192 episodes

The NFL Players Podcast is a candid, unscripted series sharing the stories and personal journeys of NFL players– as told by the players. Hosted by captain of the New York Giants, Logan Ryan, Legend and Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient Charles "Peanut" Tillman, and Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams, new episodes are released on Wednesdays.
Follow @nflplayerspodcast for updates and new episodes.

The NFL Players Podcast The NFL Podcast Network

    • Sports
    • 4.3 • 50 Ratings

The NFL Players Podcast is a candid, unscripted series sharing the stories and personal journeys of NFL players– as told by the players. Hosted by captain of the New York Giants, Logan Ryan, Legend and Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient Charles "Peanut" Tillman, and Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams, new episodes are released on Wednesdays.
Follow @nflplayerspodcast for updates and new episodes.

    D’Brick Ferguson: from open heart surgery, to NFL ironman, to nurse?

    D’Brick Ferguson: from open heart surgery, to NFL ironman, to nurse?

    Watch Second Acts on YouTube:  https://bit.ly/3ikkR2Q

    Follow Roman Harper on Instagram: @Harp_41

    Follow Peanut Tillman on Instagram: @peanuttillman

    EP #28: The gentle giant D’Brickashaw Ferguson sits down with Peanut and Roman on the latest episode of the NFL Players Second Acts pod. D’Brick lived up to expectations as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft. He anchored the Jets offensive line during his 10-year career, started every game, and missed only one snap (there’s quite the story behind that play). For his work, in 2022 D’Brickashaw was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor. Not bad for a guy who needed open-heart surgery at 9 years old to save his life. In this episode, D’Brickashaw expounds on the “miracle” of overcoming that circumstance to become the NFL’s ironman. He’s also on a journey to find his next calling, which has led him to…nursing school. D’Brickashaw has found success in many arenas, but he shares with Peanut and Roman the bumpy road he took to find himself. 

    Topic Timeline: 

    1:00 - D'Brickashaw talks about the only snap he didn’t play in during his entire 10-year NFL career 

    2:18 - the evolution of the Key & Peele segment based on D'Brickashaw name 

    3:31 - How yoga and martial arts helped D’Brickishaw become an NFL ironman 

    6:36 - D'Brickashaw shares what led to him having open-heart surgery as a kid

    7:45 - The value of playing different sports as a kid according to D’Brickishaw 

    9:56 - D’Brickishaw shares the “surreal” experience of being inducted into the NY Jets Ring of Honor

    13:02 - D’Brickishaw shares the experience of finding himself after his NFL career 

    16:21 - D’Brickishaw shares his post-NFL journey to serve other players through financial literacy

    18:56 - D'Brickashaw shares what led him to wanting to become a nurse 

    22:15 - D'Brickashaw talks about education being the foundation of The D'Brickashaw Ferguson Foundation 

    23:33 - D’Brickishaw shares his “welcome to the NFL” moment 

    25:15 - D’Brickashaw gives advice to a newly retired NFL player 

    26:16 - D’Brickashaw reveals why his own teammates fined him for his car choices 

    27:52 - D’Brickashaw shares who is on his personal Mt. Rushmore 

    32:00 - D’Brickashaw turns the table and asks Roman and Peanut how they’re transitions are going 

    *NOTE: Timecodes are approximate 

    NFL Players Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio. 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 35 min
    LeRoy Butler talks his 16-year wait, Hall of Fame trials, being a forever Packer

    LeRoy Butler talks his 16-year wait, Hall of Fame trials, being a forever Packer

    EP #27: Peanut and Roman are back! This time they’re joined by Hall of Fame safety LeRoy Butler. LeRoy starts off reminiscing on his “Welcome to the NFL” moment taking us back to 1990, his rookie year. In this episode, the Hall of Famer walks us through his journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a Super Bowl champion, to joining football immortality in Canton. LeRoy gives us an inside look on the anxiety brought on by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process. The conversation turns emotional as LeRoy describes the life-changing visit and scholarship offer he received from then Florida St. coach Bobby Bowden. He also shares with us the importance of being financially free and “leaping” into the vodka business. 

    Watch Second Acts on YouTube:  https://bit.ly/3ikkR2Q

    Follow Roman Harper on Instagram: @Harp_41

    Follow Peanut Tillman on Instagram: @peanuttillman

    Topic timeline:

    2:32 - LeRoy’s welcome to the NFL moment

    5:48 - LeRoy gives Peanut Tillman his flowers 

    6:50 - Why LeRoy was fined $10,000 after his first team meeting as a rookie

    9:23 - LeRoy strong opinion on Aaron Rodgers leaving Green Bay

    11:56 - Why LeRoy stayed with the Packers his entire career 

    16:00 - Why Leroy still calls Green Bay home  

    18:20 - Leroy explains the Hall of Fame selection process, and the side of rejection fans don’t see

    27:00 - Leroy takes us back to Super Bowl XXXI, ending the city’s 30-year drought 

    30:15 - Leroy gets emotional reminiscing his life changing FSU scholarship offer from Bobby Bowden

    36:15 - Leroy talks about overcoming poverty and his documentary film project

    44:00 - Leroy talks business ventures, the creation of Leap Spirits vodka, and financial freedom

    48:58 - Leroy reveals his greatest sports accomplishment 

    52:30 - Leroy shares who he believes are the top-5 defensive players of all time 

    *NOTE: timecodes are approximate.

    NFL Players Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio. 


    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 57 min
    Fred Taylor talks Being Called "Fragile," Girl Dad Power, his Podcast Pivot

    Fred Taylor talks Being Called "Fragile," Girl Dad Power, his Podcast Pivot

    EP #26: Fred Taylor, one of the toughest running backs to ever play in the NFL, joins Peanut and Roman on the pod. They’ve competed against each other and on the pod they share stories of how they all succeeded in the league with their brains as much as their brawn. Fred may not be in the Hall of Fame now, but he’s got a compelling case and he shares it here. But he’s also more than a football player. Fred shares his journey in and out of the game, and how becoming a #girldad is what unlocked his true strength as a man. He also gets candid about the pitfalls when doing business with friends, but how deal gone wrong led to a major pivot that’s led to major success. Listen to the full pod here.

    Watch Second Acts on YouTube:  https://bit.ly/3ikkR2Q

    Follow Roman Harper on Instagram: @Harp_41

    Follow Peanut Tillman on Instagram: @peanuttillman

     

    Topic timeline:

    2:22 – The play where Fred suffered his worst career injury

    4:25 – The demanding style of coach Tom Coughlin 

    10:26 – Why Fred believes he’ll eventually get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 

    12:42 – How Fred’s career would’ve gone differently if he had a “Hall of Fame” mentality

    20:08 – The business decision in trying to tackle Fred Taylor

    21:05 – Why Fred would “do numbers” in today’s NFL

    23:47 – The specific aspects of the game Fred misses

    27:14 – Why Fred hates being called “Fragile Freddy”

    28:18 – the moment Fred knew it was time to retire

    33:22 – How Fred attacked life after football

    41:07 – The fallout that led to the creation of “The Pivot Podcast”

    50:10 – Fred’s first splurge purchase when he got the bag

    57:30 – Fred’s top-5 running backs of all time

    58:50 – Fred’s favorite current running backs

    1:01:45 – Fred gets emotional talking about the people who made him the man he is today

     

    *NOTE: timecodes are approximate.

    NFL Players Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Calvin Johnson on battles vs Peanut, the "Calvin Johnson Rule", medical cannabis

    Calvin Johnson on battles vs Peanut, the "Calvin Johnson Rule", medical cannabis

    EP #25: Peanut and Roman are joined this week by Hall of Fame wide receiver, Calvin Johnson. Calvin starts by revealing his “Welcome To The NFL” moment, and his first impressions of Detroit when he first arrived after he was drafted 2nd overall in 2007 (02:54). Peanut and Calvin then go on to reminisce about all the great battles they had against one another for so many years as NFC North divisional foes (03:42). They also give us the inside story of the controversial no touchdown call that has been dubbed “Calvin Johnson rule” (06:48). With such a storied career and so many highlights, the guys ask Calvin when he knew he could dominate the league (11:27), and he reveals his favorite catch of his nine-year career (12:59). Finally, Calvin enlightens the guys on the work he’s doing now in the medicinal cannabis field and how he’s trying to raise awareness to help current and former players (14:28).

    The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is part of the NFL Podcast Network in partnership with iHeart Radio. 

    Also watch it on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ikkR2Q
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 26 min
    Doug Pederson and Frank Reich

    Doug Pederson and Frank Reich

    Ep. #24 This week, Peanut and Roman are joined by Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson. They start things off talking about Pederson's history with two iconic franchises; the Eagles and Packers (02:10). Pederson talks about being a football lifer and coaching being a natural progression (06:45). He also names the coaches who've shaped who he is today (12:30). Finally, Pederson talks about his transition to Jacksonville and how he approached changing the culture in the Jaguars locker room (22:30). After the break, Peanut and Roman are joined by new Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich. The guys start by remembering Super Bowl 44, and talk about what it's like winning and losing a Super Bowl (33:10). Reich talks about his desire to get the Panthers job, and the lessons he learned from his first head coaching job with the Colts (38:30). Reich also explains why he took time away from the game between his playing and coaching career (43:30). Finally, Reich wraps things up by taking us behind-the-scenes of the Panthers trading for the number-one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (46:00). 

    Note: timecodes approximate.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 56 min
    Kevin O'Connell and Ryan Poles

    Kevin O'Connell and Ryan Poles

    Ep. #23: This week, Peanut and Roman are joined by Minnesota Vikings Head Coach, Kevin O’Connell. Kevin starts off by discussing what it was like celebrating a Super Bowl win with the Rams while simultaneously doing all the preparation to become a head coach and how he wasn’t able to soak it all in. He also talks about how advantageous it has been to have worked with so many great coaches throughout his time in the NFL as both a player and coach and which individual he credits the most for his early success. Kevin goes on to discuss some of the challenges he's anticipating going into year two with the Vikings and talks about the importance of identifying the “why” with his players. Peanut and Roman are also joined by another man taking up the headlines, Bears General Manager, Ryan Poles. Ryan first gets into how the trade back from the #1 pick went down and what negotiating trades with other teams is actually like. He then talks about the journey that led to him becoming the General Manager of the Bears and how his 13 years with the Chiefs shaped his overall knowledge of the league. The guys also ask Poles what his first few months on the job was like and he details a signing-gone-wrong that was a serious gut-punch for his initial confidence. Finally, Ryan offers his own advice to those hoping to one day hold a position like his own.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
50 Ratings

50 Ratings

ƒreezeƒerguson ,

Logan Ryan is a G

Huge Titans fan and saw Logan Ryan be one of the key pillars in turning the franchise around. Hope he gets WPMOTY this year with all the off-field work he's doing in the tri-state. Also some TV network needs get him a futures deal cause he's gonna crush it (if he wants to) post-retirement.

DaveO_cala ,

Logan Ryan

He’s better at podcasting than consistently covering two yard passes. He could only come up with a plan in a post-game press conference 🤷🏻‍♂️
Got an “L” in the game and in the sportsmanship category.

Jack Berens ,

Good Pod

I really like this content, especially when they feature former Bears.

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