Chalk Talk: Thought NFL Linebacker Brandon Copeland Retired? Think Again
This career athlete has not stopped working for a day since he left the NFL. Wait until you hear everything (and I mean everything) this entrepreneur, professor, investor, advisor, coach, and philanthropist has been up to.
Brandon “Cope” Copeland may not be playing football professionally anymore, but he certainly isn’t retired. To be honest, I’m not convinced he’s rested a single day since leaving the NFL, but I doubt he would have it any other way.
Brandon has long wanted his life to have purpose beyond football. He doesn’t want to be remembered simply for the number of tackles and sacks that show up in his NFL Next Gen Stats. He wants to be remembered for how he helped others live a fulfilling and meaningful life – how he helped open doors for them to be whatever they want to be. At the same time, he has always been committed to going beyond the basics in everything he does in business and in life, hence the name Beyond the Basics, Inc. for his family’s foundation.
That’s probably why his resume has grown by several pages within just a few months of “retirement.” He’s “doing well by doing good” from both a business and philanthropic perspective, turning his ambitions into actions that echo a positive energy far and wide across the globe.
I mean, all you have to do is spend 30 seconds on his website – brandoncopeland.com – to see that Cope answered the call to “be all you can be.” But after spending 30 minutes catching up with him on our latest episode of Chalk Talk, it became clear that the only reason he’s working so hard right now in retirement is that he wants you to be all that you can be. His life purpose is helping others realize and live theirs.
The stories he shared on this episode are incredible! Some left me just shaking my head speechless. Whether or not you’re a football fan (or have ever heard of Cope before), I promise you’re going to remember him and be inspired by him after listening to this conversation:
Prefer to read the transcript? Download here. You can also download the MP3 to listen later in the player below:
Chalk Talk: Brandon Copeland is Back!
Miss our previous conversation with Cope? Catch up here:
Chalk Talk Episode #9: NFL Pro and Life Literacy Coach Brandon Copeland Wants Us All to Start Normalizing Conversations Around Money and Meet New People. Here’s Why.
###
BONUS: If you’re a football fan, you’ll want to tune into our Super Bowl LVIII press conference here.
An all-star panel of experts unveil Next Gen Stats data highlights related to the Super Bowl and how this technology changes the game for players, coaches, and fans alike:
- EVP of Football Operations at the NFL, Troy Vincent
- Sr. Director of Media Strategy, Business Development & Next Gen Stats for the NFL, Josh Helmrich
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver and finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Makea “Puka” Nacua
- VP of Player Health & Performance at the Minnesota Vikings, Tyler Williams
- Head of Sports & Global Professionals Services at AWS, Julie Neenan Souza
- North America & Sports Marketing Lead at Zebra, Amy Sullivan
Adam Petrus
Adam Petrus is currently the Business Development and Sales Lead for Sports & Entertainment at Zebra Technologies where he is responsible for growing Zebra’s hardware and software solutions across the world of sports and the entertainment industry. Prior to joining the sales team Adam co-managed Zebra’s game day operation of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats program and served as the project lead for the NFL’s Equipment Tracking Program, Virtual Locker. Adam has more than 15 years of experience within the sports and technology industry and has been working with Next Gen Stats since 2015. Previously, he worked in the front office of an NFL Football Club, served within the United States Intelligence Community supporting special operations to include two and a half years in Iraq and was a licensed and certified sports agent. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University out of Berea, Ohio and attended the International Institute for Management & Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland where he earned a certificate in Business Management and Leadership.
As an active member of the community, Adam serves on the Baldwin Wallace University Carmel-Boyer School of Business Advisory Council, served on the Board of the Ponte Vedra Beach Rotary International Club and is a member of the Jacksonville JAXSports Council - a non-profit established to enhance and positively impact the quality of life and community pride, along with generating economic impact and growth through professional and amateur sports. An outdoor enthusiast, Adam enjoys running, paddle boarding, golfing and being an active parent alongside his wife Jenn to their daughters Olivia (7) & Peyton (5) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Gunner and Nash.
Fun Fact:
"My first job in the NFL was at age 16 when I was hired by the Cleveland Browns Groundcrew. This position then led to a promotion into the front office when I was in college and a full-time role upon graduation."
