The Untold Truth About Professional Athletes: Success, Impact, and Life Beyond the Game
I opened up about a topic that doesn’t get much attention: the nuanced experiences of professional athletes, especially those who never quite “made it.” The world of professional sports is often painted in broad strokes - championships, Hall of Fame inductions, and long careers under the spotlight. But for many athletes, the reality looks much different.
For professional athletes, success often boils down to one question: Did you do the job you’re proud of? This simple yet powerful measure separates those who feel fulfilled by their careers from those who are left with a lingering sense of “what if.”
Since retiring from the NFL, I’ve met countless former players who didn’t quite have the careers they envisioned. Some were in training camps but never made an active roster. Others had brief stints in the league - a “cup of coffee,” as it’s often called. They showed up, wore the jersey, and have the pictures to prove it. Yet, they never got to fully do the job they set out to do.
For these athletes, there’s often a strange duality. On the one hand, they carry the identity of a professional athlete. At 6’5” and 270 pounds, people automatically associate you with football. A quick “Yeah, I played a little in the NFL” is often enough to satisfy the curiosity of strangers. But beneath that surface, there’s often a deeper story - one of unmet expectations, unfulfilled potential, and a nagging question: Did I really make an impact?
In conversations with these athletes, it becomes clear that many are grappling with their own narratives. The truth they tell is technically accurate - they were on NFL teams, they suited up - but it doesn’t always match the story they had hoped to tell. Few athletes grow up dreaming of being average or sidelined by injuries after just a season or two.
What makes this dichotomy even more striking is the contrast with the stories we idolize. Fans remember the players who win Super Bowls, make Pro Bowls, or earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. Those are the stories that everyone wants to live, but only a small fraction ever achieve.
The gap between expectation and reality can leave some athletes in a strange limbo. They’re forever tied to their sport by their physicality, their experiences, and the questions from curious strangers. Yet, they may not feel they’ve truly earned the title of “professional athlete” in the way they envisioned.
This isn’t just about sports; it’s a reflection of how we approach life and careers in general. For anyone pursuing a high-performance field, whether it’s sports, business, or the arts, the question of impact looms large. Did you contribute meaningfully? Did you maximize your potential?
For those who fall short of their own expectations, it’s important to redefine success. Just being in the arena, competing at the highest level, and getting a shot is something most people can only dream of. While it’s easy to fixate on the outcomes, the championships, the accolades, it’s equally important to recognize the effort and commitment it takes to even be part of the conversation.
For the athletes I’ve met who didn’t get the careers they wanted, the key is finding fulfillment in other ways. Life after sports can be an opportunity to channel the same drive and discipline into new pursuits, whether that’s coaching, entrepreneurship, or another passion entirely.
Ultimately, success isn’t defined solely by stats or highlights. It’s about being proud of the effort you gave, the impact you had, and the lessons you carried forward. The stories we tell about ourselves may evolve, but the grit and determination it took to get to the starting line will always be part of who we are.
Tune into Power Athlete Radio to explore these ideas further and hear the raw, unfiltered truths about life in and beyond professional sports.
John Welbourn is Founder/CEO of Power Athlete Inc and former NFL player. John was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and started for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played with the New England Patriots until an injury ended his season early with him retiring in 2009. Over the course of his NFL career, John started over 100 games regular season games with 10 play-off appearances. He was a four-year letterman while playing football at the University of California at Berkeley. He graduated from the college of letters and sciences with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric in 1998. And did his Masters work at the UC Berkeley School of Education in 1999. Since retiring from the NFL, John has worked extensively with the NFL, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, the US Army and Naval Special Warfare. He works as a consultant and advisor for several companies focused on improving human performance through training, nutrition and fitness-based technologies. John provides daily coaching and mentorship to over 5000 athletes around the world through his Power Athlete Coaches Network and training program delivery platform. Since in 2013, John has hosted a weekly podcast, Power Athlete Radio; a podcast dedicated to improving performance and connecting with some of the smartest people on the planet. With more than 700 episodes Power Athlete Radio has proven to be on the top podcasts in the strength and conditioning realm. John travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition for Power Athlete and as a keynote speaker. John is a married father of three and resides in Austin, Texas. You can catch up with him at his personal blog, “Talk To Me Johnnie”, at Power Athlete or on social media @johnwelbourn.