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Marques Colston the Super Bowl Champion who played for respect over fame, reveals secret to playing with Drew Brees, Sean Payton's spot on vision, breaks down failure, gets real about loss, fatherhood and life after the NFL

The Pivot Podcast: Full Episodes

Hosted by Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor and Ryan Clark

55m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode features former New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Marques Colston discussing his remarkable journey from a late seventh-round draft pick to a Super Bowl champion and franchise leader. The guest reflects on the profound impact of losing his father at age fourteen, growing up with dozens of foster siblings, and building a legendary connection with quarterback Drew Brees under the visionary coaching of Sean Payton. Colston also opens up about being overlooked for Pro Bowls despite elite production, how he approached his football career with the mindset of a diligent employee, and his seamless transition into entrepreneurship and family life after retirement.

  • Treat your professional responsibilities with the steady discipline of a regular job to maintain focus and avoid outside distractions. 27:14
  • View failure not as a final outcome, but as a necessary part of the growth process just like lifting weights. 52:03
  • Use sports as a vehicle to teach children foundational life lessons and long-term habits rather than just focusing on athletic outcomes. 44:56
  • Earn trust from teammates and leaders by mastering your assignments and being reliable when opportunities arise. 26:18

Chapters

  1. 0:01
    Google Chrome Ad Intro

    The episode opens with a brief Google Chrome advertisement, setting the stage for the podcast.

  2. 0:46
    Early Life and Loss of Father

    Colston reflects on the impact of his father's death during high school and how it shaped his character and drive.

  3. 3:27
    Rebirth Game and New Orleans Culture

    Colston describes the significance of the 2006 rebirth game, the energy of the Superdome, and his first experience playing in New Orleans.

  4. 5:45
    Draft Night and Uncertainty

    Colston recounts the emotional roller‑coaster of the 2006 draft, from anticipation to the shock of being selected 252nd overall.

  5. 26:19
    Navigating the Saints Offense and Positions

    Colston details how he learned multiple positions under Sean Payton, embracing a versatile role to earn playing time and respect.

  6. 32:33
    Building a Relationship with Drew Brees

    Colston explains how he developed a thought partnership with Brees, learning to read the quarterback’s intentions and trust his vision.

  7. 39:04
    Entrepreneurial Beginnings While Playing

    Colston shares his early entrepreneurial ventures, including owning an indoor football team, and how he balanced business with his NFL career.

  8. 43:08
    Transition to Post‑Football Life

    Colston discusses his retirement decision, the physical toll of the game, and his focus on family and business after football.

  9. 45:16
    Fatherhood and Teaching Life Lessons

    Colston reflects on being a sports dad, teaching process over performance, and guiding his children toward their own goals.

  10. 46:20
    Family Dynamics and Parenting Strategies

    The host discusses the speaker’s family, focusing on how his children mirror his traits and the importance of setting protocols for their development.

  11. 47:56
    Coaching Philosophy: Sean Payton’s Leadership

    The conversation turns to coaching, examining Sean Payton’s decision to take over play‑calling and the value of a hands‑on leader in football.

  12. 48:59
    Pivot Moments in Life and Career

    The host asks about the most pivotal moments, prompting the speaker to reflect on his transition from football to business and the iterative nature of career pivots.

Highlights

  • 3:32

    The Rebirth Game Energystory

    The guest describes the electric atmosphere of the Superdome reopening in 2006, noting that Steve Gleason's blocked punt made the game feel bigger than football.

  • 5:45

    Draft Day Anticipation and Disappointmentstory

    The guest recounts the emotional rollercoaster of watching the 2006 NFL draft slide into the seventh round before finally getting picked by New Orleans.

  • 21:19

    Sean Payton Halftime Onside Kickstory

    The guest explains how coach Sean Payton boldly announced the Super Bowl onside kick at halftime without hesitation after two weeks of preparation.

  • 22:28

    Sean Payton's Vision for Playersinsight

    The guest explains how Sean Payton accurately envisioned him playing various receiver positions despite having only played outside in college.

  • 29:35

    Choosing Respect Over Fameinsight

    The guest explains why missing out on Pro Bowls never bothered him after his second year, emphasizing that peer respect mattered more than visibility.

  • 32:33

    Developing Synergy With Drew Breesstrategy

    The guest details how developing a deep mental partnership and understanding spatial guidelines with Drew Brees built elite passing trust.

  • 39:04

    Early Entrepreneurial Ventures While Playingstory

    The guest shares how he bought into an indoor football team and ran its operations during the offseason while still actively playing in the NFL.

  • 43:08

    Knowing When To Walk Awayinsight

    The guest explains that after playing through numerous surgeries and realizing he could no longer perform at his personal standard, retiring was easy.

Quotes

  • “He isn't loud, boastful, or brash. There's a calmness about him that says, I know who I am, and I'll show you, I don't have to tell you.”
    Unnamed speaker · 0:30
  • “I know how I got in here. I got this imposter syndrome that I'm kind of navigating as I'm doing it. I'm not gonna be the one to mess this up.”
    Unnamed speaker · 28:20
  • “I hold them to the goals that they want, that they set. That's what I try to do, at least.”
    Unnamed speaker · 45:11
  • “So for me, it's always been about this iterative process.”
    Unnamed speaker · 49:40
  • “to just stop on a dime and go do something else, like, that's just crazy when you think about it”
    Unnamed speaker · 50:07
  • “And I think learning that you can fail as an entrepreneur and that's part of the journey, that's still part of the journey.”
    Unnamed speaker · 52:21
  • “It doesn't make them founders failures. They gonna, they gonna pivot and do the next thing.”
    Unnamed speaker · 53:06
  • Google Chrome 0:01–0:24
  • Caesars Sportsbook 9:06–10:08

About this episode

“Drew is one of those people, he has such a mastery of the game, that you have to figure out how to see the game through his eyes to earn his trust.”Marques Colston On this episode of The Pivot Podcast, Marques Colston joins the conversation to reflect on a remarkable journey built on perseverance, discipline, brotherhood, and purpose. From being a seventh-round draft pick out of Hofstra to becoming a New Orleans Saints legend, Colston shares the story behind a career that earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and football fans everywhere. The conversation goes beyond the numbers, exploring the personal loss that helped shape the man behind the jersey. Losing his father at just 14 years old changed his life forever, and the lessons, memories, and influence he carried forward became part of his foundation as both a player and a man. Colston also reflects on playing alongside Drew Brees, whose vision, preparation, and leadership helped elevate the Saints' offense, and working under Sean Payton, whose offensive creativity and competitive mindset helped transform New Orleans into a championship team. Together, they built something special — culminating in a Super Bowl XLIV victory that forever changed the franchise's history. Despite never receiving the household recognition often associated with the NFL's biggest stars, Colston's production, consistency, and reliability established him as one of the defining receivers of his era. His story is a reminder that greatness isn't always about the spotlight — sometimes it's about showing up, doing the work, and earning the trust of everyone around you. But the conversation doesn't end with football. Colston opens up about fatherhood, the importance of being present for his family, and the challenges of transitioning into life after the NFL. After spending years competing at the highest level, he shares what it means to build a new identity, pursue opportunities beyond the game, and find purpose in the next chapter. From losing his father as a teenager to becoming a Super Bowl champion and building a life beyond the field, Marques Colston's story is about more than football. It's about resilience, legacy, and understanding that the greatest victories often happen away from the stadium. Truly a special conversation and full video episode is streaming on Netflix now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

0:00
55:42

10,694 words · 6 speakers

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

Topics

  • New Orleans Saints
  • Pennsylvania
  • Harrisburg
  • Jets

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