Tackling Life Beyond the Game: Trey Edmunds’ Journey From NFL to Fatherhood

Alrighty. Good afternoon, and welcome back. To chat's not stats. My first chat's not stats of the new year. I'm very excited to be kicking it off with you, Trey Edmonds. Are you excited? I'm excited. Hey, I'm super excited. I appreciate you having me on. Yeah. I'm pumped. I feel like we've been trying to get this on the book for for a while now and kicking off the new year with it is just like a nice nice way to start. Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm ready to get down an ingredient gritty. Oh, great. I can't wait for all the juicy stories. Let's make sure that, you know, nothing juicy gets edited out. But, no, I I'm pumped to have you. I've had the privilege of getting to know you and one of your brothers, I feel like I'm missing one. So maybe we need to, like, work on that in twenty twenty four, and I can have all the couple libraries together. But if I have to introduce you, I would say, Trey Edmonds, one of the three illustrious Edmund brothers, the eldest of the three illustrious Edmund brothers. You know, I'd say second generation NFL player, six year veteran graduate from Virginia Tech, husband, soon to be father, brother, friend, like, go get her. Am I missing anything? I think you covered all and more. Okay. Well, it was really nice to meet you. Thanks, everyone, for joining. No. I'm just gonna alright. You can find them on social media. No. But I I think you have so much on your resume, but, like, how does that feel? Because you've just kind of like officially retired from the NFL. Yeah. Right? Like, it's been officially one year of like retirement. Yeah. I'm playing. Yeah. For sure. First, I appreciate the introduction. You know what I mean? I, I should have recorded it so I can put that in my status of how to You know, when I'm doing my personal stuff, because you were over and beyond, but now I really appreciate it. And yes, we have been trying to get this thing going for a while now, but no better time than now kicking off the new year the right way. So we're gonna make it happen. But, Yeah. Officially officially retired, one and a half months. So I retired actually two days before Thanksgiving. You know, I kinda it was strategic, right? Because I wanted to give people a conversation to have while they had the Thanksgiving ticket. Well, it didn't work. It worked because I had people calling me Wednesday, Thursday, like, yo, like, I didn't know you retired, like, man, tell me how my mama here talking and my daddy said that you retired and we're all trying to figure out what's going on. I'm like, yeah, that's exactly what I wanted. But, yeah, no, like, it was truly blessed, you know, six years in the league. Play for two wonderful organizations. You know, Pittsburgh still is in New Orleans. I have nothing but great things to say from everybody from top all the way to the bottom, come from a football family. My father played, he played for the dolphins in the sea hogs back in the day. Two younger brothers that currently play. This past year, they were with, Chicago bears and, Tennessee Titan. So you know, we're we're blessed. All we know is sports. My mother ran track in college at Southern Illinois. So, I think it's safe to say even if I didn't make it on a pro level, I will always be doing some type of sports at a high level, whether it's college, whether it's whatever. You know what I mean? Like, I saw sports growing up. That's all I ever knew. That's when I was fed after after I ate my meal. You know what I mean? Like, I would eat food, and I would eat some table ball or something. And your dad coached y'all Right? Oh my gosh. In high school, yes, he did. Yeah. I find that very scary because your dad didn't, like, just play. Like, he was a pro bowler. Like, he, you know, like he did his thing. What was that like having your dad as a coach? I put it like this. And I got a lot of the, revelation this year, Washington Prime at Colorado coaching Chadore and Shalo. Mhmm. A lot of people think when your father coaches you, that you get the easy way out, you know, when you get advantages and, you know, you get brown nose and all this extra benefits type stuff. Right? In fact, it's the exact opposite. You know, you get treated harder. You get coached way harder. You get embarrassed if you messing up. You know what I mean? And, like, they just they try not to make it seem like that they're showing favoritism. So by doing that, they're going over and beyond our away. You know what I mean? So, like, a lot of the times when he was disciplined in the team, he would make an example out of me. Yeah. Or a lot of times, like, when things weren't going right with the team, I would be the one to get that first. You know what I mean? So, you learn, I guess, to me, like, one of the main things was I learned what a tough coach was. You know, when I got there early on, so when I got to college and when I got to the league, it wasn't my first time seeing that because that's what those type coaches are. Right? Like, and most of them are tough coaches, and most of them are like, yo, like, we you don't have to be here. You know what I mean? Like, we came and got you because we thought you could help our program or our team or our city, whatever, you know, but I got that early on. Like, the coaching never stopped at me. I was getting coached in the morning time and practice and at the next time. It comes home with you. Yeah. I think that's like what people forget. Right? Is like It's insane. It's insane. Did he coach you in high school? Yeah. He was the head of rusty coach. Yeah. So see, like, that to me is scary because that is when if you have aspirations of going to college, to play, as somebody who also played. Right. He knows or knew what what was really going on behind the business of it, not just the allure of going. And so I think that's scarier because it's like, like you said, like, that It's it's at home all the time. It's at practice all the time. You know it's gonna follow you because, like, if you go to the league, like, he already he already did that. Did it. So, you know, I I sure that's like a multifaceted situation, and I'm sure you look at it now being older that, like, it's you're glad that it was, you know, it's sort of like an added benefit. And I I remember when I had Cam Jordan on, we talked a little bit about, like, cheat code. Like, when you have a dad who played and was successful at a level, you know, maybe not ring of honor successful, but when you, you know, you have the the pro bowl, the multiple years, and the lead, you sort of know some of that business and that added stuff underneath. So it's helpful at that level. It's a little bit of a cheat code, but I think you know, going into that, going into college. I'm glad I wasn't at your house. I'll just say this, like, he demanded excellence, you know, like, he asked us what was our goals with football or any sport for that for that matter. You know, we told him, you know, we wanted to be one of the best. We wanted to be looked at as one of the best not only in our school, but nationwide. You know, so once we told him that, like you just said, like, he knew what it took to get to that level. He knew to sacrifice you had to have. When I say he demanded excellence, he did, and he didn't let us stop. And I'm super grateful for that. You know what I mean? Because I think that him, along with my mother, like, they were super pivotal in the process because a lot of those times, you know, when we were just being typical high school teenagers, just that I may take this off. I'm a just chill today. Yeah. I ain't gonna give him all the practice because I got something else to do. Like, I'm planning on going to this big party on Friday night, so I'm not gonna really, you know, I mean, work myself too hard during the week. It wasn't like that. Like, it was like, yo, like, no, we're gonna do this. We're gonna we're gonna go all out. Like, you said you want it. This is what it takes. I have the blueprint. It's up to you to follow or not. Yeah. I think that's hard, but so accurate because When people have done something successfully and then give you the blueprint, you know, people always say like you can con you can only control what you can control. And but a lot of people are trying to do that without a strategic blueprint and without that support. So when you have it, it is, like, an added bonus, but also pressure. Because also you're following, you know, you wanna create your own path, but you're also following in flip step. I'm sure your brother felt that way coming behind you. Would you coach your son or daughter's sport? A great question. That's the money question. As of right now, today's date what is today? January tenth two thousand and twenty four, I don't have any aspirations of coaching at one of these super high levels, like, high school and up. Right? Okay. Okay. What about, like, Kiwi or, like, like, little league softball or soccer? I I see that. Right? Because for one, I think that whatever sport, whatever game should be taught the correct way. Yeah. You know, and not to bash anybody out here that's coaching or whatever, but, you know, everything isn't taught the right way. So people are just out there. Whole's beta's beta. It's fine. Yeah. Like, they're going full speed and cracking helmets and all this crazy stuff in six years old and although, like, cool. Like, I'm not a guest contact sports at that age. I do think the proper way of how to play those contacts sports or non contact sports should be taught. You know, so I definitely want to be instrumental, you know, in my child's life when it comes to that. But as far as high school college and pro, Nah. I think I'm gonna let the other professionals handle that. I'm cool. I'm a I'm a I'm a play my part. I'm a be parent. I'm a coach from the sidelines. But nah, I'm not gonna be the haircut. That's not in my call. Okay. Alright. So we have that noted January tenth, twenty twenty four. As of today. As of today, sticking with the lower level, maybe some elementary, you know. Yeah. Okay. Fair enough. Fair enough. Alright. So talk to me about so I personally have the deepest respect for undrafted free agents. I think for people out there, and don't get it twisted. Like, there are different expectations, different pressures, whether you're the guy, you know, everyone's over here being like, He's gonna go first round. And when the first round's done, he's still sitting there, like, shit. Or or the guy goes first round. There's all these expectations. And, like, by the way, not everybody who gets drafted first round lives long and in the league. Like, there's no guarantee that if you get drafted that you're going to spend five, six, seven, eight, ten years in the league. So I always say that undrafted free agents have this extra I don't know that I wanna say chip on the shoulder because I'm not really sure that that's the right term all the time, but, like, there's just a little e extra oomph there when you're the undrafted free agent, when you're the guy who not only does that, but then makes a roster and sustains getting vested two times over for you. However, on the flip side, you had little brothers coming behind you. They set their own record accolade of being the first two brothers to get simultaneously drafted in the first round. What do you think that is like? Because we we may never see that again. Like, we may never see three brothers. I mean, you know, you've got these legacy families, you know, you've got like the Watts, you know, like, you've got there are plenty of brothers across the league. Don't know that there's gonna be a situation unless somebody pops out twins that are getting drafted where guys are getting drafted at the same time. I don't know. But for you, what is that balance like of earning your own space and then also making way for your little brother's to come behind you and do it differently? It takes a special person, you know, when I had the pleasure of meeting and now knowing a lot of, unjacked free agents that took that, quote unquote harder route. Did at any point because you were a I don't know if we wanna use lucky as I don't really like that term, but you were one of the handful more than, you know, who only bounced once. You know, you played for two teams and it was you were at the one team and you were at the other team, then you were at the other team until you were done. Yeah. And that also is a bit unusual because even sometimes and I mean, don't get me wrong. Anthony Levine played a decade in Baltimore. Like, undrafted free agent from an HBCU. It totally happens. I don't think we talk about that enough, but like it happens. But there was for some people or is and continues to be a level of comfort when you make a name for yourself that's sustainable and you resign year after year where you sign a multiyear deal with the team. At any point where you, like, I'm a little cozy here. Or were or was it really, like, I'm still the chopping block guy because even though I signed my deal and I've been here three years, I know I wasn't, like you said, as a high of an investment. As this young guy that was the first round draft pick or the second round draft pick. Like, you you think you caught yourself ever being like, I like this chair. I think I'll stay here. Yeah. You know what? And and real quick, we're fine to answer that question. This is a little clarification. So I was undrafted, but as you know, Adrian, but people may not, like, the undrafted process, when you come on a cottage, like, there's certain guys that they have as undrafted guys, right? Like, And those guys, they call out personally, like, Hey, we couldn't sign. We couldn't draft you, but we don't want you to come. So I wasn't even one of those guys. I was actually a trial guy. Right. You know, so, I didn't become an undrafted free agent until after Ricky Mini count once I've made it past that point. So, like, I always feel like somebody was chasing me. Like, I spent my whole career living on my shoulder. But, to answer your question, you know, I think it's customary for most people after that rookie year to get some sense of, damn, like, I'm in the league. You know what I mean? Like, I'm in the NFL. Like, I'm playing. You know what I mean? Like my very first play in the in the league was, a kickoff return, you know, on Monday night football. So put that into perspective. Yeah. That's that's scary at all. No pressure. Right. Like, at Minnesota in their new stadium. So I'm like, Oh, this is crazy, right? So, I think everybody gets some type of, you know, kinda looking around and seeing where you are and seeing the guys coming in a locker. I don't think everybody gets that type of feeling, but just as far as, like, getting comfortable, no, I'm still not comfortable. You know what I mean? And I'm through. Like, I have no aspirations of going back playing again, but now, like, I never got that comfort feeling because I always knew, like, yo, like, they're looking for me. They're they're coming for me. You know what I mean? Like, it was always over my shoulder. And I I didn't have too many peaceful sleeping lights. Let's just put it like that. I also love that you highlighted because I actually did not know that about the that your first play was a kickoff return. And, like, I just want to loud and proud give shout outs to special teams players because and maybe things have changed now, but I don't think they've changed that much. Like, dudes in college really feel some type of way about getting to the league and being asked to play special teams. And you live I will say it loud for the those in the back listening and when this gets put out. You can live long and prosper in the league if you play a special team. I don't know why that isn't a common topic of conversation. Yo. Like, it's a thing. Right? I mean, secondary guys, receivers, running backs, whatever. Special teams is a way to, you know, especially if you're an undrafted free agent. Right? But I think even sometimes guys get drafted and they're like, they want me to play special teams. Like, what is this? I'm like, this is the paying job. Yeah. Nah, that's a fact. Both teams I played on, everybody that got drafted play special teams from first round to whatever. What I mean? Like, I mentioned that first game being in Minnesota. Well, guess who else was back there with me, kickoff return. Alvin Kumar, we all know who that is. Right? You know what I mean? So it just goes to show a little perspective on how they viewed it, like, hey, like, yes. We look at you in a high regard in a high manner. And you prove yourself to be that. However, you know, you're gonna play special teams too. But a lot of guys actually like it, though, once they commit to it. And once they see how much fun it is, like, special teams is the thing. Like, that's where you're going really, you know, test your You don't really have the first lady. Right? Like, I don't even I don't even say every guy who plays DB has a screw loose, like, and that is by no means a dig. Like, it's just a different kind of guy. And I think the special teams, I think the special teams guys are like that. Now, facts, we definitely I can be calm and collect when needed to be, right? But, like, we all have a switch. But I think, like, you gotta have that, though. Like, everybody that plays, but especially, like, those guys with the special teams, like, let's just don't ever piss them off. Just just put it back then. Yeah, man. Yeah. I have some really I remember being up in New York and watching Giants games and watching Duane Harris on kickoff returns. And I'm like, this dude is a car crash. I mean, I know we always say, like, every guy who hits, it's a it's like a car but, like, He was the guy who looked at you at the traffic light and was like, let's go. Yeah. Every single time. Boom. Like, I just Yeah. I'm good. I'm really content to watch on mute when that happens. Like, I'm fine. So, no, I definitely I definitely think that's a great point that, that you made about about the special teams and and not being sort of a route to take. So then back to my other question, like, did you ever feel what is it like having two little brothers that come up behind you as first round draft picks and go write their stories? Like, what is it like being that big brother? You know, they're not looked at as rookies, they're not taught that as rookies, you know, and the expectations of them are not as of rookies or younger guys. You know, they have to coming to work with a different type of mentality now, and I think that they've adopted that, you know, and and they're on the side of understanding the long game mentally when it comes to league and I think they're doing a good job at it. Yeah. I think it is very cool that they had your footsteps to follow even in in addition to other family members not having met your parents, but having the utmost respect for them for just raising awesome human beings. You guys are very unique individuals in and amongst yourselves. Like, I don't know Maine very well, but, like, I know Ralph's got his music going on. Like, you have all these other goals. And, obviously, you guys play very different positions. You know, but, like, you're very different people. And yet still striving for individual success as you all route your route. So I think that that is very clearly seen. No. I don't think anyone's being oh, you're so and so's brother. No. I'm this person. I'm this person. I'm this person. It's it's not sort of you're the the big brother, the little brother type situation. Now maybe it was like that when you're going through school, that's a good situation. I can't speak to teachers, but I think as far as it comes to your professional careers, that's definitely a highlight. For sure. Okay. So what I need to know Just get in. If you're talking to your younger self or maybe not your younger self because you're you're pretty like straight laced ish, like, But everybody has a dark side. Evis is on the ish, right? Ish. Evis is on the ish. Tell me, Tell those who are gonna see this. If you're the guy because because guys are guys are prepping right now. College guys are are in it. Like, training is starting. The combine is coming. So there is a conflict that exists. We all know it's out there about injuries. Right? And, like, whether or not you suffer through being hurt, because you don't wanna get passed up for the next guy versus like you said, if you get bit by the injury bug, it's it's like a mosquito. Like, you you get bit by one, you're gonna get by you could get bit by them all. Let me say. In your opinion, So again, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a fact. This is just an opinion. What is your your singular opinion on the do and don't of playing hurt. Okay. Controversial topic. Very much so. So I'm gonna say this, and then I'm gonna give a quick explanation. Do play hurt if you can. Don't play injured. So I'm a guy I was in college for five years. I did my regular four and then I had a race shirt here. I played one full year in college. From game one to game twelve with their tab mitigation. Right. I've lost track of how they all changed. And I will say, like, I'm I'm extremely blessed to have had the route that I've had, you know, because a lot of guys are in my position can't say that, you know, because it's extremely hard. Like, I start prepping for the combine or pro day, early February. You know, I was on crutches up until the last week of January. So it was rough. You know, it was extremely rough. Like, I didn't run a full speed forty thinking to, like, a week before the comma, I didn't go to the comma, I did pro day, but, like, I didn't go to full speed forty. And I don't even think that was full speed, but that's beyond the point. But What I'm trying to get at is that I only play one full year. So I say, do play hurt if you can, but not play injured because a lot of I mean, soft tissues are gonna happen. Right? Hamstring, things like that. And when they happen, you know, you gotta miss the time, but you gotta rehab as well too, though, because those type of injuries can be predicated off of how hard you go into your rehab and how good you're taking care of yourself, diet, or whatever, etcetera. But, like, the little nicks and bruises and things like that, like, guys get hurt every single game. You know, you look at these guys in the league, like, especially if somebody I'll say running back because I'm biased. Right? Like, somebody's running backs. Like, they're taking a beating every single day. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, you don't think these guys are hurting, like, they probably playing with sprained ankles and Yeah. You know, grooves, elbows, and crazy stuff like that. Right? But if you're getting paid, especially on a professional level or an NIL level now, if you're getting paid, like, you have a job, you have a responsibility. If the school is prepared for you to come there, you also have that type of responsibility at a school in that manner, and it gives yourself a better shot. But if you're injured, you're gonna worsen those chances. Right. Because now you're going out there and you're hurting yourself because what you're doing now putting bad fem out there that coaches can still use. And the only, you know, argument you have is, well, I was, I was hurt. I had, spraying grade three spraying MCL or something. Right. And I shouldn't have played one of those type of cases you shouldn't have. And when you do, you're gonna hurt yourself more. So Yeah. I think each player, you have to be mindful of that, you know, and you have to self assess that with the medical team there. But I'll say don't hurt yourself by going out there when you know you're not able to, but don't take games off just because, you know, you have the everyday whatever. Hurting Not some very, like, Charles Berkeley going on right there because he's like, man, you have a paper cut. You're like, I can't play today. No. I like jobs. You know, because he does. He's like, man, you you you go through a whole season, like, you are going to hurt. Like, this is definitely not, like, this is not an activity that is pain free. So That's a fact. You're going to be uncomfortable. You're going to be hurt. I say that from my privilege sheet of not having played football myself. But I know that to be true. Like I've had enough experience. I know that's true. So that being said, though, like, I think your quote is really great is play hurt if you can, but don't play injured. And make it worse. Like, I think that's a a very crucial differential. And that's it's different real quick. I'm sorry to fix y'all, but I think it was also different from college and the pro level, like college, you know, it's a lot more things that you will play through. Like, you can convince your mind and play through a lot more things because you're trying to get to the pros. Right. You know, and the more fun you have, the better your chance is. Once you're in the pros and you've established yourself, well, you don't want no bad family out there at all. So something that you may have could have convince yourself, you know, to get through in college. Maybe in the pros, you don't. Maybe you take that game or two. But, you know, you have to get to that point before you can even think about making that decision. You can't make that decision as a freshman. Right. I don't understand that. Yeah. Fair fair point. I think that it is very individualized, but I I can definitely understand the tiers. Trying to meet those those goals and expectations. Okay. So let's talk about the don'ts because you hit the do's. Oh, man. Talk about the don'ts. And they don't necessarily have to be your don'ts if you're like, you know, but but what are some don't? I'm gonna keep it all the way gee. Don't number one. Don't embarrass yourself on social media. I will tell you. I've been I have been on the side of trying to do brand deals for someone And a company scrubs their Twitter from ten years ago, and they're like, we can't work with you because that was that was up there, and it never got taken down. And it's too late now. Like, I've seen it. And this was before NIL before you know, I'm talking, like, eight years ago. I had guys trying to do deals with the company, and they were, like, searching them on Twitter, and they're like, whoa, you said this thing on they're gonna find you every time. Every time. You can't hide from this stuff. You can't hide from a bad tweet or a bad post, like, I'm sorry. They'd say, you you know, you said it's changed, but I think this quote stands true as like hard work outworks talent when talent doesn't work hard. It might have butchered it, but I think that's, like, that's basically the quote. And that is true I think once you get to a level of professionalism where there are people who are dedicated to watching endless amounts of film, and running a drill endless amounts of time. That you can be as talented as you are, but if you aren't more knowledgeable then the guy next to you, it might not pan out that way. We've touched on, like, a few things, and there are such distinct differences between college and the pros, even now with college being such a business, even though it has been before, In one regards, you have more time in the pros than you do in college because you're not going to class, you're not doing all this extra extra stuff. Now granted, you can fill that with other things and so on and so forth. But what would you say was your most difficult transition from college to the pros? For me, think it was two part. I think the speed, the speed of the game, like, things were flying in the pros. Like, everybody just seemed like they were on a whole different level. You know what I mean? And I didn't play I played at, you know, two pretty good high, high rolling schools. You know what I mean? In terms of I guess competition. Right? And I got played in a pound five and a big ten in the ACC. But the speed And then just, another big difference was, I would say like you said, you know what I mean? Like, figuring out what to do with your idle time. Because you do have a lot more idle time, and you can use that on so many different things, and so many different things can either propel your career or derail your career. Yeah. You know, so it's important to, learn how to schedule, like in college's schedules hand you. And all you have to do is know how to read. It always a great reader. Right? But putting together a scale a great reader. I can follow instructions, but when it comes down to, making your own schedule, like, I I I struggle with that. You know what I mean? And it took some time and it took some adjusting. But, you know, you gotta get together and get around good people that can help you. You know what I mean? Because they're out there. But those are the two things I would say, the speed and just normal to do is time. Yeah. I think idle time is dangerous in the league. It's dangerous. And you can, you know, you made a great point. You can propel or derail your career with the same amount of time, and it's like, I've seen it go both ways. Right? Like, I've seen it where I'm doing the extra, you know, MAT work the massage, the nutrition, the yoga, the whatever. And I've seen the, like, let's hit the strip club. Let's go where we should go and And I'm gonna I'm gonna tell you this. I don't time is dangerous, but I don't time with money. What's what's what's worse than dangerous? There's not if you're not worried for that. I don't know. Whatever. Detrimental. Detrimental. Yeah. I know time with money is a is a different ballgame, and I think that there's this I don't know if it will ever go away. I I think now with the power of social media and so many guys and girls being able to share their stories of things they did right, things they did wrong, things they could have done things they're still doing. It's a lot easier to catch on from the generations that come before you, but I I don't know if the keeping up with the benjamins will ever cease And I think that is a huge piece of the pie. Like, I think when you have idle time with money and you're trying to keep up with someone else, it's detrimental because you're we're not comparing apples and apples. Right? Like, if I'm a rookie and you're a rookie and I'm an undrafted free AJ and you were a top ten pick. Like, the money is not the same in the beginning. And same being that the underactive free agent who plays ten years might be different than a guy who's doing one year, one year, one year, one year, one year, one year, ten years down the road, and like, you know, this guy drives this and I drive that, like, that is not the moral of the story. Yeah. But I don't know that that will ever not be part of people's end game. I think it's getting better. Like, guys are way more excited to flaunt what building they own and what empire they're building versus what car they're driving, but it's still like a bit of a factor, I think. I think there's a space to play, and there's also a space to, you know, set up some things for your future. But, because I'm a big believer in nobody's gonna sit here and sacrifice all these things and do all this hard work and not enjoy any of it. You know, some people preach, stack, sack, stacks, say, you save, invest, invest, invest, I don't believe at all that. You have to play. You have to play. You have to have fun. You have to enjoy because in the end, you wanna have stories. Right? You wanna be able to tell what was it like in the league. Why I didn't do anything but grind and invest? Like, that's cool for some people, not for me. Yeah. Well, no. And you can't take it with you when you die. So, like, if you have no stories and then you can't take it with you, like, that's Yeah. It's it's it's a little it's a little flat. It's a balancing act, I think. Gotta have a balancing act. No. That's what it's called. I think it's a balancing act. Okay. So College to the pros, do's, and don'ts, now that you're transitioning to the other side, What are you most excited about? The dark side. I'm most excited about, the opportunities, you know, I will say that I've been able to communicate and meet with and you know, be involved in more meetings and stuff like that with people that I didn't necessarily, get a chance to while I was playing, and I don't know if it was just time conflict or, whatever. You know what I mean? Like, it could be a lot of reasons, but just the different opportunities outside of running a football and I'm making a tackle can present, you know, being a former a former athlete in the NFL one you know, a lot of people wanna connect with you. A lot of people wanna hear your story. A lot of people will, representation from you, whatever. You know, so it's about putting yourself in those circles, in those crowds amongst those conversations and kinda building your network that way. That's kinda what I'm going through right now. Along with that, you know, just being able to take care of myself, you know, because football is just so demanding. You go through so much. I don't think the mental battle get talks about as much. So definitely taking time out to take care of myself because outside of that, mean, I can't do anything. Like, I can't make any plays or do any of this stuff. But, yeah, just connecting with people and seeing how it is. From the outside looking in, you know, like, I had my time. My time is up. It's time for somebody else now. Like, I'm not one of those guys that's gonna sit there and dwell on, man, like, that's still be out there. And I got to remember the time, like, I'm cool with stories, but should and all that could, like, that's, that's gone for me. I'm cool. And you've done something that not a lot of people do, which is get back into the mix quite quickly after you're done playing you've gone to see both brothers play now. You've you've watched the games. You're watching them on TV. You've watched them in person. The first time you went in person to a stadium to watch a game, what were you feeling? Well, I ain't gonna lie. I definitely felt a lot of emotions. I just felt anger, I felt, you know, sadness. You feel inadequacy. You feel a lot of that stuff. Right? But I think what helped me out was that I am going to watch my brother, and I'm not just going to watch an NFL game. So I get my support that I try to give them always any team or any of that type of stuff like that. But, like, I'm not gonna lie. It it it was, and sometimes still there's a period of time where I'm like, yeah, now I'm not watching this or I'm not getting involved with this right now. I don't wanna get involved in that conversation or I'll skip this Sunday. You know what I mean? Because I go back and follow-up, like, I'm not completely out of it. I still go do it. I have my own withdrawals. But, you know, for the most part, like, I've I've I've met and established a lot of friendships in Italy, you know, in a lot of guys, I wanna keep up with a lot of guys, I still talk too. So along with my brothers, you know, I try to watch the people that, you know, I have respect for and kinda just look at it like that instead of just watching Oh, yeah. This is my former job who let me go. Like, nah, I don't look at it, like, Brett. I definitely appreciate you sharing that. And, like, I know that it's not always easy to talk about those feelings. I think though one thing that I try to express to people is, a friend of mine who works, in a clinical setting. She always reminds me that, like, feelings are valid, but feelings are not facts. Right? Like, no one can tell you that you're not sad or you don't feel anger or you don't feel inadequacy. There's a difference between you feeling that way and it being a fact of like you're not good enough or you couldn't be as good Like, those are not true. And so I I find that even in conversations and with friends or family, like, feelings are valid. But they're not facts. Yeah. And that is a really important thing to remember, especially for guys and girls that mourn their former athlete selves, because there's no fine, finite timeline on the morning process of not playing anymore, or competing at that level anymore. But I remind people also all the time that, like, being a former pro athlete is like being an addict are never not the former player. Any addict, whether you've been sober for thirty years or not, like, we're still an addict. There are still things you battle all the time because that was that was your drug of choice. And I think for sports, like, that was your drug of choice. And so regardless of how you define success and becoming successful when your time in the league or your time in whatever sport is up, like, you don't go through a transition and it's over. You're not like caterpillar, butterfly, butterfly dies. Like, it's not quite like that. And so that's something that I really try to emphasize with people is, like, your timeline isn't the same as his timeline isn't the same as her timeline, etcetera, etcetera. But that also your feelings are valid, but they're not facts. Yeah. And I think that's a great point. I agree one hundred percent those are spot on points. And also, I think that, we have to take the time to actually go through two field, those types of feelings, you know. Some people do rush just to, you know, stay busy and do things. And That's fine too. You know what I mean? Like those who can do that have more power to you. But, you know, there are gonna be times where it is gonna be lonely. Like, you are gonna battle with your thoughts. Like, you are gonna crazy, whatever. You know, so it's just it's about understanding that there's a ninety nine percent chance that the guy, you know, that's already retired, went through the same thing and or is going through the same thing. Right? And, you know, you're not alone, you know, finding a community, finding other people talking to them and kinda just going through the journey because I think just like the journey it took to get to the league, you have to go do a similar journey on leaving the league, you know, on a meeting. It's just one of them type of things, man, where you just put on that seat belt buckle up and hold on. Yeah. I think you make a great point that there's a journey getting into and there's a journey leaving. Think people get caught up with the leaving parts not as sexy. So people like to say they knew you win, you were in college, or they knew you win, you were in Peewee, and now you're in the league, when you're not in the league anymore, people are less excited to be like, oh, that's my dog. Like, we we did this and this because now we we sitting at home on the couch with a glass of wine, and we had a you know, bitching session today. Like, you know, that's not as sexy as, like, well, at the draft or, like, at this game when he scored the, okay, but The exit interview, if you will, lasts a whole lot longer than the entrance. So I think that if you're talking about buckling up for a ride, like, the ride out is is gonna be just as fun because it's longer and you have more time to experience things and try new things and meet other people. I just think that that's a crucial part to examine, but, like, yes, please wear a seat belt. You gotta wear a seat belt. Okay. Life's hard. Get a helmet. Like, wear a seat belt. Yeah. Okay. So final things. What is one thing on your bucket list for twenty twenty four? Bunkett list for twenty twenty four. So soon. Let's see. Honestly, everything on my list for twenty twenty four just revolves around having a healthy baby, and entering fatherhood. Like, that's That's that's really the only thing I could think of. Is that your word for the year? You know, some people like pick a word for the year, whether it's like Let's go with it. Like fatherhood is like Let's create it right now. Yeah. Yeah. Let me create it right now. Not a fact. I need a whole vision board and everything. Yes. Yes. Yes. I feel that it's the fatherhood journey twenty twenty four. Like, That's what it's gonna do. Row enters fatherhood. Like, yeah, that's real. Yeah. I think that's, that's me. That's, that's filing up for twenty twenty four. Like, that's, that's what I'm all about. Okay? You know, if you had to leave a parting sentiment for anyone that is watching whether they're an athlete, a former athlete, they just like sports, something that you could share with with anyone in the world, like, at this point in time, what would it be? Okay. I would say a thing. My father used to always tell me. He should tell me it's called Kate never could. And I live by that, you know, my entire childhood through college through my professional career and even now, it's basically, like, kill the word, can't, because if you say can't, then you never will. You know what I mean? So people out here that's wanting to try new things, wanting to get into a particular field, wanting to talk to a particular person or meet a particular person at idle, who have you. You know, can't never could. Don't say so if you can't do it. Don't tell yourself that you know, you aren't capable of being in that position, you know, dream big and go and chase it, you know, but you gotta put the work in too and just know that and I I just think that a lot of us, you know, we dream so big. We have so many aspirations. Like, everybody wants to get to the league. So many people contact me on a daily basis, like, what does it take? You know, people's parents? How can I get my son or my daughter? Like, what can I do? And quite honestly, there's no particular formula. You know what I mean? Like, I can tell you what I did, but I guarantee you a hundred percent your child or yours is gonna be completely different and you have to be able to, you know, take a little bit of what I said and take a little bit of what you said and take a little bit of what ten other people said and kinda make your own thing, but, you know, don't ever tell yourself you can't do something or don't ever, you know, exit yourself out because You just never know when your breakthrough is gonna happen. And if you grind long enough, I honestly believe that everybody will have some type of breakthrough. I mean, that's a mic drop. What? Mic drop. Boom. That's a mic drop. Now, please, mic drop. Mic drop. Well, I super, super appreciate your time. For those who want to follow you, you're on social media. You have an upcoming charity event in February, that all the brothers will be a part of giving back to your community so they can check it out online if they're looking to go or sponsor or be a part of the effort you guys are working on. And I just appreciate you and your friendship, your candor, your advice to others, and about to crush this fatherhood journey Got to. Now I appreciate you too though, and and you doing tremendous things yourself. Keep it up. I appreciate the time. Thank you, darling. I will see you soon. Absolutely. Talk to you.