Trent Dilfer: 14 Year NFL QB & ESPN Analyst on how losing his son to heart disease at age 5 taught him so many life lessons..

Trent Dilfer is a former NFL quarterback (14 years), Pro Bowler and winning quarterback of Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens. After retiring from the NFL, he spent 9 years as an ESPN Analyst. Trent is the Head Coach of Elite 11, a quarterback camp featuring 24 of the nation’s best high school quarterbacks. In January, Dilfer was named Head Football Coach of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, TN.
Summary:
On this episode of Finding Your Summit Podcast, former NFL QB & Super Bowl winner, Trent Dilfer, talks about family life, values and impact. Trent shares the non-negotiables (or big rocks) for him and his family: Faith, Internal Voice (calling) and Intentionality. He tells us about what carried him and his family through the loss of his 5 year old son and how he went from competitor to ally with rival quarterback Matt Hasselback. Listen in as Trent discusses how rewarding it is to develop quarterbacks that not only end up leading professional teams but go on to have a significant impact in their community as well. Trent isn’t shy to share his thoughts on what he loved and didn’t love about working as an ESPN Analyst for 9 years. Trent’s story reminds all of us that no matter how much personal or professional success you’ve had, you will never be more alive than when you are stepping outside of your comfort zone and following your calling!
What You Will Learn:
Trent talks about the emotions he and his family faced as they made the decision for him to leave the comfort of retirement to coach high school football. This journey helped him to realize that we are all designed to have an impact, not to merely be comfortable. Dilfer says, “For the first time in 10 years, we all feel really alive and that we are serving our purpose. This was a calling!”.
Trent shares the “Big Rocks” or non-negotiables for his family, and Faith is #1. He believes that we all have an internal voice and goes on to say, “The more I listen to it...the more productive, impactful and passionate I am about life.” Trent discusses turning to his faith for strength and hope when his 5 year old son died from a heart condition. He shares how he learned to handle conflict better and be more of a peacemaker through watching his son.
Trent believes that life was meant to be lived with others, and this can be found in the dynamics of his relationship with former Seattle teammate, Matt Hasselback. Even though they were competing fiercely for the starting QB job, Trent earned Matt's trust by being authentic and realizing there was something deeper on the line - a friendship. Trent served Matt by pushing him to be the best he could be. Later in life, when Trent went through tough seasons in his life, God used people like Matt Hasselback to help heal Trent.
Trent was selected as the Head Coach of Elite 11 QB Camp because he had the vision, passion and leadership skills necessary to lead the organization. He took it from a camp to a cult following and eventually to a community. Trent discusses the unique journey that Quarterbacks take because there is a great burden on them for leadership. Elite 11 QBs will not only go to the NFL but will have a significant impact in their community.
Trent discusses the polarizing dynamic of being an ESPN Analyst for 9 years. He loved the ability to see his family and stay involved in the game, but eventually, the network created everything to be political and dramatic. ESPN became like the big news networks, and his job wasn't fun anymore.
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