The NFL Players Podcast

It's Super Bowl Week! Roman Harper and Peanut Tillman talk to Ryan Nece and Vince Wilfork for wide-ranging conversations on football, business, and life after the game. Ryan Nece talks about what Super Bowl Week is really like, being part of a rare father-son duo, his time with the Buccs, and his transition into entrepreneurship with Next Legacy, including how technology plays a role in his business today. Then, Vince Wilfork joins the conversation to talk about the 10-year anniversary of his ESPN The Body Issue photoshoot, the work he’s doing with the USO, and of course, his go-to BBQ dish. And yes… they even talk about cold showers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, former Miami Dolphins receiver OJ McDuffie joins Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper for a wide-ranging conversation about football, baseball, legendary coaches, and life after the game. OJ shares being named after OJ Simpson, those they don’t have the same exact names, his original passion for baseball at Penn State, and how Joe Paterno’s unique approach allowed him to play both sports. He reflects on his place in the Penn State baseball record books, and his “Welcome to the NFL” moment. The conversation dives deep into OJ’s NFL career with the Dolphins, including his experience playing for Don Shula, the stark transition to Jimmy Johnson, and what made Dan Marino one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. OJ also shares the incredible story of catching Marino’s 399th, 400th, and 401st career touchdown passes in the same game. OJ gets candid about the foot injury that ended his career, the difficult transition away from football, and how leaning on friends helped him find his footing. Today, he’s found a second act in media through The Fish Tank podcast, continuing to stay connected to the game and the city of Miami. It’s an honest, funny, and insightful look at a career shaped by legends—and what comes next when the game ends. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Super Bowl champion Kayvon Webster joins Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper to share his journey from chasing an NFL dream to building a life of purpose beyond football. Kayvon reflects on growing up with a clear goal of playing in the NFL, his path to South Florida, and his “welcome to the league” moments — including getting drafted by his childhood favorite team, the Denver Broncos, and meeting his idol Champ Bailey. He discusses earning his place in Denver’s legendary No Fly Zone defense, which he says thrived on veteran leadership. The conversation turns to winning a Super Bowl, the celebration that followed, and the reality of life after football. Kayvon opens up about not giving himself time to dwell on leaving the game, instead pouring his energy into entrepreneurship — launching a food truck while still trying out for teams. His business quickly outgrew expectations, including serving frontline workers during the pandemic. Kayvon also shares how a torn Achilles sparked a new creative chapter, leading to a children’s book inspired by Black inventors and motivational videos created for his kids. Through business, storytelling, and service, Webster explains how he’s living his purpose by helping others believe in their dreams — the ultimate second act. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper are joined by former linebacker D.J. Williams. First, D.J. explains what it was like playing at De La Salle High School, which famously went undefeated for 151 consecutive games, and how that experience prepared him for college and the pros. Then D.J. shares what it was like to play football at the University of Miami in the early 2000s. Later, D.J. reveals his second act—founding an apparel company called Dyme Lyfe that partners with universities and athletes. He also discusses his podcast venture with Maurice Clarett. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Super Bowl champion Jonathan Vilma joins Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper for an honest, insightful, and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, controversy, redemption, and what comes after an NFL career. Vilma opens the episode reacting to a special surprise — hearing Jimmy Graham and D.J. Williams place him on their personal Mount Rushmore. He shares why being a team captain meant everything to him, and Roman recalls the famous 2009 defensive meeting where Vilma called out the entire unit and set the standard for a championship run. Vilma also dives deep into Bountygate, discussing how he handled being the public face of the scandal, why he never felt pressured to defend himself publicly, and how the ordeal unexpectedly opened doors for him in broadcasting with ESPN and FOX. He also shares stories from the 2009 Super Bowl season, the heartbreaking 2011 playoff loss, and his final attempts to return to the NFL before realizing his playing days were over—while watching training camp on TV at a Dave & Buster’s. From his leadership style, to playing at Miami, to his ventures in finance, real estate, and the restaurant world, Vilma breaks down the full arc of his second act. The guys close out with Vilma’s personal Mount Rushmore and a few hilarious stories from his playing days, including Roman’s memory of getting run over and discovering Vilma speaks German. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of NFL Players: Second Acts, Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper are joined by former Bengals running back Giovani Bernard to find out what he’s been up to since he retired three years ago. Giovani opens up about the loss of his newborn son and the joy he’s found in becoming a parent of twin girls. He also explains how he dealt with the Bengals’ lack of playoff success during career and why he decided to retire after ten years. Then Giovani shares the multiple passions he’s found in second act, including photography, endurance sports, and investing in real estate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alejandro Villanueva sits down Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper to share his unique journey: growing up as an army brat moving around the U.S. and Europe; to an Army Ranger deployed in Afghanistan; then becoming a Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alejandro explains why he decided to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, why he decided to retire as an Army Ranger, and how he was able to tryout and make it to an NFL roster. He also discusses his third act as a farmer growing fruit and how that connects to his Spanish roots. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of NFL Players: Second Acts, Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper sit down with Zamir Cobb — former NFL wide receiver turned President of The Trust (powered by the NFLPA) — to talk about his powerful journey from the gridiron to guiding players through life beyond the game. Zamir shares stories from his time with the Steelers, including training alongside a young Ben Roethlisberger and learning under Coach Bill Cowher, as well as the mental battles that came with an early injury during his rookie season. He opens up about how those challenges fueled his passion for helping others and ultimately led him to a career of purpose — leading programs that have helped more than a thousand NFL legends improve their overall quality of life.  From his early days in D.C. to testifying in over 150 court cases as a juvenile case worker, Zamir’s story is a masterclass in resilience, service, and redefining success after football. The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.