did before.  Despite his great play, he wasn’t drafted by the NFL and had to start his career in the CFL.  With determination and relentless effort, he was able to make the team and the starting lineup.  After a few great years with the BC Lions, including a Grey Cup Championship, he was picked up by the Washington Redskins.  Louis Riddick, who was their scout at the time told him that when he noticed him, he was actually scouting another player.  But Chris kept standing out to him in the film and could not be ignored.  He performed well with Washington, and made a great impression on the staff when he walked to his first team workout.  After football ended for him, coaching was not in his radar.  He thought they had to work to hard having long hours and little rest.  However, he caught the bug and has coached at three levels of football.  High school in his hometown of Flint, a college in Minnesota and interned as a coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  For more information about Chris you can follow him on social media with the links below.   Instagram: www.instagram.com/cwil95flint/ (https://www.instagram.com/cwil95flint/?hl=en) Twitter: www.twitter.com/cwil95flint (https://twitter.com/cwil95flint?lang=en) RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ATG-Larry.png) SUBSCRIBE Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/after-the-gridiron) Larry was a star running back for 7 seasons in the NFL playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.  He started playing when he was 9 years old and he was scared to death playing!  He didn’t know how to play and guys that did were very aggressive and he was actually knocked out of a game.  However his football coaching dad told him to keep going and not give up, so he did.  That turned into him becoming a great player, but in high school he was heavily recruited by only a few schools.  Most thought he would go to Penn State since his dad was a coach there at the time.  However, he wanted to leave Pennsylvania and would have entertained offers from other big schools.  In the end, he did go to Penn State.  Knowing who the incoming competition would be, he was confident that he could out perform them and eventually earn the starting position.  That is exactly what he did, and in his final season reached 2000 yards rushing becoming only the 12th player to reach that mark in NCAA history.  From there he would be drafted to the NFL by Kansas City, but that isn’t where he wanted to play.  He was heart set on playing in Pittsburgh, and they were very interested in him as well.  With Jerome Bettis close to retirement, he felt it was the perfect spot for him.  However, they decided to select Troy Polamalu.  KC was not disappointed, and he became an All-Pro back with them.  He went on to play for a few more teams after leaving KC, but didn’t have the success he did with the Chiefs.  After his football career ended, he was asked to speak to some youth and share some of his experiences and to motivate them.  He did a great job with them and was asked to do it on a more permanent basis.  Not having a defined plan for what he wanted to do, he decided to follow that path.  He is now working with The Motivational Edge, which is a non-profit organization that helps youth through activities and the arts.  They provide dance classes and music creativity where kids can express their artistic talents.  They are based in Florida and help kids across the State.  For more information about them and Larry, follow the links provided below. website: www.themotivationaledge.org (https://themotivationaledge.org/) twitter: www.twitter.com/2LarryJohnson7 (https://twitter.com/2LarryJohnson7?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)   RESOURCES www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ATG-Eddie.png) SUBSCRIBE Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/after-the-gridiron) Eddie enjoyed a 9 year career in the CFL playing for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.  From a young age he had the dream to play professionally so he could follow in the footsteps of his father who was drafted and played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.  It turns out, that he would achieve his goal and be drafted by the same Tiger Cats team years later.  He was a top talent in high school and even had the opportunity to practice with the University of Manitoba team while still in high school.  That experience accelerated his skills and helped him to improve exponentially.  When it was time for him to choose a school to attend, it was an easy choice to select the Bisons.  They were a top program and it was close to home so it was an ideal situation for him.  They won the Vanier Cup in 2007 and dominated the CIS with none of their games being very close all season long.  After a successful college career and a strong showing at the combine, he was expecting to go pretty high in the CFL draft.  He had a huge draft party and there was media at his place as well anticipating his high draft selection.  However he wasn’t selected until the 3 round and was very upset and frustrated by his late selection.  However he ended up in a good situation in Hamilton and turned his frustration into a starting position only 1 year later.  From there he went to Edmonton, which is where he won a Grey Cup Championship.  It was a thrilling victory, especially due to the fact that it was held in his home town of Winnipeg.  Having his friends and family there to share in his victory was a memory that will last forever.  He finished his career with the Roughriders this past season.  Having contemplating retirement during the season, an opportunity arose that cemented his decision to call it a career.  He is now working in sales for Share Canada, a company that his father also works for.  It was important for him to end his career on his terms and not be forced out like many players are.  To keep up on what’s happening in Eddie’s life, you can follow him on social media with the links being provided below. twitter: www.twitter.com/eddie_steele97 (https://twitter.com/eddie_steele97?lang=en) instagram:  www.instagram.com/real_deal_steele97/ (https://www.instagram.com/real_deal_steele97/) Resources www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ATG-Thomas.png) SUBSCRIBE Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/after-the-gridiron)   Thomas had a great career playing 12 seasons in the NFL and is one of only 31 players in NFL history to accumulate 10,000 career rushing yards.  He grew up in an athletic family with his dad being a former football player and his mom was a cheerleader.  His siblings also played sports, however they were not competitive against each other but were supportive of each others accomplishments.  At 5 years old he already had the goal to play in the NFL and told his parents that he would make it.  They bought him a Tony Dorsett jersey, which they later gave back to him framed once he was in the NFL and accomplished his goal.  As a standout in high school he was heavily recruited by the top programs in the country.  He committed early to Notre Dame who was led by the legendary Lou Holts.  However after going on an official visit to Virginia as courtesy to the local university, he had a change of heart and changed his commitment to Virginia.  He wanted his father to tell Notre Dame the news but his dad made him make that call.  He had an outstanding career with the Cavaliers and holds many school records.  With that success came high expectations in the NFL, where he was projected to be a top 5 pick in the 2000 draft.  It was an incredible experience for him to go there with his family and be selected 7th overall and fulfill his childhood dream.  Success in the NFL didn’t come right away with injuries and opportunities hindering him.  He found success in Chicago and was able to play in a Super Bowl with the Bears and had a great game, despite the loss.  As his career came to an end, he wasn’t sure what avenue in life he would take.  He was living in Miami at the time and had a project he was working on.  One of the publicists thought he had some talent for acting and said he should pursue that.  He went for it and had success right away.  He landed a role on Being Mary Jane which stared Gabrielle Union.  With that initial success he decided he better get some acting classes so he doesn’t embarrass himself.  He’s now doing many projects and even producing his own content.  For all the information on what he’s doing please follow the links below. Instagram:  www.instagram.com/thomasjonesrb (https://www.instagram.com/thomasjonesrb/?hl=en) Twitter: www.twitter.com/thomasqjones (https://twitter.com/thomasqjones?lang=en) Facebook:  www.facebook.com/OfficialThomasQJones/ (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialThomasQJones/) Resources: www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)  

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ATG-Noble.png) Brandon played 9 seasons in the NFL, playing with the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.  He also spent time in NFL Europe with the Barcelona Dragons.  He didn’t start playing football until grade 8, because his mother didn’t let him play up until then.  He loved the sport, and bugged his mom to let him play but she didn’t until then.  The funny thing is, once he experienced his first practice with pads, he did everything he could to quit!  He would fake illness, forget his helmet, and whatever he could to not play anymore.  He moved to Virginia and that allowed him to “save face” with friends and he continued to play.  He overcame his initial fears and became a top rated recruit in the State.  He chose to attend Penn State University, going with his gut, even though he almost committed to Michigan after his visit there.  He had an outstanding career at Penn State and earned All Big-10 honours there.  However his lack of prototype size for a defensive tackle made him not as attractive to NFL teams.  He was projected to be a 3rd-5th round selection prior to the draft but he went undrafted and signed as a free-agent with the 49ers.  They sent him to NFL Europe two years in a row and he absolutely loved his experience there.  It was like college without the classes.  Living in the hotel, traveling around Europe, playing football and hanging out with friends was amazing.  However after the seconds stint there he didn’t want to resign with San Fran due to the depth of talent they had on the defensive line.  So he signed with Dallas.  He finally got his opportunity with them and when circumstances provided him with a chance he made the most of it.  After establishing himself as a starter there, he later signed as a free agent with the Redskins.  He wanted to stay in Dallas but had to go where he would be compensated fairly.  His career ended rather abruptly, due to complications from surgeries that almost killed him.  On the cusp of performing a risky surgery that would have allowed him to continue playing his wife stepped in and told his doctor that “he was done!”  Not expecting to be done at that time he wasn’t sure what his next move would be career wise.  He had part-time opportunities with coaching and broadcasting and did both for a while.  He was offered a full-time coaching position and did that for a while at a few schools.  Not wanting to uproot his family constantly and all the hours spent at the facility that coaching requires he decided to leave college coaching and do something else.  He has now started Blue White-Media which covers Penn State Football and it continues to grow.  For more information on that and keep up with Brandon please go to the links provided below. website: www.bluewhitemedia.com (http://www.bluewhite-media.com) facebook:  www.facebook.com/bluewhitemediapsu/ (https://www.facebook.com/bluewhitemediapsu/?__tn__=%2CdkC-R&eid=ARDEMWpEq_x9MU4UBV_BC2nh5s5qT5Ih5y4-sHk_whn-rwwOi_m7VEbfVFl59FklMcBgrkeYaiskDCyo&hc_ref=ARRB7lPV5qGGQW_6GKBG1J8DlcZRVm17u_8fkDV7xd7gPCu2CY6jK_tj7W9IG7qN1AE) twitter: www.twitter.com/bnoble75 (https://twitter.com/bnoble75?lang=en) Resources www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ATG-Joe.png) Joe played 8 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  One thing he learned to do as a kid that helped him in his career was learning to ride a unicycle.  It definitely helped with his balance.  He also liked to skateboard as a kid.  He started out in football in high school, since he was too big to play at a younger age in California.  He excelled in high school and was recruited by some top schools in the country.  Being a 3 star recruit, those schools didn’t want to wait for him to make a decision.  They wanted him to make his choice quickly.  Not knowing where he wanted to go he waited.  UNLV and coach Gary Bernardi recruited him heavily, they wanted him badly and he made a strong impression on Joe.  Due to that strong connection, and the chance to play right away, Joe decided to go to UNLV.  He performed well, however since he was at a smaller school, he wasn’t expected to get drafted or even go to the combine.  But he did, and made an impression on some teams, and thought he would become a member of the Denver Broncos.   Atlanta is where he ended up though and had an up and down 5 years with the team.  He became a starter, but injuries and coaching changes ultimately resulted in him leaving the team for Tampa.  His body continued to break down, sustaining injuries to his neck and knees and he knew his time playing would come to an end soon.  Having his 2nd contract and achieving most of his bonus incentives, he felt comfortable walking away from the game being able to have a good amount of money stored away.  He was a bit stressed having to choose what he would do next in his life.  He had business interests and opportunities but decided to do something unique.  He started his blog, Manvandogblog, and traveled the country documenting his travels and doing something he loved to do.  His goal was to inspire people to do what you love and enjoy.  He’s received lots of feedback and notes from people that were inspired by him to make changes in their lives.  He has also started a new company, Live Simpl, that is a line of nut butter snacks that people can eat on the go.  There will be more flavours coming in the near future, but right now Creamy Macadamia is what’s available.  For more information on Joe and his businesses, please go to the links below.   website:  www.manvandogblog.com/ (http://www.manvandogblog.com/) Live Simpl site: www.livesimpl.com/ (https://livesimpl.com/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/manvandogblog/ (https://www.instagram.com/manvandogblog/?hl=en) twitter: www.twitter.com/manvandogblog (https://twitter.com/manvandogblog?lang=en) Resources www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgirdiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ATG-Robert.png) Robert had an outstanding 14 year NFL career all with the Indianapolis Colts.  He was a late bloomer, not playing football until 10th grade.  The workouts he endured at the introduction to the sport almost ended his career before it started.  He didn’t really play sports up until then so it was quite an adjustment for him to get used to.  However he endured and developed into a pretty good player.  He wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school due to his smaller stature.  He accepted his only scholarship offer which came from Alabama A & M university.  He continued to develop his skills there and by his senior season he became a dominant player.  He recorded a 1-AA record 20 quarterback sacks his senior season.  Despite his strong season he was not thought of as a top flight defensive end in the NFL.  Every team that worked him out wanted him to make the move to linebacker.  Only 1 team saw him as a defensive end at the next level; the Indianapolis Colts.  Coach Tony Dungy and general manager Bill Polian saw him being able to play his natural position at the next level, and he proved them to be absolutely correct.  Seeing 20 other DE go ahead of him in the draft fueled him to excel and become the player he became.  Along with his counterpart, Dwight Freeney, they set the trend for smaller, quick DE’s in the league.  His Superbowl championship was a memorable experience that united those players forever.  The defense finished that season poorly but they rallied with the addition some key injured players.  The AFC championship was the real Superbowl in his mind, having to defeat the New England Patriots who were a nemesis to them for years.  A slow start to the game didn’t help but coach Dungy kept them focused and they went on to victory.  The Superbowl game started poorly as well but they felt if they could get by the Patriots, then they could definitely defeat the Chicago Bears.  His transition out of football was pretty smooth for him with the team giving him a job as a defensive line coach.  He obviously was highly qualified for that position and able to share his knowledge with the active players.  He has also started the Gridiron Gang, with fellow players, that teaches the game to players wanting to make it to the next level.  He is in charge of the d-line portion of the program and loves that he can give back to the sport that has been so good to him.  For more information about The Gridiron Gang and Robert, follow the links provided below. website: www.proxathletes.com (https://proxathlete.com/football/) Instagram:  www.instagram.com/rmathis_the1st (https://www.instagram.com/rmathis_the1st/?hl=en) Twitter: www.twitter.com/RobertMathis98 (https://twitter.com/RobertMathis98?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) Resources www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca) www.audible.com (https://amzn.to/2Sef9Rx)

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ATG-Markus.png) Markus enjoyed a 5 year pro football career playing in the NFL, CFL and Europe. As a twin, he claims he’s not the best athlete in the family with his twin sister holding that title. All of his siblings are in fact holders of a state championship in their respective sports. He started playing football at the age of 10, having been a baseball player up until then. He actually went to grade school with the great Hall of Fame Baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. Even back then you could tell that he was a special player and was bound for greatness. He went to a football powerhouse high school where he won a state championship. Numerous players on the team were sought after by schools in the recruiting process. He was sick on the day when most schools came to the school to recruit so was unable to talk with the visiting coaches. A friend who came to visit the school and was attending Eastern Kentucky came by and volunteered to take him on a tour of the school. While there he met with the coach who offered him a scholarship on the spot! The coach didn’t think he had a shot to land him as a recruit but his boldness paid off. Markus left the school as the All-Time leading rusher in 1-AA football. Despite his stellar career, he was not selected in the draft. His slower 40 yard dash time at his workout was a deterrent for most teams. However he got an opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles and made the team. After his time with the Eagles, he played in Europe, where he experienced a whole new culture. That is where he was exposed to the dislike of US citizens and realized the reason for it. He attended a soccer game while there and had the best fan experience of his life! He wish he could bottle that and bring it to North America! At the end of his time on his European team, he was not getting along with the coaches and decided to quit the team there. Upon his return, he was pursued by the Hamilton Tiger Cats and signed with them. He was initially hesitant to sign, but they convinced him to come. Newly married he brought his wife up with him after making the team out of training camp. Unfortunately they had a bad start to the season and the coach was fired. With the person who wanted him there the most now gone, Markus was soon to be let go as well. The following week he was released. He returned to the States to work for a company using his degree from Eastern Kentucky. While working his 9-5, the XFL came about and were looking for players. His wife encouraged him to play if he still wanted to pursue it. He had the application ready, however his last experience left a bad taste in his mouth for football and the politics and uncertainty of it. He ultimately decided not to tryout. He’s now working for American Auto Wire doing graphic and Multimedia for them. He also works for Apple in sales and hosts his own podcast called The Pro Fan Podcast. For more information about Markus and his podcast follow the links below. website:  www.americanautowire.com/ (https://www.americanautowire.com/) instagram:  www.instagram.com/coachmarkus06/ (https://www.instagram.com/coachmarkus06/) twitter: www.twitter.com/profanpodcast1 (https://twitter.com/profanpodcast1) Resources www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca) www.audible.com (https://amzn.to/2Sef9Rx)  

(https://atgridiron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ATG-Bernard.png) Bernard enjoyed his time in professional football playing 3 seasons in the NFL.  He started playing when he was 12 years old, and didn’t really like playing initially.  However he stuck with it so he could be around his friends who also played.  He was recruited by some big schools in high school but decided to go to Tulane University.  It was a big surprise to everyone since they were not a strong program at that time.  However, he wanted to be part of the group that turned them around.  And indeed they were able to achieve their goal.  Another reason was for the academics that Tulane provided as a highly respected academic institution.  That incoming freshman class was a part of a 12-0 season for the Green Wave in 1998.  That season brought them national attention and helped them to showcase the talented players they had.  He and a few of his teammates definitely benefited from that and turned it into jobs in the NFL.  He was expecting to go in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft.  Quite a few teams were displaying interest in selecting him, but he ultimately slipped to the 5th round.  The other surprise was that it was the Chicago Bears that selected him.  In the whole pre-draft process he had not seen any interest from them.  The selection was a shock to him and his family, namely his dad who laughed about it.  His draft class was small that year for the Bears, but they were determined to make an impact on the team.  They definitely did, and Chicago ended up finishing with a 13-3 record and the number 2 seed in the NFC.  Unfortunately they ran into a hot quarterback, named Donovan McNabb, who went on to beat the Bears en route to the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Injuries became a factor for him in his career and forced him to make a tough decision.  He decided to retire and pursue a career as a financial advisor.  It was difficult to leave the sport he loved and worked so hard to achieve the level of success he achieved.  It’s more difficult than the general public realizes, however with a young family he had to do what was best for them.  After starting out working for another firm, he has now branched out to start his own company.  It is called Robertson Wealth Advisors, a tribute to his grand-father who was so influential to his career and life.  For more information on Bernard and his company, please go the links below.   website: www.robertsonwealthadvisors.com (https://www.raymondjames.com/robertsonwealthadvisors) instagram:  www.instagram.com/bern74/ (https://www.instagram.com/bern74/) twitter: www.twitter.com/potus74 (https://twitter.com/potus74?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)   Resourses www.atgridiron.com (https://www.atgridiron.com) www.symfonies.ca (http://www.symfonies.ca) www.audible.com (https://amzn.to/2Sef9Rx)