Episode 97 – Norberto Garrido. Norberto is a former USC football standout and NFL offensive lineman who spent five seasons playing professionally with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. In this deeply personal episode of the Life Beyond Athletics series, Norberto opens up about the challenges he faced both during and after his football career, including depression, struggles with self-worth, and the difficult transition from professional athletics into everyday life. He shares his experiences with mental health, the pressure of living up to expectations, and the struggle to discover his identity beyond the game. Norberto also discusses how his relationship with God transformed his life, the importance of faith, mentorship, and surrounding yourself with the right people, and how his own experiences have shaped his more than two decades of work mentoring and supporting at-risk youth. This conversation is a powerful reminder that we never truly know what someone else is going through, that strength is often found in vulnerability, and that our greatest purpose may have nothing to do with what we accomplished on the field, but everything to do with the lives we impact long after the game is over.

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Jeff Hecklinski is the founder of S.A.V.A.G.E. He is a former College football coach that has coached at Arizona, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas and San Diego State among others. A QB at the University of Illinois, Jeff has developed his leadership through playing and coaching at the highest collegiate level. He is now taking that leadership knowledge to working professionals with his company S.A.V.A.G.E.

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John Bonaventura is the Head Football Coach at Temecula Valley High School in California. He is also the owner of FTBL1ST Training Academy. John is a Former NFL and CFL Scout and has worked in the football industry for over 30 years as a player, coach, scout and administrator. He has worked at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football.