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By Adam Petrus | Nov. 6, 2026
Gridiron Lessons Help Former NFL Players Transition to Tech Careers
Key Takeaways
- Former NFL players now working for Zebra Technologies transitioned to the tech industry by leveraging the discipline, teamwork, and mission-focused mindset they developed as professional athletes to solve complex business challenges.
- The shift from a highly structured, physical environment to a strategic, corporate world requires a significant reinvention of personal and professional identity.
- Lessons learned on the gridiron about selflessness, humility, and trusting the process directly apply to building successful careers in technology and customer success.
For professional athletes, the roar of the crowd eventually fades. The meticulously structured life of training, film study, and game days gives way to a new, uncertain chapter. What happens when your life’s purpose, a dream chased since childhood, reaches its conclusion? How do the skills honed on the football field translate to the corporate world?
In a recent episode of Chalk Talk, I sat down with three of my colleagues at Zebra, all of whom made the interesting journey from the NFL to the tech industry. Evan Pilgrim, Hale Hentges, and Chris Parker played a combined 13 years in the league across nine different teams. Their stories offer a unique window into the transition from a life of physicality to one of strategic problem-solving.
Finding a New Mission
The move from a professional sports team to a corporate team presents profound adjustments. Evan likened it to something similar to what military personnel experience returning to “civilian life.” In the NFL, everyone shares a singular goal and rows in the same direction. The corporate world, in contrast, often moves at a different pace than the "read and react" world of the NFL.
Hale, who joined Zebra through the NFL Players Association’s externship program, struggled with the loss of the rigid structure that defined his life. He found his new purpose by embracing the process. He advises that with hard work comes opportunities for companies like Zebra to invest in them as a person, fueling their growth and longevity.
The Unsung Work of Teamwork
In football, the perfect block from an offensive lineman or a tight end often goes unnoticed by the average fan, yet it creates the opportunity for a running back to score. This philosophy of selfless teamwork directly applies to the business world. Much like on the field, success at Zebra depends on a deep team of specialists executing their roles to perfection for the customer. It requires a mission-focused mindset centered on one objective: to win.
Chris, a former running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, approaches his customer success role with immense humility. He believes people care little about what you know until they know that you care. He focuses on being a great teammate and letting his past accomplishments speak for themselves. This approach builds the trust necessary for the whole team to succeed together.
How Data Shapes the Modern Game
Technology now touches every aspect of the NFL, from player safety and performance analytics to equipment tracking. Zebra provides the on-field tracking technology for the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, giving teams, broadcasters, and fans deep insights into the game.
Having played during the dawn of this data-driven era, Hale experienced firsthand how teams use analytics to monitor player assets, enhance the fan experience, and sharpen their focus on player health. For veterans like Evan and Chris, the technology represents a stark contrast to their playing days. Evan noted how access to data allows teams to manage their health proactively, a capability that simply did not exist before. This evolution, fueled by data, has extended careers and made the game safer.
To hear more about their incredible journeys and gain deeper insights into the intersection of sports and technology, watch the full Chalk Talk episode.
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