Digital Social Hour
From NFL Stardom to Business Success: My Journey | Kenyan Drake DSH #1118
Sat, 18 Jan
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🏈 From NFL stardom to building a thriving business, this episode of the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly dives into the inspiring journey of an 8-year pro who retired from the game he loves to focus on family, financial independence, and new ventures. 🙌 Hear firsthand what it's really like navigating the highs and lows of the NFL—from the grind to stay active on the roster to the challenges running backs face in today’s market. Discover how the game’s business side led to his decision to retire and how he’s now creating generational wealth through real estate, running his own gym, and more! 💼💪 Packed with valuable insights about life after football, the college playoff changes, NIL deals, and NFL predictions, this episode is a must-watch for anyone chasing success on or off the field. 🚀 Tune in now, and join the conversation! 👉 Watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets. 📺 Hit that subscribe button and stay tuned for more eye-opening stories on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly! 🔥 #sportsmanagement #nfl #financialeducation #retirementplanningforathletes #nflnews CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Kenyan Drake Highlights, Career Insights 05:00 - Specialized Recruiting Group, Talent Acquisition 05:58 - Career Titles Comparison, Personal Experience 07:01 - College Football Playoff System, Format Analysis 10:01 - NFL Predictions, Upcoming Season Insights 12:41 - What’s Next for Kenyan, Future Plans 13:15 - How to Find Kenyan on Social Media, Online Presence APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Kenyan Drake https://www.instagram.com/kdx32/ SPONSORS: SPECIALIZED RECRUITING GROUP: https://www.srgpros.com/ LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/
Chapter 1: What led Kenyan Drake to retire from the NFL?
I just, I love the game. I don't love the business. That's why I personally retired. I actually just had a daughter recently. So that was another decision in me kind of stepping away. I didn't necessarily need to go and chase that check. To get a season accredited, you have to have at least three games active.
You're on practice squad all year, you don't get active check, that season doesn't count. And then if you don't get at least three active games, you don't get that season. All right, guys, we got Kenyon here today. Just announced his retirement a few months ago, right? Yes, sir. Congrats on an eight-year career. Appreciate you. You were just talking about what the NFL stands for.
Not for long, dog. Crazy. Did you know that going into it?
Chapter 2: What challenges do running backs face in the NFL?
Yeah, it's something that's kind of thrown around with, you know, players, coaches. Of course, you know, you in the league, you got to take advantage of the opportunity that you, you know, afford it. But, you know, I obviously understand that majority of the people don't really make it that long. And a common misconception that it's a lot of money to be made, obviously, but...
you know, two, three years, man. And, you know, it's not really a lot of capital to, you know, have a family to sustain, especially when you have to go and get another job. So. Did that pressure ever get to you mentally? Like, damn, I might, if I get injured or something, I might be gone.
All the time, man. It's a dog-eat-dog world. And honestly, the mantra is younger and cheaper. So they're always going to try to replace you in any, you know, form or fashion. And you got to go out there and perform more.
don't get paid you know i mean you get replaced yeah so i mean every day you gotta show up to work crazy yeah they were trying to cheap out on running backs recently right yeah man i mean look i'm really happy about what the league looks like now obviously saquon's doing his thing my boy derrick doing his thing and everybody else kind of that's like chasing them in like that top back type of conversation right now uh really bringing a lot of love a lot of like accolades back to that position i feel like you know make make backs paid again you know what i mean
Chapter 3: How does Kenyan Drake view the business side of football?
Yeah, because they took a fat pay cut. Yeah, you know what I mean? And that's the market, you know what I mean? So how the market goes is, you know, dictates what somebody may get paid. That's any business. You know, and the market was just looking real shady for a minute, but hopefully the performance of these guys going out there, you know, doing their thing could help get it back up.
Chapter 4: What are Kenyan's thoughts on the current NFL market for running backs?
Was it shady because of injuries mainly?
Chapter 5: What inspired Kenyan's future business ventures?
Yeah, man, backs do, we do it all, man. We run, obviously, catch the ball at the backfield, got to protect as well. So that's a lot of wear and tear, you know what I mean? Honestly, if I'm from the other side looking at it, I probably would do the same exact thing. You know, it's a lot of wear and tear on backs year in and year out. The statistics is that
backs after they get a big contract, their production go down. I mean, it just is what it is. So, you know, like I said, I can't honestly be mad at it because it's business. And if I was in that same scenario, I probably would move in the same way, you know, get production for as least as possible. That's cool you look at it objectively, I think.
Yeah, I mean, you have to. I mean, at the end of the day, it's business. I'm in the business of making money. They're in the business of making money. So you have to kind of find a middle ground in terms of you going out there and handling your business. But understand that the older you get, especially in my position, they're looking to kind of phase you out.
And you got to go out there and prove it, which I'm glad that Derek, you know, went from Tennessee and now is in Baltimore. and is leading the back or leading backs in general through all these different accolades and stuff like that. So, you know, just hopefully everything can continue to trend up in that direction because I want to see backs, obviously.
Chapter 6: How has Kenyan's college experience influenced his career?
Absolutely. Not a lot of them make it past age 30, I heard, right?
No, and it's, you know, and honestly, if you think about sports in general, Football is a contact sport, very contact-driven, year in and year out, week in and week out. And, I mean, just look at any position, like you said, two to three years for any, you know, the average mean, you know, year in terms of how long you stay in the league. So, yeah. I just, I love the game.
I don't love the business. That's why I personally retired. Oh yeah? Yeah. You could have kept playing.
Yeah, I could have, you know, went and probably got picked up by practice squad teams. You know, I actually just had a daughter recently, probably a year and a half ago now. She's like 16, 17 months now. So that was another decision in me kind of stepping away because I didn't necessarily need to go and chase that check, going to practice squads, you know what I mean?
Trying to, you know, get... Because what happens is that to get a season accredited, you have to have at least three games, like, active. So if you're on practice squad all year, you don't get active check, that season doesn't count. Damn. Yeah, exactly. You work all that and you get nothing.
Yeah, you're working, you're getting paid. You're still getting paid, you know, practice squad minimum. But, you know, that's not active game check, which is, you know, substantial a little bit more. And then if you don't get at least three active games, you don't get that season. Damn.
You know what I mean? So... All that went into it, I knew I could probably go and help a team, but in that capacity, I was just kind of over it. You know what I mean? I love the game, just don't love the business behind it. Right, because there's a lot not in your control at that point. Exactly. The coach can choose not to play you. He can play you two games.
Practice squad is a chopping block. You know what I mean? So once you get in that scenario, and it could not even be your position. It could be a quarterback goes down or a defensive lineman go down. They're starting at the practice squad. Right. You know, me being a 29 at the time last year and 30-year-old back now this year.
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