Jack Bech NFL Draft Prospect opens up on losing his brother in Bourbon Street attack, overcoming adversity, how he's turned grief into grit, the power of faith and family and a special message to NFL teams when they select him this wknd

“Last words I ever told him was I love him and keep fighting. So that’s what I’m gonna live by from now on, just keep fighting, keep going no matter the circumstance but just keep on going.” Jack Bech We try to find the right words to capture the impact and emotion of this episode, but this is one, that when you listen to it, you'll understand how rare and special of a human Jack Bech is and why any NFL team who drafts him, will instantly be better for it. Whether you're an athlete, a dreamer, or someone rebuilding from a loss, this episode is a reminder: the pivot isn’t the end — it’s where growth begins. Ryan, Channing and Fred visit Lafayette, Louisiana, home of the Bech family and sit with Jack at the place his football career all started, St. Thomas More Catholic High School. Recent tragedy struck his family as his older brother, Tiger, was a victim of the Bourbon Street New Year's Eve attack. Jack opens up on the horrific moments of that night as he reflects on losing his brother who he idolized in every aspect from football to his faith to being his best friend since he was a young boy. In a special moment, he reveals something that he hasn't publicly shared yet about losing his brother and why now is the right time to share, With Jack projected to be a day two pick in the upcoming NFL draft, he shares that NFL teams are getting a two-for-one special as he is no longer just playing for him, but his brother too. As a wide receiver, his football journey has been anything but linear. From LSU to TCU, Jack opens up about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the headspace it takes to bet on yourself when the world starts doubting you. Coming off a dominant final year in college ball, Jack shares how he’s turned grief into grit—navigating injuries, transfers, and the pressure of expectations while holding tight to his love for the game. His family's heartbreak is added-fuel towards fulfilling his dream of a long successful NFL career and names a few star wide receivers he admires and models his game after from Cooper Kupp to LSU friends Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Malik Nabers, taking pieces of their style to craft into his own. Jack is ready for wherever his journey takes him next and his guardian angel will be there to join him in any NFL city he calls home, and if you don't believe him, just watch. The Pivot Family will be rooting for Jack and his family this weekend as his football fate is determined. Don't forget to subscribe and comment below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:01Speaker 00

  Every game day, you show up for your team. Now, it's your time.

• 0:11Speaker 00

  Ask your prescriber about Wegovy. Semaglutide injection, 2.4 milligrams a GLP-1. Call 1-8334-WEGOVIE or visit wegovie.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovy. Why wait?

• 0:30Ryan Clark?

  Where were you when you got the call that Tiger was on Bourbon Street during the terrorist attack on January 1st?

• 0:37Speaker 02

  Yeah, so I was at my Uncle Brett's house. I was up there, the whole pre-drive process, training up there in Dallas. So I was at his house in Grapevine. I was sleeping on the couch that night. Me and him were gonna wake up, we were gonna play some golf that next morning. ICU's and all that stuff was closed. So we're just gonna go kick it. You know, it's show night, and I wasn't helping out. I was just chilling at his crib, cook some dinner. Slept on the couch, woke up around 5:00 a.m., took my phone, getting spammed with my sister's fiance, Jordan. You know, I kind of silenced him once, twice, and he called again. So I finally answered him, and he had told me that Tiger was out on Bourbon. There was a terrorist attack and that they couldn't find him. So I checked my brother's location, and his phone was just sitting on Bourbon Street.

• 1:20Speaker 02

  So, A, he either took off and his phone fell out, or B, something bad happened to him.

• 1:26Ryan Clark?

  When did you guys finally find him and know what sort of condition Tiger was in?

• 1:32Speaker 02

  Yeah, so it was about 3, 3 and 1/2, 4 hours later. We had called like every hospital within the whole area, like 10 different hospitals. Just like giving them the description of my brother. Please call us back if y'all find somebody. Austin called us, and they told us that they had somebody of that description, and my dad was in the New Orleans area, just waiting for that call. And so they, they brought him in, and they're like, "You can't see him right now. He's in ICU, getting surgery." But they brought him out this watch, actually. And once he brought this watch out, my dad got this for him for graduation, like a year after he graduated, because obviously Rolex's aren't cheap. So my dad had to save up and put money away for a few years to get this for him.

• 2:15Speaker 02

  So whenever he, they brought it out, he was able to be like, "Yeah, that's my son in there."

• 2:20Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, what does... What does it mean to you now though, man, to be able to have that watch and have a piece of your brother with you?

• 2:28Speaker 02

  Oh, man, everything, because not only is it, you know, you got the scratched marks and you got the dried up blood and you got all that. You know, and I'm never gonna wash it. I'm never gonna fix it, you know, I'm gonna keep it just the way it is. So, I mean, it's definitely, like, every time I look back at it, just knowing, like, he, you know, he died in this watch, you know what I mean? It was around his wrist when he got hit. And just like I said, it's just another one of those reminders. Just always just keep on pressing and then know that, like, this is for me, this is for my brothers, this is for my family, this is for all the people who have helped me get to this point in my life.

• 3:17Ryan Clark?

  Chan, what's your weight room look like when you was in high school?

• 3:21Channing Crowder?

  I like this. It's a high school? Boy, these boys poor.

• 3:28Ryan Clark?

  Jack Bech, man, thank you for welcoming us to your home, St. Thomas More. What a story all started for you. This is Fred Taylor, this is Channing Crowder, I'm Ryan Clark. Pivot fam, thank you so much for pivoting with us. Today, our guest is Jack Bech. Jack, man, I just wanted to talk about being here, though. Tell me some of your first memories of seeing St. Thomas More play and also your brother Tiger being on this field.

• 3:55Speaker 02

  Yeah, I would say some of the first memories are my brother out here playing. You know, I remember going just way back, you know, my brother. He obviously passed away a few months ago, but just growing up, he's the one who taught me how to play ball, had that mentality, that dog mentality that's carried me on up to this point, that's gonna keep carrying me on. But some of the first memories are just coming here, not even games, just watching him come out here and work, you know, being a young kid, him out here by himself, just running stadiums, getting work in, bringing me along with him. I'm nine years old, learning what hard work is, determination. So, some of my first memories around here are just really on the practice field, watching him do his thing.

• 4:32Channing Crowder?

  That Louisiana football, because Fred and myself, Florida guys, and RC holds up this Louisiana football like it's up there with Florida.

• 4:40Fred Taylor?

  Oh, you're trying to split the room.

• 4:42Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, split the room.

• 4:43Speaker 02

  We're cool. I'm not trying to come that side.

• 4:46Channing Crowder?

  As Fred has his national championship Gator shirt on, you know, right now. But just, I've heard you say that other times, just that dog mentality, that thought of it. Is RC, is he painting us a picture when he tells us how serious football is out here?

• 5:00Speaker 02

  I mean, he's painting the whole picture. Man, football, everything to us, you know, it's another religion. You know, it's faith, family, and it's football. You just go down the list of people, starting from here to New Orleans. I mean, the list goes on and on and on, and it's not that far between here and New Orleans. But now, we got real dogs from Louisiana, so, yeah.

• 5:18Fred Taylor?

  You know, when I first came in, I told you, we could cut the room kind of like this, in an L shape. RC was undrafted. We don't expect you to be undrafted, so, but that's a whole nother story. Do people think you're weird yet? Because I saw somewhere where you said, Kobe Bryant said, "You have to work so hard, you have to want it so much when you're chasing greatness, that people next to you will think you're weird." Have you gotten to that point yet?

• 5:43Speaker 02

  I don't think I've gotten to that point with everybody, but I think some people have definitely seen that, you know, going from football, practice, you know, catching jug machines, you know, it didn't matter if it was raining, dry outside, super hot, super cold, sleeting. You know, I'm on that jug machine after practice, you know, every day. Amon Ross St. Brown said he would catch like 212 balls after every practice. And I've always just kept that in my mind, hearing that, you know, so every day. Now, I'm not worried about outworking the dude next to me. No, I know I'm gonna do that. I'm worried about outworking the dudes in the league. So, just keeping that in mind, you know, I'm getting that number, I'm surpassing that number. I'm trying to do that, you know, every day. You know, to go on a show, you know, end up having the best hands in the country, just speaking stats. But that wasn't just coming from nowhere. You know, that's hard work every day, you know, every day after practice, out there in the weight room.

• 6:27Speaker 02

  Going the hardest, running the hardest, you know, just every day doing it, you know, coming in with that, just that mentality to get better, never being satisfied, you know, with somebody outworking me, and just always getting that extra lick on them no matter what.

• 6:38Channing Crowder?

  You know, you talk about going to extra, and I love what you said about your first memories here.

• 6:43Ryan Clark?

  Is not the games, but watching your brother work. And I can only think of some of the conversations you had during that time. I want to get to a different conversation. Your brother was a fighter. Even on January 1st, in the hospital with your parents, he was still fighting. You had an opportunity to get on the phone and you said you felt like he could hear you. Tell me a little bit about what that last conversation was like with your brother.

• 7:13Speaker 02

  Man, so I didn't really know if that was gonna be my last conversation, you know, with him. I knew that he was in bad shape, but I didn't realize like how bad it really was. You know, I knew that they had him in the hospital, he was alive, he was breathing. You know, but I didn't know there was a machine really, you know, making him stay awake. So the priests could come give him the final blessing, stuff like that. And I thought that was a big reason, you know, he, he was able to make it into heaven. But that last conversation, you know, I just told him that I loved him. Um, that I'll see him soon to keep fighting, to keep going. Uh, like you said, he's a fighter, you know, I didn't have to tell him that, but you know, because that's who he is, just how he's been since he was a baby. But I just told him, keep going, keep fighting, that I'll be there soon, you know, to be with him and to see him and how much I loved him. Um, and, and I told him I loved him, those are the last words I ever told him.

• 7:57Speaker 02

  Uh, and then about probably 10 minutes later, I was my uncle, my aunt, uh, my uncle Brett, who he played in the league and, uh, played at LSU and stuff like that. But he and my aunt, they kind of looked at me 10 minutes later and shook their heads. So, uh, you know, it was definitely a pretty vivid conversation I had with them. You know, I remember it really well. That was my built in best friend. You know, me and him were like this, good news, bad news, indifferent. You know, I'm calling him, he's the first person, uh, I'm calling and he's always picking up the line no matter what. You know, like you said though, he was a fighter though. And yeah, the last words I ever told him were, were I love him and to keep fighting. So that's what I'm gonna live with now from now on and just keep fighting, keep going no matter the circumstance, but to just keep on going.

• 8:36Channing Crowder?

  And you talk about the dog mentality, you talk about outworking everybody, the judgment machine, everything you do. The timing that it happened when you just declared, you know what I'm saying? You're about to go into the, either another level of football. What kind of battery did it put in your back with already having that grind with now knowing that your brother's watching down on you and seeing this is what you're gonna have?

• 8:57Speaker 02

  Yeah, nah, it's been, it's been like a whole different presence about me, you know what I mean? Like I tell these teams, you know, they not only get me, they get Tiger too, you know, it's a two for one special deal. Even just going back to the Senior Bowl, you know, I just felt like I was out there, I just couldn't lose no matter what, you know, I just had this extra presence about me, you know, and then just late nights, you know what I mean, early mornings, waking up to go grind throughout this whole pre-draft process, it's really just pushed me and it's taken me to places that I didn't even know my body could go to. I've always worked hard, ran the extra mile, but this definitely like put a whole new level to that, but just a whole new mindset of just like, man, like I don't care who's in front of me, like I'm gonna win regardless of what's going on.

• 9:38Fred Taylor?

  How has that situation changed your outlook on life, if any?

• 9:43Speaker 02

  It's a whole new perspective. You know, I've always been big into my faith, I've always believed in God, you know, that that extra realm, but, but now, I mean, I know it's for real. I mean, everybody might have that little doubt, you know, till, till, till Jesus gotta carry that cross for you, you know what I mean? But, but he's carried it and I've seen just all the different things that, that he's done to my life and my family's life through the past with my brother, and I just know it's all for real now. I wake up every morning, thank God for waking me up. Every night before I go to sleep, thank God for the day, uh, no matter if it was a good or a bad day, to just find the good in every day. But yeah, like I said, man, I just know, like, it's real, like 100%, like my brother's in heaven, God is real, like, that's my ultimate goal is, is to get there, you know what I mean?

• 10:26Speaker 02

  Is to get to heaven and is to keep just growing my platform, just keep bringing more and more people, you know, to his word and to his goodness, so.

• 10:33Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, you went to school here at St. Thomas More, uh, it's a Catholic high school, and-

• 10:39Ryan Clark?

  Part of going to these sort of high schools, I went to Archbishop Shaw, is faith is a large deal in these schools. The celebrations, the graduations, all of those things incorporate some sort of mass, some sort of blessing, some sort of prayer. You already had that foundation of faith. But how much did you have to draw on that in losing your brother?

• 11:06Speaker 02

  Everything I had and more, you know what I mean? The only, the only way me and my family are getting through this, have gotten through it, are getting through it, and will get through it, is because of our faith. You know what I mean? If we didn't have our faith, we'd be in shambles. You know, I can't even speak on where we'd be right now if our faith, you know, wasn't, wasn't where it's at. It's everything, um, you know, from the way we handled this situation. You know, the worst thing we could ever imagine happened. Uh, you know, we turned it into something good. You know, we, we, we just showed people how good God was throughout the whole thing and brought people, you know, closer to Him. And the amount of people that have came up to us and said that they weren't believers, but now they are because of us, you know, has been really special. You know, and I feel like, you know, God does everything for a reason.

• 11:48Speaker 02

  And one of His reasons was for all of us to have this platform to keep bringing people closer to Him.

• 11:52Ryan Clark?

  You said that now with Tiger and God, that you feel that you'll be unbeatable. You also said that you'll be unbreakable. Can you talk a little bit more about how having both Tiger and God, but also having to learn how to get through this situation with God, does make you feel unbreakable?

• 12:19Speaker 02

  Yeah, I just feel like there were so many different aspects and perspectives. You know, for example, catching the football is my job now. I hate dropping the football, you know what I mean? And I always am super hard on myself when I do it. And I always try to get back to that next level mentality, but sometimes like it really pisses me off just dropping the ball. But now, you know, just going through all that, and this is just something little, but like, man, it's gonna be easy to wipe that off, you know, and to keep going. Just little things like that, and just knowing that like, man, not every day is gonna be good, you know? Some days will be great, some days will be bad, some days will be right in the middle. But just knowing that like, man, they got a plan for me, they're right here with me. You know, like this next week, you know, a lot of people are stressed about, you know, where they're gonna be living,

• 13:00Speaker 02

  where they're going. Now, I just know that my brother and God, they're finna put me in the perfect situation, the perfect place. So like, I'm not worried if it's first round, fourth round, fifth round. I know they're gonna pull me right where I need to be, when I need to be there, uh, to go out, to have a longevity, a longevity career in the league. Uh, so you know, I could take care of my family, my people the rest of my life. Let it.

• 13:22Fred Taylor?

  During the Senior Bowl, you honored his legacy by wearing his number, and you delivered a game-winning touchdown. Can you describe those emotions and, and what that moment meant to you?

• 13:32Speaker 02

  Yeah, man, it was the first time my people have smiled. You know, so it was exactly one month away. So January 1st, my brother died, February 1st, is whenever, uh, I scored that touchdown. And after like that game, that moment, it was the first time I seen all my people smile in a month. So, man, just like the driving emotions were just everywhere from sad to happy. Uh, you know, just, just like I said, just so many emotions, just like, and everything in between. Dude, that was just ano- another moment, you know, signifying and stating that my brother is really with me, and that God is really real. You know, my brother's name was written in the clouds above the stadium. Um, there's different things like that. I mean, that stuff can't be made up. I mean, Hollywood couldn't have scripted it better.

• 14:14Channing Crowder?

  I read the story about your brother's name being written up there. When did you see that?

• 14:19Speaker 02

  I didn't see it till after.

• 14:20Channing Crowder?

  Oh, okay.

• 14:21Speaker 02

  But I did see, so seven, you know, seven to heaven is a, is a coin that, uh, one of our coaches here, Coach Lance Studd, who's played a huge part in my, uh, in just my, everything, you know, from faith, football, family, you know, he's helped me in all phases of life. Uh, but he coined the phrase seven to heaven. You know, seven's one of the God's numbers, one of the numbers of perfection. So my brother wore, I wore it in high school. I wore it during, during Senior Bowl. And then, so I look back at the clock and, and the game clock was, seven seconds were left. And I just saw the foreseeable future. I was like, I'm about to catch the touchdown with no seconds left. Seven seconds left on the clock. Yada, yada, yada. There's so many things happening. And then they showed me the picture after the game, like the day after, of my brother's name written in the clouds, so.

• 15:06Channing Crowder?

  Post your brother's death, all the love that you've gotten and all the people that reached out to you. Like, did that, did that hit you with how many people really care about you? Usually see how much love you have in bad times. And that added to, you know, that added to a good time where you're catching touchdown pass, about to go to the league, and then you have a bad time right there. I won't say evening it out, but seeing that love you've got.

• 15:28Speaker 02

  Yeah, 100%. I mean, and that's a big topic my family and I have talked about was just like, man, you wish you could know that without having to go through something tragic. You know, you wish you could know, like, for example, my brother, how many lives he touched, but without him having, you know, passed away. You know, he touched thousands, tens of thousands of lives, but we had no idea, you know, until he passed. And still, all these letters from people started coming in, phone calls, text messages, flowers being sent with note cards. And same thing, like, you don't know really how much love and support you have until a moment like that. I mean, the amount of people that have reached out, still reach out. My brother's friends who still call me just to make sure his spirit never, never lives.

• 16:11Speaker 02

  And that's something that we want to do a better job of is just showing the people around us who we truly love and care about, you know, how much they mean to us.

• 16:19Ryan Clark?

  That brings me to something very recent, Jack. You know, your last year at LSU was 22, and it was Kyron Lacy's first year. Recently, we just lost him as well. After dealing with and having to live through the tragedy of your brother, how does something like losing a former teammate affect you now?

• 16:43Speaker 02

  Man, now it's actually so, his girlfriend, she, I was on the phone with her a few days ago. Because obviously, so she grew up in Lafayette, and we've been family friends with him for a while. And she was calling, like, all his real good friends and teammates that they were close with about, you know, just trying to tell stories. And he called me specifically just about how to get through everything, you know, just going through it, you know, me losing a brother, her losing her best friend. But man, I mean, Khan was a brother to me, you know what I mean? Even whenever he was at UL, we used to go play Gerard Park. I live near Gerard Park, it's right on campus. We used to go hoop at Gerard Park while he was at UL. Uh, cause he was a year older than me. Uh, so he'd be at UL campus while I was still home here.

• 17:27Speaker 02

  And then we, we ended up meeting back in my sophomore year at LSU. And I mean, that dude, he just walked in the room and lit the room up. He can make anybody laugh. I don't know, that dude was a dog on the field. You know, he just had them instincts not many people have. But now it's hard, definitely, you know, losing my brother and losing a friend like that. You know, just seeing how, you know, one thing can just completely just like dismantle somebody's whole track of life. It just, man, it hurts. And like everybody's been saying, I mean, just checking on those people. You know, mental health is real. You gotta just make sure people are good around you. You know what I mean? Cause you never know what people are dealing with. Now, I'm big on, on telling everybody I see, you know, if I know them or don't know them, what's up? Give them a smile, uh, ask them how they're doing. Just cause you never know the demons people are fighting.

• 18:12Speaker 02

  You know what I mean? You never know with somebody, you know, they might have all the money in the world, all the fame, all the love, all the support. But like deep down in, you know, they, people got demons. I mean, everybody got them. And so, um, and so I'm just big on, especially now to seeing that and my brother, just all these different things happen, just like making sure the people around me are good. And that, you know, they're good, you know, and their hearts are good up here. Um, and just making sure that, you know, everything's right.

• 18:38Fred Taylor?

  And Shannon would always say, you know, nobody checks in on the, on the funny person. Right? They think they're, they're okay. As you're checking in on everybody, there's so much on your shoulders with pressure moments of, you know, exciting, but also pressure moments of getting ready for the NFL draft. And then also dealing with death. You know, how is Jack?

• 19:00Speaker 02

  So I'm, like I said, I'm big into my faith. You know, some people, um, you know, like, like, like talking to, um, people about like their feelings, their emotions, you know, I'm big on just getting on my knees and praying when times get hard. And I feel like every time I do that, you know, everything gets lifted. I would lie if I said, you know, it's been easy. No, it's been real hard. It's been super hard. But I believe that everything I've gone through with my brother's death, all that adversity I faced in college, like is getting me ready for this next step I'm about to take. This next part of my journey, I'm about to go on, uh, being in the NFL, just like I said earlier, just like knowing like, man, some days are gonna be great, some days are gonna be real bad. But just being able to keep that even pew, that dog mindset, that mindset of just,

• 19:44Speaker 02

  I just, you know, F everybody, get better and just keep going, keep pressing on because people are depending on you, counting on you.

• 19:51Channing Crowder?

  And you talking about like just adversity, really, you know, different types of adversity, but going through, we're sitting here, what are we? An hour away from LSU?

• 20:00Speaker 02

  Mm-hmm.

• 20:01Channing Crowder?

  You know, we're right, right here. You, you want, you loved LSU, you want to go to LSU your whole life. And then that doesn't work out. Then you go to TCU, I think you ain't start a game that your first year?

• 20:13Speaker 02

  Mm-hmm.

• 20:13Channing Crowder?

  Just like that whole process was, like just adversity you've got through. It hardened you to having last season when you went crazy, set records and all that stuff. Like take us through the process of being at LSU, that not working out, then TCU and just, does that window is your college career is not a normal college career for a top receiver like yourself?

• 20:34Speaker 02

  Yeah, no, 100%. You know, like I said, it's definitely not been easy, you know, going to LSU my freshman year. Ended up having a real good year my freshman year, you know, ended up being a freshman All-American. Coach O was our coach, you know, that's one of my favorite coaches ever. Uh, man, you could run through a wall for him. Not, like I said, I'm indebted to Coach O. He gave me the opportunity to go to LSU and play ball. I got to experience that alley at night. I got to go to Alabama and play. Uh, you know, I got to do like so many things on my bucket list. But then, uh, you know, he got fired, a new coaching staff came in, played under them for a year. And my mom always told me that, um, because it was hard leaving LSU, being from here, my uncle's playing there, my whole family going there. All my friends go there, family all around there. I mean, it was not easy leaving.

• 21:17Speaker 02

  Uh, but my mom always told me that God, you know, he let me have a great year my freshman year. He let me experience all these different things, but that eventually that his plan was to bring me somewhere else and experience something else. And to bring me to TCU specifically, uh, which ended up being the best decision I've ever made in my whole life. You know, it's the reason I get to sit here now and talk to y'all and I'll be drafted next week. Even going to TCU that first year, just still dealing with some little injuries and, you know, just being a transfer, trying to learn the system and everything, you know, like I said, it was hard. You know, sometimes I questioned being there, if I should have been back at LSU. And like I said, those times, just getting on my knees, praying, just knowing God is going to take care of it. And then going to last year, and I think

• 22:00Speaker 02

  last year, the reason I was able to be so good is because it finally kicked in, like, it didn't matter if I had a good game, if I went for 200, or if I went for 50, I was always the same person after the game, you know. Maybe my parents would be mad because they want me to have a few more yards, but, but my, myself, you know, I was always, I was always like even keel, like the same person. Just knowing that like my identity isn't only in me as a football player, but it's in Christ and God, you know, it's everything I'm doing in the locker room. You know how I'm getting the guys going during the game, before the game, after the game, keeping their heads up after a loss, or just keeping their minds steady after a win, you know, so.

• 22:40Speaker 00

  Every game day, you show up for your team. Now, it's your time.

• 22:51Speaker 00

  Ask your prescriber about Wegovy. Someaglutide injection, 2.4 milligrams a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOVIE or visit wegovie.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about Wegovy. Why wait?

• 23:09Channing Crowder?

  Have you been here before? Were you cooking dinner at three years old? You're just above your time, man. Like, the way you talk, articulate, were you always this mature?

• 23:17Speaker 02

  No, no, I would just say, you know, with, with everything that's going on, it makes you take a step up, especially being that rock for my family, you know what I mean, throughout everything, you know, all that adversity, you know, I definitely think like, these years have been expedited, you know, these past four years, I've learned so much. Like, I'm 22, you know, I feel like, I've gone through so much and I've been taught so many lessons that, that a 45-year-old hasn't even gone through yet. So, you know, I feel like, my years have been long and, but I've learned so much, and I've soaked it all, and then, just not only be that better player, but that better, you know, that better brother for my sisters, that better, that better son for my parents, a better friend of my friends, and all those different things, so.

• 23:59Ryan Clark?

  Let's talk about something good for a second. You know, you mentioned 22 years old as compared to a 45-year-old. That means you still got like 20 years to get to Fred. That's way, that's way out there before you could get to daddy.

• 24:12Fred Taylor?

  They forget they're in their 40s too.

• 24:16Ryan Clark?

  You talked about Coach Ojeron though. Obviously, at the time, you know, you were going to LSU and going to be offered by LSU. It was kind of at the height of who he was as a coach. I think you were in here watching film with Walker and you get the phone call, have to step out of the meeting and you know, he comes along with you. What sort of feeling did you get when you finally got the offer that you'd have an opportunity to play at Death Valley?

• 24:44Speaker 02

  That was definitely one of those moments like, damn, like, you know, this real. It was, it was crazy for sure because like I said, I've always had two, two dreams and goals since I was a kid. It was to play at LSU, to make it to the NFL and take care of my family. So whenever I got that call, you know, that was a dream coming true. You know what I mean? Like, it was a huge moment for, for not only me, like I said, my whole family went to LSU. You know, uncles that played at LSU, all my friends go to LSU. So I mean, it was a huge moment, not only for me, but for everybody, my family, my friends, the city, the school. Like, it was, it was huge and just like, that was a very also vivid conversation I had with Coach O. You know, it's, it's one I'll never forget because, you know, it really catapulted me, you know, into what I'm doing now.

• 25:28Speaker 02

  Because my freshman year, you know, especially going to LSU was like, you got to grow up quick. You know, you don't have time to just, like, you're a rookie, you're in the NFL, like, you're here for a reason and you don't just have time to, to rest or you don't have time to sit back and learn from the best. Like, you're here to go make plays, you're here to make the team better, to make the organization better. You know what I mean? So it made me grow and that, and that taught me so many lessons just in itself, which I'm so blessed to have because I feel like I'm going to have that right mentality and I'm going to attack this rookie year and all the years coming along the way it should be attacked.

• 26:00Ryan Clark?

  What were the, the conversations like, you know, you have an amazing freshman year? And I remember watching you that year and you were like a hybrid, right? It was a little wide receiver, a little tight end. They weren't asking you to block a lot, but you know what I mean? Like, you were doing so many things and then when you get. A new coaching staff in, they don't necessarily have the vision for you that the previous coaching staff who offered you a scholarship had, right? So those things changed. You mentioned a dream coming true, getting to wear the purple and gold. How difficult was it to let that dream go and to say, this thing I've wanted my entire life is no longer for me?

• 26:41Speaker 02

  Yeah, it was definitely hard. But like I said, like my mom said, you know, I knew that in order to get to where I wanted to go, because like I said, like, it was like, dream, dream, like, two is LSU, dream one is the league and to take care of my family, you know what I mean? It's like the ultimate dream and goal is the NFL. That was just like a stepping stone dream along the way. Like, like I want to be able to achieve this by, by going through LSU to get there. But I knew in order to get to the league, and at that point, that I was going to have to make a change. And even though it was hard, and even though I had questions and thoughts about it, I knew that I had to make a change. And I'm not gonna lie, like, I was comfortable at LSU, like, I had just so many people around me. And so leaving there made me, it made me, and it taught me how to learn to be comfortable

• 27:26Speaker 02

  being uncomfortable, which I think has been one of the biggest adverses I've overcome. And I think it's been one of the biggest lessons I've been taught, because then I just carry that into everything else I do, to training, to practice, to working hard at games. Like, just not always being in the best spot to go, for example, winter route, or you might be tired after 30 sprints, but how are you going to keep going? How are you going to keep attacking that person, knowing they're tired, I'm tired? Well, so now I'm just going to out hustle you, you know what I mean, and go win. And that just all just feeds into that dog mindset that we've been talking about.

• 27:57Fred Taylor?

  Does Texas, um, do they really got that paper? Like, the NIL, did you have to take a pay cut or you got a little raise?

• 28:04Speaker 02

  No, so, I, I end up taking a, a pretty, I'm not a huge, but definitely a good pay cut, you know, that, because like I said, that was on my, on my mind though, the NIL money, all that stuff, that's, I call, I've always called that fun money.

• 28:19Fred Taylor?

  Right.

• 28:20Speaker 02

  But the NFL money is, that's life change money.

• 28:22Fred Taylor?

  Oh, you know.

• 28:23Speaker 02

  You know what I mean? So, I was always focused on that league money.

• 28:25Ryan Clark?

  Well, because you know, at Florida, man, they paying for teams now, you know what I mean? They getting all these mid-majors in basketball, breaking them off. It's legal.

• 28:37Channing Crowder?

  It's legal now. Ooh, act like we're doing nothing wrong. Y'all was doing it before that.

• 28:41Fred Taylor?

  But if we being real, if we being real, RC, I mean, nobody said it when LSU was just dominating the last couple of years.

• 28:48Channing Crowder?

  What'd you say?

• 28:49Fred Taylor?

  No one said it when LSU was dominating the last couple of years.

• 28:53Channing Crowder?

  Because we were recruiting the right way and developing players, Fred.

• 28:56Fred Taylor?

  Man, we seeing y'all girls, they got cereal, they have their faces on cereal boxes there on McDonald's, but they was eating good while they were here.

• 29:04Channing Crowder?

  I said, you know, we got recruited by LSU too. Huh? Huh? What'd you say? We got recruited by LSU as well. What kind of car your mama was driving, uh, when you had to commit? Mitsubishi D-Monte.

• 29:16Fred Taylor?

  No, but, but Jack, um, you mentioned the NFL and, and the money. Right now, you're, you're, you're, um, projected, not projected, well, on most draft boards, you're around there, around like the fifth or that, between the fifth and the eighth receiver. But in this draft, we just talked about it, it's so wide open. I mean, you can be the third or fourth receiver taken off the board. How do you feel about your chances going forward?

• 29:43Speaker 02

  Like I said, I mean, I don't care if I'm the first receiver taken, the 20th receiver taken. No, I just want to get my foot in the door. Once I get my foot in the door, I'm gonna make the most of every chance and opportunity I get. And man, who has ever taken before me, you know, I'm gonna go on a mission, uh, to make sure those teams know that, you know, they made a mistake. You know, just cause, you know, it's so much more than comes to just playing the game, you know? I feel like what separates me is up top, uh, and I, and I feel like that's what, uh, you know, makes me the best. Cause not everybody has that mindset, you know, and, you know, a lot of people have been gifted their whole life, even through college. But like, man, once you get to the league, like, it ain't, you're not really gifted more than anybody else now. Like, that playing field is the same now.

• 30:26Speaker 02

  Like, it doesn't matter, I mean, you get the dudes like Calvin Johnson where... Well, not only was he a great football player, but I mean, he.

• 30:32Fred Taylor?

  Freak of nature.

• 30:33Speaker 02

  He's just, yeah, but those don't come very often, you know what I mean? Where you could literally just go out there and just straight up be better than people having three people guard you in the league. And you don't see that very often.

• 30:42Fred Taylor?

  Yeah.

• 30:43Speaker 02

  So unless you like that, then you know, you gotta have so much more. Uh, like everybody says, I mean, longevity in the NFL comes from between the ears. With everything I've gone through, I have a very developed, uh, like brain sense of the game. And just not only like just the mindset, but really even being able to see the game, seeing how things are playing out before they play out, seeing different coverages, knowing how to attack different techniques, you know, knowing where the open spots in the defense is, knowing where the help is coming from. So knowing, you know, if it's cover one, you know, they're trying to press you to the inside of the field because that's where the help is. They're not trying to get beat outside, just being able to attack inside, to be able to move them inside. So now you got out, so now you created all this space for not only yourself, but for the QB to the football.

• 31:26Speaker 02

  So just different things like that, understanding the game, having that mindset out the field that I feel like is gonna carry me on and on and on.

• 31:32Fred Taylor?

  Who are your favorite receivers of all time in, in the league? And out of those guys, is there one of them you would wanna have dinner with so you can kinda pick their brains?

• 31:43Speaker 02

  To answer that last question, I would probably wanna pick Cub's brain the most. Uh, cause I just feel like what I'm talking about and what I bring to the game is what, you know, some of what he brings, just like that knowingness of the game, knowing the nuances and knowing the game, uh, like the back of your hand, like truly. Some of my favorite receivers to watch, there was really a bunch of those LSU guys, just like Jamar and Justin, just like, bro, them dudes are just, just filthy. Like, they're nasty. And then somebody I named like, like Calvin Johnson, just him just going up and taking off people's head and, um, there's so many dudes I love watching, like going back to like Randy, just like, you know, going moss people, you know what I mean? Like, just like so many great ones.

• 32:25Speaker 02

  So definitely picking somebody's brain like Cup, uh, and having dinner with him. But I mean, the dudes I watch, cause you can take so much from all those people's game. The route running from Jettas, the yak from Jamar, like that mindset from Amon Ra, like just. Just going like getting nasty like Puka like kinda same as Amon Ra just like going and getting putting your head down like getting nasty just go and win off you know maybe not uh gaining all this separation but just going and making a play balls in there is mine it's nobody else's like I said the list can go on and on and on there's been so many great ones and I just try to pick at everybody's game so I could you know cultivate and be as well rounded as possible.

• 33:02Channing Crowder?

  I played against Moss and when you jump and his crotch is still sitting on your shoulder it's not a good feeling. Coach how am I gonna get up there I can't get up there where he's going to get that ball but you brought up the LSU guys the Jamar's and the Jets B Thomas you played with um

• 33:20Speaker 02

  Malik

• 33:20Channing Crowder?

  Malik you played with

• 33:22Speaker 02

  He's one of my best friends.

• 33:22Channing Crowder?

  Like those guys like playing with those your freshman year playing with those guys and seeing the success you had around them now it's what four years later seeing them develop but you develop as well does that give you the confidence cuz you've played with all pros since you were a kid and now you're about to play with them at this next level.

• 33:39Speaker 02

  Yeah, I mean to be honest I've always had that confidence in myself you know I'm always gonna roll the dice and bet on myself things like that is just like stamping it you know I guess it's like that just like that extra little confidence to be poured in on top but you know I I knew from a young age that you know I was built to do this you know I'm here for a reason going there my freshman year being the All-American in the SEC you know that was just like a sample of approval not not really for me though but for other people to show other people know that I am like that no I can't do this and just going now and seeing their success being in that room with them not only competing but learning so much from them like you said I have no doubt in my mind that I'm ready for this next step and that you know since I was a kid I've been built for this.

• 34:21Channing Crowder?

  I like that.

• 34:22Ryan Clark?

  You know uh the the the process of of the pre-draft process you always hear some of these horror stories from the meetings that you have with teams and some of those things are about X's and O's but coaches understand how to turn the film on and see what sort of football player you are they wanna get close to you and understand what sort of man is gonna walk into our locker room and add to our culture when you were asked some of those questions the what sort of man do we get if we draft Jack Bech what were your answers?

• 34:57Speaker 02

  Yeah, I mean, I think it just comes from so many different things, but no, really what I told him is you're gonna get somebody who's gonna go in there. Um, first you're gonna get a dog going off that field. That's first. You're gonna get somebody that's gonna help you win games no matter how it is. If it's me going crack safety, score touchdowns, catch balls over the middle on fourth down. That's what you're getting first. But off the field, you know, you're gonna get somebody, you know, who's accountable and who's always gonna, you know, do everything right. And who's not gonna get caught up in all the stuff, all the exterior stuff. And I mean, not get all, uh, you know, like go and do all the things off the field I'm not supposed to be doing. You're gonna get a leader, you know. Obviously, I'm not gonna walk into, you know, a room with a bunch of vets and start talking crazy like I run the place.

• 35:39Speaker 02

  Like, that's not how you do it. You know, I'm gonna show these dudes. Now, I'm gonna show them like, now, like, like I said, like, I'm here for a reason. I'm gonna show them it's my work ethic. You know, I'm gonna show them that I'm gonna go hard. If it's at practice, after practice, in the weight room, it's in the film room. You know, getting there early, they're staying there late, just making sure like, like I'm gonna put this team first. Because, you know, me helping you win is helping you get paid, me get paid, them get paid, coaches get paid, support staff get paid. Like, one is the most important thing. So just showing them that like, man, I love this. I love this organization wherever I'm at. Uh, and I'm gonna do anything I can to help this team win and to gain those stripes first is what I'm gonna do. And I think that's gonna be big, uh, with my development into the locker room with all these guys.

• 36:20Speaker 02

  And then from there, once I start making plays on the field and all that, I think that's whenever I will be able to start, you know, using my voice, you know, a little bit more, a little bit more. Seeing how guys react to that, get behind me, fall behind me. Uh, but really just going there by example first and just show them dudes like, man, I'm a, I'm a work hard. And I'm a, I'm gonna do it like every day and be consistent, be that same person every day. Man, I love that.

• 36:40Speaker 05

  Every game day, you show up for your team. Now, it's your time.

• 36:51Speaker 00

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• 37:09Ryan Clark?

  You know, you keep saying, or you have said over and over again, you know, the reason the NFL goal was here above the LSU goal was to take care of your family. And I think Channing's lived that life, Fred's lived that life, I've lived that life. That's always something that drives you. And when your name is called, it will be a family accomplishment. It always is. There will be people who had to stand behind you, had to sacrifice, who sat out here at St. Thomas More on Friday nights to watch you do what you will be doing now and getting paid for, for your parents who have lost a son recently.

• 37:49Ryan Clark?

  I guess my question would be, how important is it to you now to make sure you not only take care of them, but you continue to make them proud?

• 38:00Speaker 02

  The only thing, you know what I mean? Like, that's the only thing on my mind. And you know, this first contract, I mean, if you be smart with it, you know, you could you could carry on, but I mean, it's about that second contract. It's like, my head's gonna be down, you know what I mean? Like, my head's gonna be down working. Like, man, I got four years to show my skills on that field, to show the person I am in that locker room. Because I know this is that second contract. I mean, that first one, you know, you can do a lot of good with it, you can save it, and you could you could help out a lot with that, but it's that second one, there's never you could, you know, retire your parents. Taking care of my family, making them proud, like, that's that's first, and that's what drives me, that's what wakes me up in the morning. You know, early mornings, like, I've gone five days in a row, now it's the sixth day, like, I'm tired, my body's beat up, it's, oh, like, your body needs rest, that's what's

• 38:44Speaker 02

  best, but no, it's like, nah, get up and go get it in, then you could rest after. So that's first, that's what drives me, and that's what's forever gonna drive me. And no matter what I'm doing, you know, 15 years after I'm done playing ball, that's the goal, you know, to play for 10, 15 years. You know, after that, whatever I'm doing, that's what's gonna keep driving me. Like, and that's something that that never goes away. That's a forever drive, you know, cuz then it's my kids, my wife I'm taking care of. With my sisters and and my parents and my grandparents. So that's definitely a drive that just pushes me. It just pushes me every day, every day to get better. And it's something that I really take to heart.

• 39:22Ryan Clark?

  How are they, man? How are your parents doing?

• 39:25Speaker 02

  So I haven't been home and, you know, they say they're good. But I know they're facing trials and tribulations and demons of their own. So, you know, I'm happy to be home, to be able to spend time with them, to be with them. And really just have these conversations in person, not just over the phone, you know. It means more being in person, flesh to flesh, instead of just, you know, having a call over the phone. Cuz, you know, with everything too, like, they're not trying to put more stress on me. I mean, so they're not telling me everything where now, you know, it's time. I'm home for, you know, a week or two. You know, I'm still working out and stuff, but, you know, it's not as strenuous as going to all these teams and and all these X's and O's like you were saying. So, you know, I can dive in and have these real intimate, deep conversations with them and and really see how they are feeling.

• 40:08Speaker 02

  You know, like I say, you know, I made it a top priority to check in on them all the time, my sisters, and just make sure they're doing good. But I think now, being home, you know, I'll really be able to comfort them like I did whenever I was home for the funeral when he passed.

• 40:21Fred Taylor?

  Jack, I wanna go back to what Channing mentioned, cuz he said you were very mature and way ahead, right? I know when I was drafted, I didn't have a plan. I just wanted to be drafted, right? I just wanna get there, make some money, have some fun, try to win some games, compete. You, on the other hand, you know, it seems that you have a plan, you have things in order. You know, talking about first contract, second contract. Where did that, when did that start, you know, putting that plan in place? Was it your uncle having already done it? Were you able to see it? Or some of your teammates or just? When did that that that thought process occur?

• 40:57Speaker 02

  Yeah, so it probably started like all this probably a year or two ago just uh when people were talking about the league, they always say, you know, unless you're like a top five pick, like that first contract is for yourself, that second one is whenever you take care and retire. Well, I mean, like I said, I mean, that first contract won't be for myself, it's gonna be for for all the people around me, but that second, but the the point is that second contract, like y'all know, that's whenever you really, you know, like you're good, like you could put everything away for your kids, kids, kids, you can retire your family, like all that stuff. So I think just going throughout the whole process, starting a few years back, just just truly understanding that like money can go fast. So just trying to be as smart as you can with it, but also knowing that second contract is where you can really retire

• 41:42Speaker 02

  your people has been. And I think that's why I like these first couple of years, I'm just gonna work, work, work, work, work, head down, you know, no matter what's going on, just keep going, keep pushing, keep pressing, so I could get there. And I know I keep saying it, but so I could take care of my family truly.

• 41:57Fred Taylor?

  Does does having experienced getting paid through NIL and those opportunities, is that somewhat of a a safety net?

• 42:06Speaker 02

  Yeah, uh, I would definitely, I don't know if I would say a safety net, but I would definitely say definitely like a learning curve, you know, just knowing how to manage money, you know. Every month I'm putting, I put up like 75% of my money, you know, I'm cool with living off one, two thousand bucks, you know, getting gas, getting food, you know, whatever it may be, just like, you know, and every now and then, you know, go and get some kicks or something.

• 42:28Fred Taylor?

  Like some Off-White?

• 42:29Speaker 02

  Yeah, go and get some kicks or something.

• 42:30Fred Taylor?

  I've been watching them since, oh, those are dope.

• 42:32Speaker 02

  These were good, so that's why I didn't buy these, but just not like, just getting in good habits of putting that money away, just being smart with it, because at the end of the day, like, you know, if I get drafted and buy a real nice car, like, nobody's gonna remember that car, I'm gonna sell that car within the next four years. So it's like, in my head, and some people like it, and it's not wrong to like it, you know, in just my head, you know, I just, I got a lot of people to take care of, and so that's gonna be first, you know, I'm gonna, with that second contract, I'll take care of them, and I'll do this stuff I don't wanna do this first contract, just put my head down, grind, uh, stay on track, keep that dog mentality. And like, for me, it's not about getting there, you know, like at LSU, it wasn't about getting to LSU, it's like, man, I wanted to separate myself, I wanted to be the best. And so it's not about getting to the league, it's not like, mom, like I did it, we're here, we made it. It's like, not like, I'm trying to go ball, I'm

• 43:17Speaker 02

  trying to go make a name for myself in the league, like, I'm trying to go help an organization with Super Bowls, like, like, I'm not just trying to be there, I'm trying to be the best when I get there.

• 43:27Channing Crowder?

  Don't waste your money on no cars, no jewelry.

• 43:31Channing Crowder?

  And foolishness.

• 43:33Fred Taylor?

  And no six rings either.

• 43:36Fred Taylor?

  He like six rings. Don't ever buy six rings.

• 43:39Channing Crowder?

  I ain't buy no, nothing, but I partied a lot. And.

• 43:43Fred Taylor?

  Uh oh, we're in a church, Shannon.

• 43:45Channing Crowder?

  Four million dollars my first contract. End of the fourth year, I had $200,000 left. Straight partied, running around. So it's a lot of vices out there, man.

• 43:54Speaker 02

  100%.

• 43:55Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, so just, just stick to that. What's your ultimate goals? You said, cause you said NFL was one. To be honest, you're about to be in the NFL. Now where are those goals? Now those goals have to reset.

• 44:06Speaker 02

  Yeah, so like I just said, it's that second contract. It's getting there to be able to put my family up. But, and that, that, like, we're talking football wise, you know, like, like win Super Bowls, make it to that second contract, help my team win any way possible. Go out, you know, like, I wanna be a Pro Bowler. I wanna put on a gold jacket one day, you know? I wanna set these high bars, cause, you know, it's stuff to chase. Like, it's stuff that like, it's really hard to achieve. You can't just achieve it being good. You gotta be great to achieve these things. But like, the ultimate goal, you know, outside of football and everything is like I said, like, to, to go back and to be with my brother one day back in heaven, you know, where he is. You know, that's my ultimate goal, so.

• 44:45Ryan Clark?

  As a young man, you seem to understand honoring people. I think on your eye black, it said, rest in peace, Pop, G, Cat. You know, as a very young man. Can you talk a little bit about who those people were and why you felt you wanted to represent them as you played?

• 45:05Speaker 02

  Yeah, cause like I said, I, I feel like whenever you do that, like, it puts another presence about you. So Pop was my grandpa I lost. G was one of my friends who got shot. And Cat was Walker Howard's mom, one of my best friend's mom, who I grew up with, who died of cancer. Just whenever I honor those people, like, it just makes you like, you can't be effed with out there on the field. Like, you just wanna go and win, like, be a dog and be great. And now I got, you know, somebody so super close to me, like my brother, whereas even that, but on like a whole different level. And I, I just feel like it's something that pushes you and it's something where at like halftime, man, you look at yourself in the mirror and you see those names, like, you're doing it for not yourself, you're doing it for everybody around you.

• 45:44Ryan Clark?

  In the Senior Bowl, you got to wear seven to represent your brother.

• 45:50Ryan Clark?

  When you grow up here, in the era you grew up in football, seven means a totally different thing to people in this area, right? And to get an opportunity to represent him in that way, in the Senior Bowl as well, how or what physical representation, tangible representation, do you plan to carry with you in the NFL to remember your brother?

• 46:17Speaker 02

  Yeah, so I mean, obviously, I want to wear a seven. You know, I know whenever I walk in the building, a vet might have it or something like that. So definitely not overstepping, but you know, eventually in my career, I definitely want to put on number seven. And then just different tats and marks on my body, you know, just being able to, him always being a part, you know, so you're taking a picture, you know, you see these things, which like it's a piece of him, and it's all on the left side of my body, you know, to represent that he is my other half. And it's on the side of my heart, you know, like I said, just, there's no like, you know, like truly like I am a two for one, you know, like not even on the field, off the field. That is, that's me and Tiger, you know, in one person, I'm, I'm in one person, carrying both of our spirits. Just different things like that, definitely cleats, like memorable cleats,

• 46:59Speaker 02

  like I played with in the Super Bowl, and it's so I can just keep living his legacy, you know, and just so whenever I'm making plays, like, like people are seeing the details of the cleats of, of the different tats and different things like that. So it's just always bringing people back to my brother.

• 47:12Ryan Clark?

  At the Super Bowl this year, you were on the field. And, you know, it was one of those things for me, it was amazing to be there because it was such a large representation of what New Orleans is. It was such a large representation of the way we welcome people, the way we celebrate people, and also the way we remember people. When you are on the field and Cam Jordan is, is there and they're sort of commemorating or just having a moment to remember the people who were lost on January 1st.

• 47:49Ryan Clark?

  What are some of your thoughts of that night?

• 47:52Speaker 02

  Surreal, you know, just not only being able to honor my brother, but honor everybody. You know, LSU died in that attack, you know, just such a tragic event for so many people. Because you know, it's hard losing somebody like that, you know, whenever you just lose them. You know, whenever they have a sickness, like you could prepare yourself and stuff like that. But whenever it's just something like that, so sudden, and they're just here and then they're gone. You know, it's hard to just being able to stand for all those people. And I'm not gonna lie, what was also on my mind while I was talking about my brother, like, I'm coming to win one of these for you one day, like, I promise him, like, I'm gonna be on this field, you know, giving him glory and all those people glory, playing. You know what I mean, lifting them up in a different way. But man, I was, I was in my field thinking about like, I'm gonna come win one for not only you,

• 48:37Speaker 02

  but for everybody we're representing. So even though things like that, just like, without people knowing, just like, pushed me.

• 48:45Fred Taylor?

  Jack, the name of this show is The Pivot, and we always ask our guests, what's their biggest pivot in life? We tend to hesitate with asking younger people because their life is just, you know, getting going. But you've gone through a lot, you know, you've gone through a whole lot. But if you can look back on that one moment and say, without this moment happening to me or for me, I wouldn't be who I am today.

• 49:07Speaker 02

  I think two come to mind. I think the transfer from LSU, because I think it taught me, like I said, how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I think it taught me so many different lessons of like, how sometimes like, in order to achieve what you want to achieve, you're gonna have to leave a lot of stuff behind. Like, you're gonna have to do new ways of doing stuff. Like, you're always gonna have that support, but you might not just have it right here. Like, you're gonna have to find something like inside you to keep going, keep pushing. Like, you gotta self motivate yourself. So I think that and just like, that whole adversity. But I said that too, because I think going through all that and facing that adversity, I think is one of the main reasons I was able to stand strong when my brother died and be that rock for him. You know, I think it just, so many lessons were taught in that.

• 49:52Speaker 02

  And God showed me, I like saying that, like, God will bring you to rock bottom and show you, he is the rock at the bottom, and he can bring you. Out from anything you're dealing with or you're in. So I think him showing me rock bottom right there, bringing me up, letting me have the year I just had. Then my brother passed and bringing me back there. Just knowing that like he will be able to bring me back out of this, my family back out of this. I think has been two of the biggest like monumental things that have happened in my life. To be able to make me the man, the person I am today and forever will be the known from here.

• 50:23Ryan Clark?

  A lot of times and you know, we can be honest about this. You're sometimes nervous to sit down with very young athletes because this is a a long form platform and it's difficult to carry. It's difficult to communicate things in ways that not only educate people and entertain people, but also move people. You've lived, man, a long lifetime in a short amount of years. I thank you for your openness, your vulnerability, your candor. There's no doubt in my mind, you have what it takes on the grass, but getting an opportunity to talk to you, man. You also have what it takes off the field to impact the world. Man, best of luck on the weekend. Can't wait to hear your name called, man.

• 51:06Ryan Clark?

  And you are the definition of a pivot, man. So our prayers and condolences still to your family and we appreciate you.

• 51:14Speaker 02

  Thank you, man. I appreciate y'all for giving me this opportunity. And like you said, just can't wait for next week, but no, I appreciate y'all for flying in and for coming to take this time to do this. So we appreciate y'all.

• 51:23Ryan Clark?

  My dog.

• 51:24Channing Crowder?

  Man, you 22 going on 78.

• 51:30Speaker 02

  215?

• 51:31Channing Crowder?

  Yes, sir.

• 51:32Fred Taylor?

  I didn't realize he was that big, man.

• 51:34Ryan Clark?

  What'd you have to weigh the first year, Ellis?

• 51:36Speaker 02

  218 or 220?

• 51:37Ryan Clark?

  Oh, so you played right there?

• 51:38Speaker 02

  No, I just came a little bit down.

• 51:39Ryan Clark?

  Came a little bit down.

• 51:40Speaker 02

  I was at like, we're getting the drive process, like 10.7% body fat. At 215, then I went all the way down to 8.3.

• 51:49Ryan Clark?

  Gotcha.

• 51:49Speaker 02

  At 215 though, so didn't lose any weight. Exos, up in Dallas, Plano area.

• 51:55Fred Taylor?

  Your mind is in the right place, right? You've seen a lot, your mind is on tight. You got those guys to lean into who are just going to the league and Malik and Jason, all of them. So yeah, just tap into your resources, man. Don't be afraid to lean on it, lean on, you know, those relationships you have. And how to keep your head tight and you have a long career by taking care of your body first.

• 52:18Ryan Clark?

  Yep.

• 52:18Channing Crowder?

  And there's one thing, I had Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor Jr., Sayal, all in the room with me. So I would annoy the shit out of them. Right. So why did you do this? Why did you do that? Why did you do this? I'd be like, god damn, Chan, I don't know. I was like, so you didn't see nothing? I was like, what did you see here? What did you see with this? Yeah, man, I just, man, that shit just clicks after a while. Yeah, man. Because I said, three Hall of Famers in the room. I was like, oh shit, I'm gonna question your ass to death. Yeah. And that thing helped me out a lot, especially a young guy. Yeah. Yeah, started as a, started first game off back. Yeah, third round and shit, started for the Dolphins seven years.

• 52:53Fred Taylor?

  Yeah, it's a lot, Chan. Those coverages, when you get on the next level, they got all the little, all the cheat codes and everything, the DBs. They, you might see one covers, but they play it a little differently just to throw you off. And everything is a chess match.

• 53:07Channing Crowder?

  Man, we invert, cover three, invert, cover two. Yeah, that shit is nuts. Everything rocking and rolling, you never, never show it.

• 53:14Fred Taylor?

  Nothing basic, yeah, ain't no basic stuff. They watch film like this. Now, the DBs and quarterbacks, the secondary and QBs, watch film more than anybody else. I believe, the places that I've been. Now linebackers get their full, their field too.

• 53:29Channing Crowder?

  We gotta go front and back side. The mic, the mic does.

• 53:32Fred Taylor?

  But the DBs, man, receivers, depends on where you are.

• 53:36Channing Crowder?

  Right.

• 53:36Fred Taylor?

  When I got to New England, Randy, all those guys, like the running backs and receivers, we had to watch film together because we were all interchangeable. You never knew what the Pats wanted. You can find up, be the F in number two one day, or you be on this side playing the Y. It, it was all ridiculous. So we had to work together. And we had to know their routes and when to break it off, zone, return.

• 53:58Channing Crowder?

  All that kind of stuff.

• 53:59Fred Taylor?

  Yeah.