1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Here we are with another edition of the Dave Pash 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: Podcast with me, Dave Pash, ESPN play by play announcer 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: and voice of the Arizona Cardinals. We are presented by 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: Cardinals and the Heila River Hotels and Casinos. You can 6 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: follow us on Twitter get updates on upcoming guests, relive 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: some of the best moments from previous guests at pash Pod. 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: You know, I often get asked who are your favorite 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: all time Cardinals that you've covered, and my answer usually 10 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: starts with the players you would expect, like Kurt Warner, 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: Larry Fitzgerald, and Quan Bolden and Adrian Wilson. But I 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: have a couple other players that I often bring up, 13 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: not necessarily because of what they did on the field, 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: but because of the type of people they are. One 15 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: of those is the late Quami Lasseter. My first year 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: as the Cardinals announcer was two thousand and two and 17 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: I hosted The Big Red Rage and Quami was my 18 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: co host and was back when the Cardinals weren't a 19 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: great team nowadays, especially during the playoff run in two 20 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: fifteen in the Super Bowl run in two thousand and eight, 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: Big Red Rage would be live and fans would be 22 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: lining up to see the announcers and get autographs from 23 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: their favorite player. But back when Kwamy and I were 24 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: doing the show, we were sitting in a restaurant at 25 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: a corner table, just the two of us. I think 26 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,559 Speaker 1: people just wondered, what are those guys doing over there? 27 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: So Kwamy and I became good friends, and we stayed 28 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: that way until his untimely death in two nineteen at 29 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: age forty nine. Another player that's high on the list 30 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: is Jason Wright. Jason came to the Cardinals in two 31 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: thousand and nine from the Cleveland Browns and he served 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: as a team captain. Right was the perfect signing to 33 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: boost locker room leadership, and it paid dividends as the 34 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: Cardinals accomplished a rare feat that year. If you recall 35 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: back in two thousand and nine, not many teams had 36 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: made the playoffs, even made the playoffs the year after 37 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: losing the Super Bowl, But the Cars accomplished that feat 38 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: in two thousand and nine, and Wright's leadership was a 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: big reason why. That leadership led to some unique opportunities 40 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: in the business world. Once Wright retired and Jason now 41 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 1: runs one of the biggest brand names in all of sports, 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: the Washington Football Team. So Jason talks with us about 43 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: his path from an NFL player to an NFL team president, 44 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: the timing of when we can expect a new name 45 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: for the team, his fondest memories of being a cardinal, 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: and his skills as a singer, which nobody knows about. 47 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: So here's the president of the Washington Football Team, the 48 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: groundbreaking President. More on that in just a second with 49 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: Jason Wright on the Day Pash podcast. Jason is so 50 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: great to catch up with you, man. I'm such a 51 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: big fan. You're one of my all time favorite players. 52 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: When I get asked a lot, hey, who's your favorite cardinal? 53 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: I have a long list, but you're up there, man, 54 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: not just because of you as a player, but you 55 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: as a person. And we'll get into that a little 56 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: bit later. But the first thing I want to ask 57 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: you is how did being a player prepare you for 58 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: being a president? Well, first, thanks for having me, and 59 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: thanks for having me on the list, because you probably 60 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: get a bunch of cricket eyes when you mentioned me 61 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: on the list of partners like ooh, but I appreciate 62 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: that there's myriad ways that being a player prepared me 63 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: for this. I actually think that being a player prepared 64 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: me for business written large, and then that's applied to 65 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: being the president of the team, which is, you know, 66 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: running the business operations of the team. And I think 67 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: there's a couple of things that are really critical that 68 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: I carried over into my business career. The first was 69 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: just the ability to have hyper focus when needed. It's 70 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: something that happens uniquely in high level college and professional athletics. 71 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: I think entertainers and musicians can get in this space too, 72 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: and pretty much any profession can, but it happens a 73 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: lot in pro football. Is that for a finite amount 74 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: of time, whether it's training camp or a lead up 75 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: to a game where you're playing a particularly new or 76 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: a different role, it requires your ability to quickly learn 77 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: something really new, very quickly, completely immerse yourself into something 78 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: and almost be able to tune out all the other 79 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: noise outside of you and have that space of hyper focus. 80 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: And I think it's a really hard for a lot 81 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: of people to do, to work with that intensity at 82 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: a sustained level, but it's something that athletes develop and 83 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: can do and so that's helped me a ton coming 84 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: into this role. I think probably more importantly is as 85 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: a pro athlete, you learn how to fail and maintain 86 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: your confidence. You know a lot of people when I 87 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: went to business school and when I started at a 88 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: professional services firm, a lot of those folks had been 89 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: a students their whole lives. They had always been great 90 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: at everything they've done, and they never measurably failed at anything. 91 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: You know, I can think back to when I was 92 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: with the Cardinals and tried to pick up a kickoff 93 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: against the Seattle Seahawks. That hit my toe, went thirty 94 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: yards in front of me and got recovered by the Seahawks. 95 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: And you know, I don't think our fans were that 96 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: happy with that, the coach were happy with that, and 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: it cost us some moments him in the game. You know, 98 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: I have failed on a big stage in a very 99 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: overt way. But I came back from that reminding myself 100 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: that I was good, that I belonged, that I had 101 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: the capability to do it, and the next time I 102 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: got out there to do it, I did it right 103 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: and I did it well. And I think that's a 104 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: muscle you build working in professional athletics that you don't 105 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: build other places, and so those of both helped me 106 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: a ton. You sound like a president. I mean, you 107 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: sound exactly. I remember when you got the job and 108 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: I was telling you. Probably remember my partner Ron Wolfley. 109 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: I was telling Wolf, Yeah, Jason Wright, who was that 110 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: I was telling? I was telling Wolf, Jason writes a 111 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: new president and washing football team. He looks like, hmm, 112 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: Jason Wright. Interesting and then he thought of goes, wait 113 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: that Jason Wright like he couldn't wrap his mind around 114 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: the fact that basically you went from being an NFL 115 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: player and within a decade to running an NFL team. 116 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: I'm curious how much do you talk football versus how 117 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: much do you talk business? Yeah? I talk business ninety 118 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: eight percent of the time. I think, you know. I 119 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: have a weekly touched point with coach Rivera, and most 120 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: of the time I'm talking to Ron about business stuff 121 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: as well. And thankfully I have a head coach who's 122 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: actually very business savvy as well, the general manager, Martin Mayho. 123 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: It's very business savvy. So when I have campaigns and 124 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: things I need to pitch to them, investments that I 125 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: need to ask them about, they get it. And they 126 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: speak the language. You know. Every once in a while 127 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: Ron might ask me about a running back, but most 128 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: for the most part, I'm talking business. But it does 129 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: being a player and having a lens for football does 130 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: inform some of the decisions we've made. You know, we 131 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: have practice fields here that you know, in my opinion, 132 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: probably needed renovation many years ago, but for whatever reason 133 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: in the budgeting process could never make it above the line. 134 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: It took me all of ten minutes walking the field 135 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: with Rob Rogers, one of the spts on coaches side, 136 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: to see that after rain it was just saturated to 137 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: a level where I wouldn't be comfortable playing at full 138 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: speed as a player. I could see there being a 139 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: higher proportion of injuries. I could see timing being off 140 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: because guys aren't practicing at full speed, more time on 141 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: the indoor during the year, because you don't want to 142 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: be on that field when it's wet and that has 143 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: wear and tear on guys bodies. And so for me, 144 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: I was able to do the return on investment calculation 145 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: really quickly in my head and say, what you're going 146 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: to get back from player productivity well outweighs a couple 147 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: million dollars that we're going to spend on this so 148 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: greenlight that and same thing with our field at FedEx Field. 149 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: So there are things that my experience as a player 150 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: does inform on the business side. But I'm not talking 151 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: about the roster ebber as coaches will House. We had 152 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: Michael Bidwell on the podcast recently and we were talking 153 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: about the transformation of the Cardinals and what that looked 154 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: like from an organizational standpoint, and the stadium was a 155 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: big reason why and getting that revenue to be able 156 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: to compete at the highest level every single year. I'm curious, Jason, 157 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: because obviously before you took over, even though the Washington 158 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: football team had great history an iconic franchise in the NFL, 159 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: there were obviously there was a lot of negativity surrounding 160 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 1: the team. So what were and are some of your 161 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: biggest challenges that you've had to face in terms of 162 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: changing the perception of the Washington football team. Well, I 163 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: think the first thing that we had to address was 164 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: who do we Who do you have in the boat 165 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: growing with you to your destination? Right? We had to 166 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: look around and be very objective, not in any sort 167 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: of personal way, but look at what we want to accomplish, 168 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: which would become the best place to work, not just 169 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL, but of all media, sports and entertainment, 170 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: So a very healthy organizational culture. We want to become 171 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: a top financial performer in the NFL, and in order 172 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: to do that, short of having a new venue, you 173 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: need some really innovative thinkers that probably come from outside 174 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: the NFL, cross pollinated with people who do have sports 175 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: experience to get that done. We want to be data 176 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: first and digitally oriented, so that means we need investment 177 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: in technology and innovative thinking. We need something that's a 178 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: local and authentic game day experience, so you walk into 179 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: our venue or you interact with our team, and you 180 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: don't feel like it's interchangeable with any other team. And 181 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: so when you think and we need to find a 182 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: new venue to be a new home that opens up 183 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty seven, and so as you think about 184 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: our big business goals, it really comes down to the 185 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: people that you have on the leadership team and the 186 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: layers below that who are going to get you there. 187 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: And so a ton of my focus was on getting 188 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: the right diverse set of perspectives in the room that 189 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: would allow us to get to those goals. And diverse 190 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: demographically is very important because when you do have gender diversity, 191 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: racial diversity, sexual orientation diversity, you get two better decisions 192 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: because people bring unique perspectives from those backgrounds. But also 193 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: I want a vocational diversity. I wanted people from outside 194 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: of sports. I wanted people who had come through different 195 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: educational backgrounds so that we have real cross pollination of 196 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: thinking here. And once you get the people in and 197 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: they have shared values day, then they start to set 198 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 1: the culture and the transformation on your behalf, and then 199 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: we can get all these major projects done, including the 200 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: most near term one, which is a major rebrand. Speaking 201 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 1: of that, what is the timing, Jason on the naming 202 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: of the team. Yeah, we will announce our name and 203 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: brand and identity and all of that in early twenty 204 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: twenty two. Okay, any hence on finalists that you can 205 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: share that nobody else knows? And I figured, man, and 206 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure you haven't gotten any emails or calls or 207 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: texts from fans, friends, colleagues with suggestions. I'm sure you 208 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: never get that. No. Literally, walking down the street in DC, 209 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: people yelling their favorite name or telling me to release 210 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: the name or asking me what the name is? Literally 211 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: what happened? That's my life right nowadays. How rewarding was 212 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: last season? I remember texting with you after the game 213 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: against Tampa Bay and the playoffs, and look, you guys 214 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: were in that game. How rewarding was twenty twenty given 215 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: that it was your first year in the role, what 216 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: you were tasked with doing in terms of changing the 217 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: perception of the franchise and making the postseason, it was 218 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: incredibly rewarding, not because of anything I did, but because 219 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: of the benchmark that coach set by showing what's possible 220 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: in a short amount of time in transforming culture and 221 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: the performance of an organization. You know, Coach had a 222 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: clear plan that was focused on people and values and 223 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: bringing in the right folks and letting the other folks 224 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: walk who don't fit that vision and being bold about that, 225 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: and it paid dividends way earlier than expected. You saw 226 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: young guys play at a very high level. You saw 227 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: culture coalesce, and even right now when I watched them practice, 228 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: David reminds me of the best teams I was on, 229 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: including my first year there in Arizona. You know, the 230 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: year after the Super Bowl where you'd feel like you 231 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: have a cohesive culture, guys are competing very well in practice, 232 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: the pace of practice is high, and Coach was able 233 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: to do that really quickly, and so it was rewarding 234 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: in the sense that not only did we get to 235 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: see the payoff for Coach in a particularly challenging and 236 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: inspiring year for him personally, but it also inspired and 237 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: galvanized my team to say, no, you can see results soon. 238 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: This doesn't have to be a three to five year journey, 239 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: even though you know our results will probably come in 240 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: that timeframe. We can see change now, and I believe 241 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: we've done that. On the business side, you know, it 242 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: feels like a very different organization now than it did 243 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: a year ago, and that's something for us to be 244 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 1: very proud of, and Coach sort of set the mark 245 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: for that in as well as the team did. Is 246 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: really representative and emblematic of who we want to be 247 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: as the rest of the business. You mentioned two thousand 248 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: and nine when you came to the Cardinals. What were 249 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: you thinking after the team had gone to the Super 250 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: Bowl and what was that year like Because the Cardinals 251 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: were one of very few that lost a Super Bowl 252 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: and made it to the playoffs the next year. I mean, 253 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: there a been a lot of teams that had done that, 254 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: unto Arizona did that. No nine, No, that's right. I'll 255 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 1: tell you what I thought go on Arizona was like, 256 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get me a super Bowl rank. I'll tell 257 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 1: you that. That's what I thought. That was what was 258 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: in my mind. Now that I did not pan out, 259 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: but that was my goal was to go to a 260 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: team that was at the CUSS. And you know the 261 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: way that coach Wiz and the team, you know, articulated 262 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: my role and it panned out this way is look, 263 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: there's there's a spot role for you to play as 264 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: a third down back. We want you to be a 265 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: leader on special teams, but we want you to be 266 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: a leader in a stabilizing force in the locker room. 267 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: And you look at the way they constructed that team. 268 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: Lots of great young talent and then veteran leaders strategically 269 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: placed across different rooms in that organization where needed. And that, 270 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: you know, for me, was the most enjoyable experience that 271 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: I had because it actually, as much as I want 272 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: to say I was a baller on the field, it 273 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: actually played to my strengths more than anything, you know, 274 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: to be a visible leader, to help guys with their 275 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: off the field stuff so they could be focused on 276 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: the field, to be a stabilizing and calming force end game, 277 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: which just hitting the fan. And I really really enjoyed 278 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: the leadership mandate that Coach Coach Ways, Coach Spence and 279 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: the rest of the folks gave me. Speaking of leaders 280 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: you got to play with Kurt Warner in his final season. 281 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: It ended unceremoniously, of course, in the bounty Gate game 282 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: in a playoff game in New Orleans. Was there any 283 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: particular takeaways Jason you have from your time being around 284 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: Kurt Warner? Yeah, being around Kurt, I mean it transforms 285 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: you know this spending time with Kurt. You don't you 286 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: don't leave the thing after having interacted with them. And 287 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: I It's hard for me to articulate, but the way 288 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: that I've described it to people over the years is 289 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: that there are a few people who actually are who 290 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: they say they are in every setting, and the level 291 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: of authenticity that exists with Kurt from what he says 292 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: in an interview to how he is at church, to 293 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: how he is with his kids, to how he is 294 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: on a pick up basketball game to how he is 295 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: walking down the street. There is no shift or shadow 296 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: with him. I can't say that about me. I'll adapt 297 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: to my environment to survive. Kurt doesn't have that bone 298 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: in him. He is who he is. And that level 299 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: of authenticity is inspiring because it requires confidence. It requires 300 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: deep belief in who you are and what you think 301 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: to be able to be that consistent. And I think 302 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: if we all did that, we'd be a better society 303 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: rit large. And I think what that brought to the 304 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: team at the time was a bit of a standard 305 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: setting measure that ensued we were always going to be 306 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: of the highest quality, of the highest excellence. Because Kurt 307 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: wasn't going to play with you on the field, even 308 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: though he's gonna love you off of it. You've got 309 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: to play with Larry Fitzgerald in the prime of his career. 310 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: He was coming off the greatest postseason a receiver had 311 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: ever had. What was that like playing with Larry at 312 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: the height of him being Larry. Well, if you talk 313 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: about someone who is when I was talking about earlier, 314 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: that ability to be hyper focused and to completely invest 315 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: in your craft, I haven't seen anyone do that to 316 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: the degree that Larry has. You know, people talk about 317 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: quarterbacks being the people first, people in, last, people out, 318 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: most dedicated to the details of their craft. I mean, 319 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: Larry worked harder than anyone else, and he's the rare 320 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: combination of where high talent, high work, ethic, and the 321 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: personal integrity to back it all up all come together. 322 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: You usually get people that spike on one of those, 323 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: but not all three. And playing with him was inspiring 324 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: when never got I mean we were the same draft class, 325 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: although I was undrafted, let's be clear, we're the same 326 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: year coming out of college. And so to see someone 327 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: of his caliber perform at that level and do the 328 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: things that he did in practicing out of it just 329 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: kind of in awe of it, and you knew you 330 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: were witnessing something very special. And I'm most proud of 331 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: the man that he's become over time because all that 332 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: time that I watched him playing and watched his play 333 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: elevate on the field, I also watched him evolved as 334 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: a person and developed new thoughts and ways of thinking 335 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: and ways of living. And he's just he's a remarkable 336 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: man that we should all be proud played for the organization. Well. 337 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: One of the reasons I mentioned earlier that you're high 338 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: on my list when people ask me favorite cardinals is 339 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: because you know, I got to know you on a 340 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: personal level, enjoyed spending time with You're You're just a 341 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: great dude, and I remember. So I don't talk about 342 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: this publicly, but one of the things that Ron Wolfley 343 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: and I do every year, although we haven't able to 344 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 1: do it with COVID, is we go do prison ministry 345 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: down in Florence with a church group, and you came 346 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: with us at least once. And I remember you gave 347 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: your testimony, which was incredible. But also you would sing. 348 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: You would be singing warship songs. Did people in Washington 349 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: know that you're probably the best singer in the nation's capital? 350 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: They do. Not. You gotta bust it out, man, sing 351 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: the national lanthem or something so everybody can see it. Nope, nope, 352 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: no need, Nope, dope, We're good. We have enough going 353 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: on here. No, thank you, but seriously, though, thank you, 354 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 1: thank you at the same time. But that's something though 355 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: I know that you're very skilled at When did that start? 356 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: How did that come about? Your ability to sing? Well? 357 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: I actually started out before I was an athlete. As 358 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: a musical theater kid. My parents had put me in 359 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,959 Speaker 1: you know, singing and acting lessons when I was young 360 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: because I expressed an interest and I was good at it. 361 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 1: And I actually from age about six to about twelve, 362 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: I traveled with the musical theater company down in southern California. 363 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,919 Speaker 1: And so singing has always just been a way that 364 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: I felt like my true self and expressed myself and 365 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 1: actually helped me become a good athlete because the pressure 366 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: of performing on stage and this is like, you know, 367 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: paying adults, you know, go into these plays. I was 368 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: like the kid role in an adult play. You know, 369 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: paying adults. You know, they want they want their money's work. Okay, 370 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: so you got to you gotta be on point. And 371 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: so it taught me how to be disciplined while still 372 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: expressing something that's an artistic craft that comes from your talent. 373 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: And and as that evolved over the years and I'm 374 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: pivoted away from that and into athletics, it became the 375 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: main way that I love to express my faith and 376 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,719 Speaker 1: express my creativity. Every once in a while, I just 377 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: catch me singing at the top of my lungs in 378 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: the house, and I feel like my full self in 379 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: those moments, so it's a good thing. Last question, I'll 380 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: let you go because I know you have presidential things 381 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: to do, but you're the first black president in the 382 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: history of the NFL. Most players think about coaching or 383 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: going into upper management. There are players nowadays, especially in 384 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: the NBA, that have so much money that they're becoming owners. 385 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: They're becoming owners, why while they're still playing like Jannis 386 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: just did with the Brewers Chris Paulas talked about doing 387 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: when he retires. Do you think we will see more players, Jason? 388 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: Do you think that maybe you have started something players 389 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: going into the business world and becoming presidents of NFL 390 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 1: teams NBA teams. Yeah, I do think role modeling matters. Right. 391 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 1: As much as I wanted to downplay this when I 392 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: first took the role, I do think you're right. I 393 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: do think it will open up people's aperture, and maybe 394 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: not necessarily the players, because maybe the players have always 395 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: thought about it, but it'll open up the eyes of 396 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: decision makers in so far as I do a good 397 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: job here to look at a different profile than they 398 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: might have looked at before and when filling these roles, 399 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: And you know, I felt emboldened to take this role 400 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: because I had visible role models, in particular black male 401 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: role models across my time in the NFL. You know, 402 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: I had a black quarterback in Atlanta. I had a 403 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: player personnel there was Ray Anderson, a black man. I 404 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: had a black head coach in Cleveland, Romeo Cornell, black 405 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator. There. When I got to the Arizona, Jim 406 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: Manager was Rock Gray's black man. And so I saw 407 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: blackmail talent thriving outside of the lines, outside of the 408 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: traditional hash marks. And you know that gets in your 409 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: head and you sort of start to believe all things 410 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: are possible for folks that look like you. And there's 411 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: probably a little bit about of me being in this role. 412 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: You're the best man. Appreciate the time. I'm so happy 413 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: for you. Excited to see not only what twenty twenty 414 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: one looks like for the Washington football team, but once 415 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: the rebranding starts with a new name in twenty twenty 416 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 1: two and with coach Rivera and players you got there, 417 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: Chase Young as a stud Excited to see what you 418 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: guys do this year and beyond. Jason, Thanks Dave, and 419 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: you know we don't play all this year so y'all 420 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: can go ahead and go seventeen to no and we'll 421 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: meet you in the playoffs. Sounds good Man seeing the 422 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: NFC championship. Thanks Jason B. Great to catch up with 423 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: Jason and talk about his groundbreaking role as the first 424 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 1: black team president in the history of the National Football League. 425 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: He's the team president of the Washington Football team and 426 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: he embraces the position he's in and understands that he's 427 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: a role model for many others and he hopes to 428 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: pave a way for others to have the opportunities similar 429 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: to what he has there in Washington, DC. Also cool 430 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: to hear some stories of his playing days with the Cardinals, 431 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: his time with Kurt Warner, also how he saw Larry 432 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: Fitzgerald not just have great seasons as a player, but 433 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: how Larry grew as a man while Jason was a 434 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: member of the team. The Dave Pash Podcast is presented 435 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the 436 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals and Hila River Hotels and Casinos. You can 437 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: keep up to date with what's going on with the 438 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: Dave Pash Podcast future guests, and also relive some of 439 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: the best moments from previous shows by following us at 440 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: Pashpod on Twitter. That'll do it for today's edition. Thanks 441 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: again to Jason Wright, president of the Washington Football team, 442 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: for joining us on the Dave Pash Podcast