I Had Open Heart Surgery and Came Back to the NFL
From Cheeky Mid Weeky by Strength Coach Network
May 6, 2026 · 1h 28m · Season 5 · Episode 18
About this episode
Cameron Smith discusses his journey from NFL linebacker to sports technology after overcoming open heart surgery.
Cameron Smith is a former standout linebacker whose career has taken him from major college football to the NFL and now into sports technology. A four-year starter and two-time captain at USC Trojans, he earned multiple All-Pac-12 honors and became one of the program’s top defensive leaders. He was selected by Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft, where he competed at the professional level before overcoming a serious heart condition that reshaped his path and perspective. Today, Smith works with PlayerData, helping teams use data to improve training, recovery, speed, and athlete readiness. On this episode, we discuss leadership, adversity, life in the NFL, and the future of athlete performance. $1 Trial Membership to SCN 🏫CEUs: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/Trial Save on your re-certification to the NSCA and CSCCa with best price CEUs 🏫CEUs: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/CEU CONNECT: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/ From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach…
People in this episode
Host: Strength Coach Network
Guest: Cameron Smith
Topics covered
- open heart surgery
- NFL
- sports technology
- leadership
- adversity
- athlete performance
Keywords
- Cameron Smith
- NFL
- open heart surgery
- sports technology
- athlete performance
- leadership
- adversity
Sponsors
Hawkin Dynamics, Vitruve VBT, Power Lift
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: USC Trojans, Minnesota Vikings, PlayerData
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