“I thought my name, my platform, and my career would be enough... until one job interview changed everything.”

After I retired from football, I assumed life would be smooth. I had the résumé, the accolades, and the connections. So when I walked into a job interview at a nonprofit in Portland, I thought it was a lock.

Fifteen minutes in, the interviewer hit me with a gut punch:

“Alex, you're not getting this job. And before you go on any more interviews, you need to figure out who you are. Because all you're talking about is what you’ve done. Not who you are.”

I left that day realizing I had no idea how to answer that. Not without the pads. Not without the titles. It took time—but eventually, I found that same joy I had on the field by redefining who I am off of it.

If you’ve ever been stuck in the space between what you did and who you are… I see you. And I’m here to tell you: joy on the other side is possible.