RE-RELEASE: 5 Tips & Tricks: Former NFL Quarterback, Educator & Social Justice Advocate- Don McPherson

Today's Guest: Former NFL Quarterback, Educator & Social Justice Advocate- Don McPherson

From the days when he commanded a huddle in Central New York, this quarterback set the standard early. As captain of an undefeated Syracuse team in 1987, he rewrote the record book with 22 school marks, led the nation in passing, finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, and collected more than18 national player-of-the-year honors—including the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and the very first Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He went on to play professionally in both the NFL and CFL, cementing his reputation as one ofthe most accomplished signal callers of his era.

His impact didn’t stop when the cleats came off. In 2000, while serving on the Nassau County Sports Commission, he created the John Mackey Award to honor college football’s top tight end. He became a trusted voice of the game as acollege football analyst for ESPN, NBC, BET, and later as the lead studio analyst for Sportsnet New York. Along the way came lasting recognition: induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the retirement of his iconic number at Syracuse in 2013.

In recent years, his influence has stretched far beyond the field. He published You Throw Like A Girl in 2019, spotlighting decades of work using sport to confront social issues and prevent gender-based violence. He earned the National Football Foundation’s Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award in 2020 and Syracuse University’s William Pearson Tolley Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Lifelong Learning in 2021, honoring a lifetime of service, leadership, and philanthropy. Follow and like this podcast as well as leave questions in the comments that may be answered on future episodes. Connect with us on our social platforms and website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athletic-career-consulting/ and Instagram as well as X: @athcareerpod. 5 Tips and Tricks: for Careers in Athletics Podcast is a show hosted by Dr. Morey Mossovitz and Jen Albanese. Each episode invites a person in an athletic career and asks them their five best tips and tricks for working in athletics.