I Won a Super Bowl as a Rookie. Here's Why I'm Going Back to Farming

I Won a Super Bowl as a Rookie. Here's Why I'm Going Back to Farming

From Barn Talk by Tork and Sawyer Whisler

June 24, 2026 · 2h 8m

About this episode

Grey Zabel shares his journey from a farm kid to a Super Bowl champion and discusses the values that guide his life.

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In today’s episode, the conversation focused on the incredible journey of Grey Zabel, who demonstrates that you can make it to the absolute peak of professional sports while remaining a farm kid at heart. From growing up in Pierre, South Dakota as a fifth-generation farmer to his college football career at North Dakota State and being picked 18th overall by the Seattle Seahawks, Grey’s story is both inspiring and down-to-earth. A key theme that emerged was the importance of faith, family, farming, and football, which Grey describes as the four pillars of his life. The discussion explored the challenges and triumphs of his rookie NFL season—including a Super Bowl win—his dedication to running Northland Farms, and the decision to invest in land rather than adopt a flashy lifestyle. Several points were raised, including the parallels between the hard work required in farming and the NFL, the pressures faced by young people in agriculture, and the enduring power of rural values. Whether you are a fan of football, farming, or stories of perseverance, you won’t want to miss this episode packed with heart and grit. JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tork Whisler, Sawyer Whisler

Guest: Grey Zabel

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: North Dakota State, Seattle Seahawks, Northland Farms

Places: Pierre, South Dakota

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