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]

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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.

Building Basketball Careers with Integrity: Simon Oehlmann on International Basketball and Life Beyond the Game

The basketball industry sells athletes a lot of lies about professional careers. Simon Oehlmann built ALL RISE to tell them the truth.

As the founder of an international basketball management agency, Simon has spent 20+ years negotiating and structuring contracts across Europe and the U.S. But what makes him different isn't just his business expertise — it's his 30 years in basketball as a player, coach, and talent developer that gives him a perspective most agents don't have.

Based in Germany and working internationally, Simon guides athletes through career decisions with one core principle: focus on the person behind the performance. ALL RISE isn't built around quick deals or flashy signings — it's built around long-term, athlete-first career development that prepares players for college, the NBA, and life beyond basketball.

In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, Simon breaks down:

• The biggest lie the basketball industry sold athletes about professional careers
• What American players misunderstand about international basketball
• How European players should approach the U.S. system
• The truth about professional contracts and business decisions
• Why character matters more than most agents realize
• How to prepare for life beyond the game

Whether you're a basketball player navigating career decisions, a parent supporting your athlete's journey, or a coach preparing players for the next level, this conversation offers rare insights from someone who's lived both sides of the game.

This isn't just about contracts. It's about building careers with clarity, integrity, and a focus on what really matters.

This isn't motivation. This is a movement.

Connect with Simon Oehlmann: Company: ALL RISE Based: Germany (working across Europe and U.S.)

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.

Most athletes who get projected as first-round picks expect to hear their name called on draft day. Jared Pinkney was different — he went undrafted and turned it into opportunity.

At Vanderbilt University, Jared was a second-team All-SEC tight end projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick by ESPN analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper. When draft day came and went without his name being called, Jared signed with the Atlanta Falcons and embarked on a journey that would take him to five NFL teams.

Through practice squads, roster cuts, and constant uncertainty, Jared fought for every opportunity — eventually making his NFL debut as a starter for the Detroit Lions in 2022. His NFL career included stints with the Falcons, Titans, Lions, Rams, and Bears before transitioning to his current role as an Independent Financial Professional.

Today, Jared applies the same discipline, focus, and teamwork that defined his football career to helping individuals, families, and entrepreneurs build financial security. He specializes in debt management, wealth accumulation, risk protection, and intelligent planning, with a commitment to diversity, accessibility, and empowerment in financial services.

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

• The biggest lie culture sold athletes about money and financial security
• What it taught him to go undrafted and fight for every opportunity
• How to apply athletic discipline to building lasting wealth
• Why diversity and accessibility matter in financial services
• What current athletes need to know about preparing for life beyond the game

This isn't just about football or finance — it's about resilience, reinvention, and building something that lasts.

This isn't motivation. This is a movement.

Connect with Jared Pinkney: LinkedIn Jared Pinkney

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.