1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here's your host, four team 3 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Enius Williams. Hello, Well, 4 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am a Nius 5 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: Williams the day. We're joined by NFL linebacker Sam Acho, 6 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: a man who has made a tremendous impact on and 7 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: off the field, and who's written a new book, let 8 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: The World See You, which hits the bookshelves October thirteen 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: in the middle of a pandemic. Welcome Sam, and he 10 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: is man, I'm so glad to be here. It's so 11 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: glad to be doing this with you. Obviously, we go 12 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: back a little bit with the Arizona Cardinals connection, right, 13 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: You're an Arizona Cardinals legend and I got a chance 14 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: to play there for four years, and uh, just knowing 15 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: the man you are and what you stand for and 16 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: what you're all about, I couldn't be more excited to 17 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: be here with you. Well, let's start out with the 18 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: elephant in the room. You're a free agent and were 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: recorded this before Week five season. Where's your head in 20 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: terms of playing are becoming a legend. That's a great question. 21 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: That's a great question. Yeah, we're recording this. It's week 22 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: it's getting up to week five and the NFL season season. 23 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: And funny enough, before I get to the answer of 24 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: the question, last year, I was in a similar period 25 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: last year around this time, I was a free agent 26 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: and I was when I said I was stressed out. 27 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: Stressed out is an understatement because I was the first 28 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: time of me being a free agent. I was always Also, 29 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: I was on my last year. I was going on 30 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: year eight, and I always been on a team, and 31 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: I was things were fined, and for whatever reason, God 32 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: had me on the sidelines for a little bit. And 33 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: it got to a point last season when I said, 34 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm ready to be done, ready to 35 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: be done playing. I want to move on. I want 36 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: to do something different. And so I had a conversation 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: with my wife. I was with the Bills for training 38 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: camp and I got released from the Bills and we 39 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: happened to stay up in Buffalo while we were kind 40 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: of getting calls from teams and training at a compa 41 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 1: with my wife, I said, hey, let's just go, let's 42 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: just move on. Let's do something different, and she was like, well, no, 43 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: my God is still opened the door for us. I'm like, well, 44 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: how do you know? Because I and so we have 45 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: that conversation on a Friday, right before we Kate. We 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: were still in Buffalo. We leave Buffalo, drive from Buffalo 47 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: to Chicago, where we had a place at a house 48 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: in Chicago, and ready to go to Minnesota because one 49 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: of my buddies was starting a company in Minnesota. And 50 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: that weekend, right it was We're gonna leave on Monday 51 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: to Minnesota. And that same Monday, I got a call 52 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: from Tampa Bay to go sign with the Buccaneers. And 53 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: so I signed with Tampa last year literally the day 54 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: signed with Tampa, finish the season in Tampa last year 55 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: and was completely thinking I was gonna go back to 56 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: Tampa this year, but for whatever reason, I haven't. I'm 57 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: currently a free agent. And so you asked where my 58 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: head's at the elephant in the room and reality or 59 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: my head and my heart is at. I mean, it's tough, man, 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. I'm ready to transition into 61 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: something new. Right the book, I couldn't be more excited 62 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: about let the world see You, how to Be Real 63 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: and a world full of fakes. I love that. I 64 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: love speaking encouraging people. Um so I know God's given 65 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: me a gift. But even as we speak, something in 66 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: my heart is not ready to say no. So what 67 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: is doing typical weekend routine now? As you prepare either way? Absolutely, yeah. 68 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 1: So during the week, I'm training and doing some book stuff. 69 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: Obviously throughout the week, and then weekends I'm actually, this 70 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: is the first time I've done this. It is probably 71 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a shock to a lot of people. My 72 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: Sundays are spent only watching football. And I say this 73 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: is a shock because in the past I would never 74 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: do that. Last year, I couldn't watch games because I 75 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: was sitting there like I should be on the field. 76 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: I need to be out there. I'm better than these guys, 77 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: you know. And then when I was and then when 78 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: I was playing, obviously we would play on Sundays, and 79 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: if I was gonna watch games, i'd watch our opponent 80 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: or i'd watch something specific to what it helps make 81 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: me better as a player. But now I find myself 82 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: almost like a fan. I'm watching all the different games 83 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: at the NFL, like ticket the whole deal. And so 84 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: I think there's a little bit of a transition going 85 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: on in my heart. But that's my weekend routine. It's 86 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: Saturdays with the family kids. Sunday morning we'll hit up church. 87 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: My dad is a pastor, so we go to his church. Uh, 88 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: socially distanced and all that stuff. And then from there 89 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: we're watching all the games. All right, you don't have 90 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: a strength conditioning coach, so how you stand mentally and 91 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: physically fit and ready to play? Absolutely? So. I've been 92 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: training at a place called XOS up in Dallas, and 93 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 1: so it's a facility of performer facility with about there 94 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: probably seven to seven to ten other guys who are 95 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: training with me are the free agents. A couple of 96 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: Baseball one baseball players training with us as well. So 97 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: we're all training together. We've got a meal plan set ups, 98 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: so we're eating right. We're training together. We'll do drills afterwards, 99 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: whether it's one on one drills um or or well, 100 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: not a lot of one on ones because if you know, 101 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: masks and stuff, but we'll do you know, linebacker drills 102 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: and stuff like that, just to stay ready just in 103 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: case we do get that call. And a lot of 104 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: the guys I've trained with have gotten calls, right there's 105 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: been probably three or four guys who have gotten calls 106 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: and now they're on teams. Other guys have gotten workouts, 107 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: and so physically mentally, um, I'm staying ready. And it's 108 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: the emotional and the spiritual part that are a little 109 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: bit more difficult. And the Trust provide the xos as well. 110 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: What do you know about that? Absolutely, So that's all 111 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: through the trust, right, all through the NFL Trust and 112 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: our NFL p A trust and so yeah, a matter 113 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: of fact, I was wearing my Trust shirt yesterday right 114 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: as I was working out, and so it's it's provided 115 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: being provided free of charge, and the meals are provided 116 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: free of charge. And I'm from Dallas and so I'm 117 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: actually it's been cool because of COVID. I've been just 118 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: last few weeks. I've been staying with family. Before I 119 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: was in Chicago training and Arizona training, and then I said, man, 120 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: I want to see my family. And so my parents 121 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: and little cousins and nieces and nephews and sisters are 122 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: up here and so I've got a chance to see 123 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: them a lot more often. All Right, here's a big question. 124 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: If the full rings team calls, are there certain balls 125 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: you will accept that you will go. Are there are 126 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: certain teams you may not want to go play. Yeah, 127 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: that's that's the That's a great question, and he is. Um, 128 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know what's funny. In the past, 129 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: if anybody would have called out of said yes in 130 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: a heartbeat, absolutely, Whereas this year, obviously, I'd love to 131 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: go back to Tampa Bay because I played there, and 132 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: you know Bruce Arians I know well he was my 133 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: coach when I was in Arizona for two years Todd Bowls. 134 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: The defensive coordinator was my coach as well, the linebacker coach. 135 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: I got a really good relationship with all those guys, 136 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: the coaches, the strength coat everybody. So I love to 137 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: go back to Tampa Bay. So if they call it, 138 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: I definitely would feel that call Chicago as well. I 139 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: had a really great time in Chicago, so if they 140 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: called it, I'd love to go back to Chicago as well. Um, 141 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: those are probably top on my list, But I don't know. 142 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: I think every day is different, and you're right if 143 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: if if I wouldn't necessarily say outright saying out right 144 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: no to anybody, but I definitely no matter who it was, 145 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: even if it was TAMPLA, Chicago. I definitely would would 146 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: pray about it and consider, Okay, guy, what do you 147 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: want me to do at this moment, at this time. 148 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: It's interesting your book focuses on a lot on identity 149 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: and how much we hide ourselves. But when you say, 150 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: out of all the sports, football players will be more 151 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: prone to hide ourselves because we're the ones hiding behind 152 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: that helmet, right if I would use that as a metaphor, 153 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: what is a good example of an NFL player hiding 154 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: his true self? Sam? Now we're talking. So my book 155 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: is called Let the World See You, How to Be 156 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: Real in a World full of Fakes, and it's it 157 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: really talks about what it means to be authentic and 158 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: to be vulnerable. And I know for me, I don't 159 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: know how it was for you or even anyone listening. 160 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: It's hard nowadays being you, like being who God made 161 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: you to be. It's so easy to pretend or to 162 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: fit in or to try and act like someone you're not. 163 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: You ask, when what's an example of someone in an 164 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: NFL locker room hiding? Well, me specifically, I know, like 165 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: for me as a as a linebacker in the NFL, 166 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: but also a Christian that I'm I'm a follower of Jesus, 167 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: people woul look at me and say, if I ever 168 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: got mad at practice, they'd say, well, Sam, you're not 169 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: supposed to get mad. You're a Christian. You're not supposed 170 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: to get angry with it, you know what I mean. 171 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: And so, and as a young player, I didn't know 172 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: how to deal with that because I knew I love Jesus, 173 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: but also but I didn't really know what these guys 174 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: are gonna think of me. And so for me, my 175 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: hiding showed up in me trying really hard not to 176 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: get angry. Mm hmm. I'll try really hard not to 177 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: get angry, so be at practice and I'd be so upset, 178 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: but I would try to hide it. I don't want 179 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: people to see me get angry, because when you're a Christian, 180 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: you're not supposed to be angry, supposed to be forgiving. 181 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: And yadi yadi. If you actually like read the Bible, 182 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: Jesus was slipping over table, Jesus was calling people out. 183 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: Jesus was lying as well as a lamb. And so 184 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: for me, that was an example of hiding. But there's 185 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: another example of hiding as well, and personally as well 186 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: I I could and academ me. I love learning personally, 187 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: I love learning, love school, I love As a matter 188 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: of fact, I got my m b A from the 189 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: number one international NBA program in the world while I 190 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: was playing. And but here's the thing, and I didn't 191 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: tell anybody. I hid. I hid. I did not tell 192 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 1: any of my teammates. And you can probably guess why. 193 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want them to think that I was this 194 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: guy who didn't care about ball or that was something nerd. 195 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: And also my coaches, to coaches or general managers or 196 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: I didn't want them to say, well, this guy is 197 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: not committed. And so think about hiding. And that's just 198 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 1: in football. Imagine if whether it's in a marriage or 199 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: as a parent, or as a spouse or anything at work, 200 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: we tend to hide. And I'm really the purpose of 201 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: this book. Anybody picks up this book and you can 202 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 1: get it at sam i cho book dot com. It's 203 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: my first book, so I'd love for everybody to go 204 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: and check it out at sam i cho book dot com. 205 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: You can like, once you read that book, you'll have 206 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: a better idea to be able to know why you 207 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: hide and what are the benefits of showing people the 208 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: real you. When you talk about genuine authenticity, how can 209 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: a legend or current player, what do you suggest how 210 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: they can live out genuine authenticity. I think it's actually 211 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: really difficult in a lot of ways. The reason is 212 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: that you have to be extremely intentional. The waves of 213 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: the world or of culture will naturally draw you towards 214 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: like conglomeration, towards just coming together and being the same 215 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: as everyone else naturally, So if you don't actively um 216 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: Like for me, I do a lot of a lot 217 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 1: of prayer, a lot of just like quiet time with myself, 218 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: just like trying to say, man, who am I really right? 219 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: As I'm praying going through scripture? Right? That's one piece 220 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: another piece of saying, man, what do you actually like? 221 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:53,719 Speaker 1: What are the things that I like as opposed to 222 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: what does everyone else like? And I feel like I 223 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: need to fit it? What do I like to do 224 00:10:58,080 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: and what do I like? What do I love to 225 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 1: learn about her? To read about her? To not read 226 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: about what I mean, and so being really intentional about 227 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: the things that you enjoy and then practicing those things, 228 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: not being ashamed of those things. A lot of us 229 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: really know who we are, but you talked about the 230 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: insecurity we're afraid of showing the world who we are. 231 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: In your book, you talk about the affirmation you got 232 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: from making a great play as a trap. How do 233 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: we avoid traps like these? Absolutely so, just for a 234 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: little bit of context with those who haven't read the 235 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: book yet. UM football specifically is an interesting place to 236 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: be in the locker room on a team because when 237 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: you play well, all of a sudden, you start hearing 238 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: the rounds of applause. You're the best in the world, 239 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: and you hear it right. And if you play poorly, 240 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you start hearing less. Either either 241 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: you won't people won't talk to you, or they'll tell 242 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: you how bad you are. And so for me, I 243 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: got caught up in the trap of people pleasing Oh man, 244 00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: I made a good play. My coach thinks it's good. 245 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: Let me will do another one for my coach, or 246 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: my teammates think I'm gonn let me go do it 247 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: for my teammates, as opposed to doing it because I 248 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: wanted to do it. I wanted to be great, right, yes, 249 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 1: inside of me, deep down I wanted to be great. 250 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: But there's a little icing on the cake of Oh wow, 251 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: my coach really thinks highly of me. Maybe now I'll 252 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 1: get more playing time, Now I'll be have more favor 253 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: in his eyes. Bibbles are clear, the heart of the 254 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: kings in the hand of the Lord, right, like that's 255 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: God's decision in a lot of ways. And obviously we 256 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: work and all these things, but I got caught up 257 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: in trying to please my coaches and do the things, 258 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 1: do it the way that they wanted me to do it, 259 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: as opposed to having a conversation and saying, hey, coach, 260 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: I see where you're coming from, but hey, this is 261 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: my skill set. What do you think about this? And 262 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: then going that way. I was afraid. It's interesting that 263 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: one of the unique characteristics about what's caused UH coach 264 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick to be successful is he finds out the 265 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: unique authenticity and I'm using that word paraphrasing it about 266 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: each player and he only asked that player to do 267 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: that which he knows that player does well. So it's 268 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: interesting some of the behind the mask of their success. 269 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: Identity is often difficult for NFL players and legends because 270 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: we're often deemed just a football player, and after a 271 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: while that's all we see. How do we discover the 272 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: many facets of our identity and make a true impact 273 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: on our world. Sam, It's either going to be the 274 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: easy way or the hard way. Right, Like the easy way, 275 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: and is anybody listening. The easy way is to slow down, right, 276 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: we're all on this rat race, Okay, let me slow 277 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: down and let me actually tap into the things that 278 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: I enjoy, or the things that will bring a benefit 279 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,839 Speaker 1: to my family, or the things that I feel like 280 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: I have a calling to do, even if it's against 281 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: the grain. That's the easy way. The hard way, which 282 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: is what I experience, is essentially it's going to be 283 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: done for you. And here's what I mean by that. 284 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 1: I didn't I wrote this book last a little a 285 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: couple few months ago. As I was working on it 286 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: last year. Um, I did not know I was a writer. 287 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: It wasn't until I almost lost my marriage, almost I 288 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: lost my starting spot, I tore my pack, I was 289 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: out for the season, I lost a mentor, my house flooded. Uh, 290 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: my wife's wallet got still, I mean so much. Her 291 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: green coach she was won't even US citizen. Her green 292 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: car got so we were suppos to take a trip 293 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: overseas for a five year university. I mean, I was 294 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: like I was doing all the things. I wasn't even 295 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: paying attention to things around me, right. I wasn't being 296 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: a loving father to my kids. I wasn't being a 297 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: loving husband to my wife. I wasn't being a good friend. 298 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: I was just so focused on the goal, the goal, 299 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: the goal, the goal of the goal. And so you 300 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: talked about the easy way or the hard way. The 301 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: the easy way we talked about is saying, Okay, am 302 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: I going down the right path? Am I not getting 303 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: people around you you can speak life into you. The 304 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: hard way is saying, you know what, I'm just gonna 305 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna do it and we'll be fine. And 306 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: you're you're not gonna be fine. Your body, your body 307 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: is gonna catch up to you. Your body keeps the score. 308 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: And so for me, the hard way of going through 309 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: all that, and in all reality, what came out of 310 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: that hard time in a lot of ways was this book. 311 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: And I say that to say I found that I'm 312 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: a writer. So we all have all these gifts that 313 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: we don't know about. And either you're gonna use the 314 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: gifts God gave you, or you're gonna find out the 315 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: hard way, that you keep on running yourself into a 316 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: brick wall and you're not getting anywhere. Marriage, relationship with 317 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: kids are failing, all these things. How did you get 318 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: what was your epiphany? Absolutely? Absolutely so? It was. So 319 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: I just signed a multi year, multimillion dollar contract with 320 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bears, my first ever. Right, I was one 321 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: on your eight. Everything had else have been minimums, rocky 322 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: minimum or one year veteran minimum contracts that had been 323 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: my whole career. And by God's grace, I signed this 324 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: big deal and so I was going into I was 325 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: gonna be the guy. I was a star, I was 326 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: a starter. And it was a week before training camp 327 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: season and as I mentioned, like I felt like my 328 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: our relationship with my wife wasn't going well, my relationship 329 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: with my kids wasn't good even inter personally, like within myself, 330 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: like who am I? And I was sitting down with 331 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: a friend and I looked at him and I was like, dude, 332 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: I'm struggling man like I And I told him, I said, 333 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: I just need the season to start, because said all 334 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: this whole offseason, all my teammates are gone, my friendships 335 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: are gone. I don't know, I don't know where everyone 336 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: else is. I said, I just need this season to start, 337 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: so get back to football. Then I'll be okay. Everything 338 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: will be fine once I get back to ball. And 339 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: he looked at me and he said, Sam, if that's 340 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: how you are right now, I'm afraid of what happens 341 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: when when football ends for you, when it's over. And 342 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: as I'm kind of sharing with him some of my 343 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: struggles and think with you know, trying to be a 344 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: faithful husband and trying to like really like love my kids, 345 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: where is this hatred in my heart coming from? As 346 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: I'm sharing with him this all the stuff, I start 347 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:04,479 Speaker 1: to cry. I started to cry. And he looks at 348 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:09,959 Speaker 1: me and he says two things. He says. He says, Hey, Sam, 349 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: maybe God is writing a book in your life. Mhm. 350 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: And and you may only be on chapter two. Well 351 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: he said that. Then he said, and oh, by the way, 352 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: it's nice to see you. Huh. It's nice to see you, Sam, 353 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: It's nice to see you. And I didn't understand what 354 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: he meant. A matter of fact, I think I didn't understand, 355 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: but I didn't want to understand what he meant, right 356 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: because I was like, I felt like my life was over. 357 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: I was crying, broken, breaking down in front of this guy, 358 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: one of my friends I've known, like helped me build 359 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 1: business stuff. We did business stuff together and my brand 360 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: and all this, and he said, I've never seen the 361 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: side of you. I used to always think you were 362 00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: this perfect together guy. But it's good to know your human. 363 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: You're not perfect. It's nice to see you. And so 364 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: we actually recommended I've talked to a counselor. He actually 365 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,959 Speaker 1: he actually had just finished meeting with this therapist counselor 366 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: guy doing a life plan for his life. And you know, 367 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: he's not a football guy, he's a business guy. But 368 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: he said, he, I recommend you talk to this guy. 369 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: And so I did. And the next opening this counselor 370 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: had was the day reported a training camp. And so 371 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: as everyone knows, legends of players know, you report that 372 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: like it's like seven pm or five pm or whatever 373 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: time it is, it's your first meeting. Well, that morning 374 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: I was at a counselor's office and I'm sitting in there, like, 375 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: you know how it is, let me get in and 376 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: get out, check it off the box, right, how long 377 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: you know? And I'm like, how long will this be? 378 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: He's like, Sam, this is not a one or two 379 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: sessions issue. It's going to be a twelve the twenty 380 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: four month process. Like what you don't know? You must 381 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: not know me. I'm this is I come on, man, 382 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 1: I just fly by it. He said, okay, Sam, we'll 383 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: start here. I got a couple of questions for you, 384 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: so go ahead. He said, what do you do when 385 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: you get angry? I said, okay, that's easy. I just 386 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: don't get angry. M hm. He said, well that's interesting answer, 387 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: but I'll ask you again, what do you do when 388 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: you get angry? And I said, I tried not to 389 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: get angry mhm. And he looks at me and he says, 390 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: he says, Sam, everybody gets angry. And I proceeded to 391 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: cry m hm. And he looks at me. He says, 392 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: it is it okay if I And I'm like, it 393 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: wasn't just like a tear shad. It was like something 394 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: was almost releasing from my yeah right the and so 395 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: he said, do you mind. I'm I'm gonna put my 396 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: hand on your chest right breathe, breathe. I putt my 397 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: hand on your stomach. I need you to breathe. And 398 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: I'm breathing and breathing, and he looks at me, right, 399 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 1: he kind of back up a little bit and he says, 400 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: or put his hand on my shoulder. He says, it's 401 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: nice to see you, Sam mhm. And he said, oh, 402 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: by the way, get used to hearing that. And so 403 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: you asked what was the moment, the aha moment, the 404 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 1: realization of what it means to be me? It was 405 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: not necessarily a moment, but more of a journey. The 406 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: journey the next the next day, he recommended as we left, 407 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: he said, I recommend you start. I don't know if 408 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: you journal, but start journaling, start writing. I don't know 409 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: if you listen to music, but start listening to music. 410 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: And so I did that night, report to camp. We 411 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: go through our meetings, and I go back to my 412 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: dorm room and I start writing and writing and writing, 413 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: And as I'm writing, I'm crying again because I'm almost 414 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, God, why do you love me so much? Like? 415 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 1: What have I done for to the earn or deserve 416 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: you love? And I'm writing and crying and I don't understand. 417 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: I'm calling my friend, like the friend who told me 418 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: about this counsel. I'm like, dude, what is what is 419 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: going on, and so I go to I go to 420 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: practice the next day and we do our conditioning tests. 421 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: And we finished the test. Everybody goes inside and they 422 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: shower up and they go to get some food, where 423 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: I kind of just sit down, pop down in the 424 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: in the chair in the locker room. Most people have left. 425 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: One of my teammates have seen me. His name was 426 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: Nick Williams, and he sees me, and he saw that 427 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 1: I was a little bit dejected and wasn't myself. He said, hey, Sam, 428 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: are you are you good? And usually a nest I'd say, yeah, 429 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: I'm fine, or I'm tired, or I've got a lot 430 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: going on. Well this time I looked at him and 431 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 1: I said, so you know what I'm not. I'm not 432 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: doing good. And he said, well, I recommend you whatever 433 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: is going on, let it out, let it out. So 434 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: I did, and little by little the tears started to float. 435 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: One of other teammates, Danish your Faithan, had just walked 436 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: in the locker room. He saw me, and for whatever reason, 437 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: he went to the speakers in the locker room. Was 438 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: bluetooth phone, was gonna do to it, and he changed 439 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: the playlist in the locker room. Change the song usually 440 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: in the locker room is you know, rap music, bumping 441 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: ever country or whatever. You know. He changed it to 442 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: worship music, and not any kind of worship music. It 443 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: happened to be the exact same songs I was listening 444 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: to the night before. And as these songs start to 445 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: play over my heart, I started to cry even more. 446 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 1: And this time it's the really it's like that, and 447 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm looking there like telling him tell me to breathe. 448 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: Guys tell me to breathe, and they're like, hey, I 449 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: just breathe, bath and I'm breathing. And then he looks 450 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 1: at me and he says, they watch. It's nice to 451 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: see you. Mm hmm. And that was and has continued 452 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: to be the journey that I'm on of what it 453 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: means to be seen, and not only to be seen, 454 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: but to be known, and not only to be known, 455 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:59,640 Speaker 1: but to be loved and accepted for who you are 456 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: from who God made you to be. And so I 457 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 1: believe any legend listening, or any current player, or even 458 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: a spouse or whatever, right, So not just a spouse. 459 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: You have your own things that you do, right, whoever 460 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: is listening to this podcast, my desire for you once 461 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 1: you pick up that book, right Sam Macho book dot 462 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: com at s A m a c h o book 463 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: dot com. After you read that book and order that 464 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: book and go through it, you'll understand why we hide, 465 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: and learn how to name your emotions and learn how 466 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: to let the world see. You would understand that it's 467 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: not an overnight process. It's not just an aha moment 468 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: for everybody. Some people it is, some people it's not. 469 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: But for me, it's really been a journey. Right, we're 470 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,679 Speaker 1: talking about this twelve or twenty four months journey of 471 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: discovery of saying, man, this is the real me, this 472 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: is who I am. Do you still love me? And 473 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: the answer oftentimes is yes. There's a word pivot, pivoting, 474 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: and you've just described your pivot. So there's a part 475 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: and you shared that about about that in your book. 476 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: What advice would you give current players about how important 477 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: it is to handle the transitions that come their way? Transition, pivoting, change, 478 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,439 Speaker 1: all these words as you see them, they're moving right, 479 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 1: their movement words. They're not steady, nor are they stable. 480 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: I think a lot of us we want to get 481 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: to a certain place, but it's just that unknown period 482 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: that we fear in a lot of ways, or that 483 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: we're not used to, are not comfortable with, and it 484 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: could look different ways. For me, I'm used to going 485 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: almost from team to team, are being ready to move 486 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: and all these things. So for me, what transition looks 487 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: like is from this guy who says, oh, let's go 488 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: here today and go here tomorrow to saying, wow, what 489 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: if I need to settle down for my wife, for 490 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 1: my kids? Right, there's just a little bit of fear there. 491 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: I'm not used to that. And so my advice as 492 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: we journey together. Right, I'm not a guru or whatever, 493 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: but I've been on the journey and I'm currently on 494 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: that path and I've seen what it's like is don't 495 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: let people define you. You know you talks about that 496 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: idea where former player, legend or or NFL player. It's 497 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: easy to get caught up in almost like trapped in 498 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: that box of well, I'm an NFL player, look right, 499 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,439 Speaker 1: I played for this team, where I'm a former player 500 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: or I'm a legend, But you are more than that. 501 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: You specifically it is you're a former player, yes, you're 502 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer, but we're also a pastor. You're 503 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: also a other. I've heard you teach and preach multiple times, 504 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: and I see you know I never I didn't get 505 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: a chance to to watch you play, right, I've seen highlights, 506 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: but I've got a chance to hear you speak over 507 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: my life and the lives of hundreds of pro athletes, 508 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: specifically not even at your church. But it's some conferences, right, 509 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: because you're more than just a football player. Magine you said, well, 510 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 1: I'm I'm pro, I'm Hall of Famer or whatever, and 511 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: there are people that that relate to you because of that, right, 512 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: But there's a comma after that pro football Hall of 513 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 1: Famer and also pastor, and also father, and also business 514 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: leader and also and also and also and so what 515 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: I would say is I would just say, almost like 516 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: learn how to get yourself out of that trap, out 517 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 1: of that trap of saying this is who I am. 518 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: I'm a former football player, or yeah I played for 519 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: this team. Because people get cut all the time, people 520 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: get traded all the time, people's career careers, and all 521 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: the time, no one, no one has ever played forever 522 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: Father time is undefeated. And so I would say, as 523 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 1: you're playing and as you're doing the giving it your 524 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: all and doing your best, find your other passions, be 525 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,239 Speaker 1: you let the world see you because it will make 526 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: you better at your current job. Final question, You're and 527 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: your brother Emmanual. You guys do a lot of community work. 528 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: You're working in the community and social justice. Tell us 529 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 1: about what you guys have done, why it is important 530 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 1: that you do it, and what's it like in this 531 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: current climate that we're in. My brother he started, uh, 532 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: my brother Emmanual, he started and a series and called 533 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 1: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, And we had a 534 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 1: conversation beforehand, and we've kind of been going through it, 535 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: but it was essentially what we understood is, hey, what 536 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: if this is our time to use the gifts that 537 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: God gave us and share them with the world. And 538 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: so for him, it looked like the Uncomfortable Conversation series. 539 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: For me, it looked like going in the different communities 540 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: where I've lived then in Chicago specifically in other places 541 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: and bringing people together to try and bring It's not 542 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: even really biblical justice, but it's more that that idea 543 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,719 Speaker 1: of like, man, God, let your kingdom come and let 544 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: your done. We were in Chicago, we saw what was 545 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: called the food desert. We saw an area on the 546 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: West Side that had two grocery stores and seventeen liquor 547 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: stores and a half mile radius, and something about that 548 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: wasn't right, and so we got I love bringing people together, 549 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: So I got some people together. We raise half a 550 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: million dollars and bought up one of the liquor stores 551 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: and turned into a food mark that's being run and 552 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: managed by the kids. Every different person has their different 553 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: gifts and callings. I don't want to host a series 554 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: called of comfortable conversation, right, And he doesn't want to 555 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: be on the West side of Chicago meeting with random 556 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: people and saying, hey, let's try and raise his money. 557 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: That's side his thing. It's my thing, and his thing 558 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: is not my thing, it's his thing. And so God 559 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: has given each of us our things and the temptation 560 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: and is too get caught up with our eyes on 561 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: someone else's thing. Man, If I if only I had 562 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: that kind of cloud, if only it's only that I 563 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: wrote my book last year, And it's interesting the timing 564 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 1: that God God as a he's really kind and in 565 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: a lot of ways, because the timing of that book 566 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: could not be better. Let the world see you take 567 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,719 Speaker 1: off your masks be real, come out of hiding us COVID, 568 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: because that a lot of us isolated in a lot 569 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: of ways. And now it's like, even with COVID, let 570 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: the world see you as a parent, as a husband, 571 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: as a wife, as a teacher. Let the world see 572 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: you even with social race relations in America. Right. I 573 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: talked a lot about the Kaepernick stuff that was going on. 574 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: I was called upon by my team to lead the 575 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: charge and ask and and and and the questions of 576 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: what we wanna do during the national anthem. And I 577 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: talked about that in the book, those discussions, what that 578 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: looked like. Right. I was in the crux of that 579 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: for the Chicago Bears, talk about the negotiating the new 580 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 1: collective bargaining agreement with the ownership right the title chapter 581 00:29:54,600 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: title of bargaining with billionaires. So like God doesn't make mistakes, 582 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: and so the fact that we are going through this 583 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: time right now, it doesn't mean we're supposed to doesn't 584 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: mean were supposed to go and say, I gotta go 585 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 1: write seven books and be the guy. No Burage started 586 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:12,959 Speaker 1: this book last year, you know what I mean? Like 587 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: you know what I mean two years ago? And and 588 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: by the grace that gotta happened. I mean you have 589 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: to go and start a series, right, But it also 590 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 1: doesn't mean you're going into hiding as well. You don't 591 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: go and say, well I don't know what to do, 592 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: so let me just wait till this pass is No. 593 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: You find your places, find your spots like in football, 594 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: right right, right place, right time, eyes, hands and feet right, 595 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: open up your eyes, use your hands and let your 596 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: feet take you. That's all that it is. And so 597 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 1: it's not it's not necessarily one extreme or the other. Right, 598 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 1: you don't have to go and you know, start seven 599 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: businesses during COVID, or you don't have to go and 600 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: start nonprofits and foundations that deal with social injustice. Maybe 601 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: just use your eyes, look what's around you, go with 602 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: your feet in your hands and help somebody you need 603 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: in whatever way that you can. Sam, this has been incredible, 604 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us once again. The book 605 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,959 Speaker 1: is called Let the World See You. It could be 606 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: found where against Sam. Yes, so you can go to 607 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: Samo book dot com, s A M A c Cho 608 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: book dot com and it's also available right it's just 609 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: coming out, so as soon as we're hearing this, it's 610 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: just coming out. It's available anywhere books are sold, and 611 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 1: so Barnes and Noble. It's gonna be in Target, um, 612 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: anywhere books are sold, Amazon and wherever you get your books, 613 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: audio book, anywhere you get your books. Just type in 614 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: let the world see you, how to be real in 615 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: the world full of fakes, and you'll see it. Thanks 616 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: for listening in The best is yet to come. Absolutely 617 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: this has been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback 618 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: or request a topic for discussion, email us at NFL 619 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: Legends at NFL dot com.