The NFL Vet Who Took Over TV: Nate Burleson's Wild Career Flip
“The advice that I give myself is ‘Always be willing to be the best teammate.'"
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Hey friends,
In this episode of “Next Up,” I sat down with Nate Burleson — former NFL star turned Emmy-winning television host and entrepreneur.
During our hour-long interview, Burleson opened up about how he built a second career that grew to be even larger than his initial path as a player.
He discussed the struggles of life after football, finding his voice in media, navigating self-doubt, investing smartly, launching new businesses, and why preparation is the secret weapon to success on and off the field.
This is one of the most powerful and relatable conversations I’ve had on my show, aimed at motivating athletes, entrepreneurs, and others chasing greatness beyond their first act.
Let’s hop into my favorite takeaways:
1️⃣ Let Your Ego Die
Nate Burleson entered the NFL as a third-round pick in 2003 and tallied a 1,000-yard receiving campaign in just his second year in the league.
The gritty pass catcher accumulated four other seasons with at least 625 receiving yards throughout his 11-year career, with stints spent on the Vikings, Seahawks, and Lions.
Despite tallying nearly 500 receptions and over 5,600 career yards, Burleson still played second fiddle as a supporting option to Randy Moss in Minnesota and Calvin Johnson in Detroit.
Early throughout his NFL career, Burleson learned that despite his raw, natural talent, he had to let go of his ego and recognize his role.
“It’s a dance, man,” Burleson told me. “And, you also have to let your own ego die and realize, ‘I’m just a supporting actor.’”
Throughout the latter portion of his career, lingering injuries played a major role in Burleson’s decision to step away from the NFL.
From there, he fell in love with broadcasting to fill the void left from football.
He started his career on television with NFL Network, sitting alongside legends among the likes of Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, and Marshall Faulk.
After the nerves of taping segments and executing live shows eased with experience, Burleson learned that instead of attempting to mimic the moves of NFL Network mainstays beside him, he’d be better off being authentically unique.
“I remember after a few weeks of trying to copycat all of these guys, [I learned] there’s no better version of myself I can be than Nate Burleson,” he told me. “Like, they don’t need another Marshall Faulk or Deion Sanders, or Michael Irvin. They need the best version of Nate.”
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2️⃣ Always Strive For More
During the period between Burleson’s playing days and his time as broadcaster, he would often find himself reminiscing on his pass success on the gridiron.
Between watching old highlights and lazily sitting back at his house, Burleson finally decided he was made for more being just a “former NFL wide receiver.”
Although his time chasing Super Bowls and pursuing an NFL Hall of Fame gold jacket were over, and his pursuit never materialized into awards or hardware, he discovered that his quest for trophies didn’t have to stop there.
“One day, I woke up, and I’m like, ‘Alright. I have to create some good habits,’” Burleson said. “… The Lombardi is a man-made trophy. Men make other trophies. Men make Emmys. Go win some other trophies.”
In 2016, just three years after his last full season in the NFL, Burleson was appointed as co-host of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.” A year later, he parlayed that success into a studio gig role with “The NFL Today” on CBS.
By 2021, he captured his first Sports Emmy Award for his work as a studio host.
“… And, I did,” Burleson said to me, in response to his end goal of securing meaningful hardware. “I’m working on my fifth Emmy [now].”
Burleson has also diversified his role in broadcasting outside the sporting realm. He also serves as a co-anchor for “CBS Morning,” the network’s daily morning news program, similar to Michael Strahan’s role with “Good Morning America.”
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3️⃣ Put The Team Above All Else
I often ask my “Next Up” Podcast guests about the best piece of advice they’ve ever received, and Burleson’s answer mirrored the way he played as a wideout and how he functions in front of the camera.
“The advice that I give myself is ‘Always be willing to be the best teammate,’” Burleson said. “What you’ll realize when you leave sports is that the person that is good at their job, and can coexist, is the one that everybody wants to work with.”
Burleson’s willingness to do what’s best for each team he’s a part of has paid dividends throughout his career — both on the field and in the studio.
He accumulated at least 50 single season catches for three different NFL squads. He’s paramount to CBS’s coverage as a network — in both sports and in newscasting. And he never asks for credit, despite being ready to step up and shine in a moment’s notice.
“You can be the superstar,” Burleson told me. “You don’t have to be it all the time but just prepare yourself. Prepare yourself for that inevitable moment when the stage is yours and the lights are the brightest, and you’re ready to do your solo thing.”
To watch my full interview with Burleson, click here.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at adam@brenemanmedia.com.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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