Brandon Marshall: Only 1% Make the NFL… Here’s Why Most Fail | DSH #1817

Former NFL linebacker Brandon Marshall sits down in Las Vegas to break down what most fans never see behind the curtain of professional football — how political the NFL really is, how slim the odds are of making it, and why being “almost as good” isn’t good enough. Brandon opens up about getting cut multiple times, fighting through practice squads, earning respect from Peyton Manning, and finally getting his shot in Week 17 — right before the playoffs. Beyond football, he shares hard-earned lessons from transitioning out of the league and betting on himself as a first-time restaurant owner of Hattie Marie’s, including costly mistakes, razor-thin margins, rising food costs, and why managing people is harder than playing in the NFL. This is a real conversation about competition, money, pressure, identity, and what it actually takes to survive at the highest level. What You’ll Learn 👇 🏈 Why only 1% of high school athletes ever make the NFL 💼 How money and politics influence roster decisions 📉 Why “being close” to a veteran isn’t enough — you must be clearly better 🔥 How Brandon earned respect from Peyton Manning before ever playing 🧠 What retiring athletes struggle with most after football 🍽️ The brutal truth about owning a restaurant 💸 How a $130K sales-tax mistake almost crushed the business 📈 Why experience matters more than hype in hospitality ⚖️ How rising food costs and tariffs affect small businesses 🔁 Why repeat customers matter more than anything Chapters (Timestamps) 0:00 — Only 1% Make the NFL (The Real Odds) 0:40 — From NFL Player to Restaurant Owner 1:23 — Why Most Restaurants Fail Early 2:48 — Organic Marketing vs Paid Ads 5:25 — NFL Life: Eating, Training, and Discipline 8:28 — The Politics Behind Playing Time 10:00 — Money vs Talent: How Roster Decisions Are Made 14:28 — Getting Cut, Practice Squad, and Doubt 17:31 — Peyton Manning Noticed Him 26:12 — Betting on Himself with Hattie Marie’s 🎙️ APPLY OR CONNECT 👉 Interested in being a guest? Apply here: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application 💼 SPONSORS 🥗 Fuel your health with Viome: https://buy.viome.com/SEAN Use code “Sean” at checkout for a discount! QUINCE: https://quince.com/dsh 📩 Business Inquiries & Sponsorships sean@digitalsocialhour.com 👤 GUEST Brandon Marshall: https://www.instagram.com/bmarshall/ 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 📸 Follow the Host Sean Kelly on Instagram: @seanmikekelly ⚠️ DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team. The host and producers are not responsible for statements, claims, or opinions shared by guests during the show. This content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals when appropriate. While we aim to share accurate and reliable information, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or accuracy. 🔥 Stay tuned for more conversations with creators, founders, and innovators shaping the digital world. Keywords brandon marshall, nfl politics, making the nfl, nfl odds, practice squad life, peyton manning story, nfl business side, life after football, former nfl player, athlete transition, restaurant ownership, hattie marie restaurant, vegas restaurant, entrepreneur athlete Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.