From Practice Squad to Super Bowl Champion: Emmanuel Smith on Building Winning Cultures

Most undrafted free agents never make it past their first training camp. Emmanuel Smith went undrafted, bounced between practice squads, and won a Super Bowl ring.

At Vanderbilt University, Emmanuel played linebacker in the SEC before signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2018. What followed was the classic undrafted journey: roster cuts, practice squad moves, injuries, and the constant uncertainty of trying to earn a spot.

Emmanuel was waived by Atlanta, signed to Tampa Bay's practice squad, released again, and finally found a home with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. On February 2, 2020, Emmanuel earned the ultimate validation when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV — making him a champion despite never being a starter.

Today, Emmanuel builds winning cultures in business by applying the lessons he learned on NFL sidelines. His approach focuses on people and process: clarity of roles, standards everyone owns, short feedback loops, and celebrating small wins. The result is what he calls "trust over fear" — where effort compounds and performance becomes repeatable.

In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, Emmanuel shares:

• What the undrafted journey taught him about resilience and buy-in
• How he won a Super Bowl without being the star
• Why trust beats fear in building championship cultures
• How to translate sports lessons to business teams
• The role of faith and inclusive leadership in his mission

This isn't just about football — it's about what happens when someone applies championship lessons to building teams where everyone can contribute at their best.

This isn't motivation. This is a movement.

Connect with Emmanuel Smith: [Social Media/Website - TBD]

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com

FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Share this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leader
• Follow us on social media and join the conversation

BOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com

ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard.

New episodes drop every Monday.

Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.