# When Sports Meets Business Strategies: How A Former NFL Player Became A Success In The World Of Business

By Rafael Abreu · Published 2025-01-20 · Updated 2026-03-26 · Sports & Entertainment on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/sports-entertainment/nfl

> Retirement from professional sports leaves most athletes broke, yet some build thriving businesses by applying competitive discipline and teamwork lessons to en

## Key points

- Retirement from professional sports leaves most athletes broke, yet some build thriving businesses by applying competitive discipline and teamwork lessons to en

Block Field

Over the past decade, we’ve seen an increasing intersection of sports and business, with athletes moving beyond their sports roles into entrepreneurship, investing, brand-building, and business strategies. [As the sports industry’s global value is projected to reach $623.6 billion by 2027](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/04/04/2641027/0/en/The-Sports-Industry-s-Worth-Is-Expected-To-Reach-623-Billion-By-2027-At-An-Annual-Rate-Of-5-As-Per-The-Business-Research-Company-s-Sports-Global-Market-Report-2023.html), the question of how athletes transition into business becomes more pressing. Furthermore, with research showing that [80% of retired NFL players go broke within three years of leaving their sport](https://www.forbes.com/sites/leighsteinberg/2015/02/09/5-reasons-why-80-of-retired-nfl-players-go-broke/#:~:text=Sports%20Illustrated%20recently%20estimated%20that,almost%20%242%20million%20a%20year%3F), the stakes are high. Can the principles learned inside the white lines of a football field transition into successful business?

This compelling topic is addressed in the latest episode of [*Game Changers*](https://marketscale.com/shows/game-changers/). Host [Katie Steinberg](https://marketscale.com/katie-steinberg/) talks with [**Merril Hoge**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/merril-hoge-433bb448?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F), [former NFL running back and renowned sports analyst](https://merrilhoge.com/), a man who has proven himself both on the field and in the boardroom. As someone who has authored multiple books on business, he is able to bring his unique perspective to the discussion of business strategies.

> Can the principles learned inside the white lines of a football field transition into successful business?

In this episode, Steinberg and Hoge discuss:

- The parallels between sports and business and how principles learned on the football field can be applied to business strategies.
- The importance of integrity and self-reflection in achieving personal and professional success.
- The powerful effect of setting goals, visualizing them, and taking inventory of your progress towards them.

### About the Guest

**Merril Hoge**, born and raised in Idaho, is a former NFL running back for the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Apart from his successful sports career, he is known for his work as an author, philanthropist, and sports analyst for ESPN. His insightful perspectives on the connection between sports and business have made him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the field.

Tags: business strategies, football, Game Changers, Merril Hoge, nfl, sports

---
Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/sports-entertainment/nfl. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt