Ryan Kuehl

Understanding that quiet enthusiasm delivers results, Kuehl’s determined work behind the scenes is making the game he loves safer for the next generation.

After retiring from the NFL as a Super Bowl champion in 2008, Kuehl has successfully transitioned into the next phase of his life, a career marked by reinvention and giving back. After a decade of rising through leadership roles at Under Armour, he now channels his energy as an entrepreneur, using his platform to make a lasting impact on athlete health and community.

As Chief Revenue Officer, Kuehl works with a company behind the Q-Collar, a medical device designed to reduce the impact of repeated head hits and lower the risk of brain injuries, and already worn by NFL, MLS, NWSL, and NCAA Division I athletes—as well as U.S. special forces—the Q-Collar has quickly become a trusted piece of equipment across sports and the military.

"It makes you feel like you're doing something good for the game," Kuehl said. "We get (text messages) from soldiers' wives saying my husband came back from a tour, and he's not foggy. He feels great. We've got athletes coming back saying, I'll never play another game without it. I've never felt this good after a game or after a practice … To be able to make sure that kids and parents feel confident that I can get my son into that sport and not worry about (long-term injury concerns) and be part of the solution is great."

Kuehl played for the 49ers, Browns, Redskins, and Giants, where he was a member of the 2008 Super Bowl champions, despite a torn calf/Achilles injury that sidelined him during that championship season.

Along the way, The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA) has been a crucial part of Kuehl's post-football life. The Brain and Body assessment helped Kuehl better understand the toll of repeated hits he endured during his career and provided tools to address long-term health risks. He always played with a bottom-of-the-roster mentality because Kuehl knew he had to earn everything since he was a free-agent signing and nothing was ever guaranteed.

The Trust reinforces the importance of planning, wellness, community, long-term health, and personal development. Kuehl has done his part to create a ripple effect and raise awareness about the benefits of leaning on The Trust post-retirement.

Leadership and preparation have always been part of Kuehl's DNA. He served for seven years as an NFLPA player representative, learning about the business of sports, how collective bargaining agreements are negotiated, and helping shape benefits such as the education stipend. He used this experience to earn his MBA from American University's Kogod School of Business, foreshadowing his later advocacy. He joined Under Armour in 2009, when the company was valued at $750 million, and stayed for a decade as it grew to $5.4 billion.

Relationships and family also matter to Kuehl. He enjoys traveling across the East Coast to support his three kids at their lacrosse matches. Among his hobbies are playing golf, coaching high school football, attending church, volunteering at hospitals, and serving on boards.

A harsh lesson he learned was about the importance of staying connected, which is challenging, especially when one isn't intentional. Kuehl admitted he regrets not maintaining a relationship, especially with former teammate Mark Boutté, whom he played with as a member of the Redskins. It served as a poignant reminder of the importance of connection.

"Mark was the greatest guy ever, and I've always said for years and years and years. I got to find out where Mark is," Kuehl said. "I figured he's from Lake Charles, Louisiana. I knew that just from playing with him, and I kept thinking, I've got to reach out. Like, what's he doing? And literally, he died last spring; I only found that out this summer. I searched his name online and realized that he had passed away. That really hit home to me. I've been talking about it and meaning to do it for years. I loved the guy, and I had so much respect for him. I didn't reach out right away. Relationships, I should have done a better job of maintaining them while I was busy post-career. So, I tell the younger guys, Don't make that mistake. Keep up with the guys that you care about, even after playing."

That loss reinforced a lesson Kuehl carries into every part of his life: football ends, careers shift, but the connections we build along the way are what truly endure. It’s one reason he makes the most of every opportunity, knowing that the greatest gift is time. That perspective fuels his purpose.

For Kuehl, the journey from NFL grind to executive boardrooms to entrepreneurial innovation has been about more than reinvention. Through persistence and perseverance, he is using every phase of life to lift others and ensure the game remains a source of joy, safety, and purpose for generations to come.

This article was written by Rob Knox for The Trust. Knox is an award-winning professional, a member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame, and adjunct instructor at Temple University. In addition to having work published in SLAM magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education, Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Named an HBCU Legend by SI.com, Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.