Barry Gardner

That’s a great question. Honestly, it was really out of my control – my time was up. I suffered a career-ending leg and ankle injury. I underwent three surgeries and two and a half years of physical and mental rehabilitation. My thoughts were always, ‘I love the game, I love the brotherhood, I love the camaraderie.’ I always thought I’d play as long as I could. I often tell the joke I wanted to play until they kicked me out of the league. Unfortunately, my time was up. I’m forever grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to play 8 years in the league.

My friends, guys I played with and against, coaches, my mentors, and my family were my rocks. The brotherhood within the league is special, and those guys are still my brothers today. From the time I was injured and throughout my transition, my support network walked side-by-side with me, every step of the way to a full recovery.

The game has changed tremendously. The players get bigger, faster and stronger each and every year – that’s never going to change. Within that, the resources available for recovery and restoration of the body have evolved as well. While I took really good care of my mind and body during my playing days, I wish the resources available for the players today were available during my tenure. I tell my clients every day, having a sound mind and body is what enables one to be great at their craft.

It actually happened organically. I live in Arizona, so I trained and then rehabbed at the EXOS facility here. During that process, they approached me with an opportunity to run the pre-draft training process for the linebackers. I am truly passionate about giving back, and I absolutely love the process that goes into preparing for the NFL. I was once in the young fellas’ shoes, so it was a no-brainer for me to combine my passions with a great cause – helping young men achieve their dreams. I did that for ten years.

My love for the business side of the sport has continued to evolve over the years. I'm a big picture thinker and have an entrepreneurial spirit. My mindset is this – to truly evoke change you have to plan, have a strategy to execute the plan, and surround yourself with like-minded people. Most importantly, you have to be willing to do some of the blocking and tackling as well. I wanted to create something truly about player growth and development, not just as football players but as young men. It’s my passion. I truly think there's a better way for players to be represented.

I speak from a true place of experience. I had some great experiences on and off the field, and I’ve also learned some very hard lessons. Those experiences form the foundation of what we are building, along with our core values as people. This business is about relationships – building them and cultivating them the right way. It’s about having the right people involved, being a good listener, giving the right advice, being reliable, being credible, being trustworthy, educating both the players and their family members, and truly caring about the interests of your clients. God gave us two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason. I believe my eyes, I listen attentively, and I always keep our clients’ best interests at heart.

Tell them to call me! On a serious note, I truly believe having mentorship and guidance from former players is very impactful. It makes a difference because players understand the game and the business inside and out. They lived it. An agent that hasn’t been privy to being in a locker room, being in the meetings, dealing with the injuries, dealing with the coaches, or the camaraderie, or lack thereof, in a locker room, can still be a good agent. However, not having experienced what that FEELS like mentally and emotionally is a difference-maker. Players know what those experiences feel like, so our approach and advice will come from a true place of having been there and done that.

I think more former players should get involved. It's made a difference in my life, as well as my clients’ lives – sharing my passion for the game and giving back to young men aspiring to achieve their dreams and create a pathway forward for themselves, their communities, and their respective families. My colleagues and clients are truly family, and it's an unexplainable bond.

My proudest moment since retiring is getting engaged. I’m getting married April 6th, 2019. Football’s mental and physical demands also have the same demands on your significant other. My fiancé has been there with me through a lot of that – both the great and difficult times of my life. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life and have so many more personal and professional goals to attain. Starting a family is the ultimate sacrifice and most selfless step one can take. I’m taking the next step in life with her, and I look forward to that.