Ep. 117 - Matt Overton - Faith, Family, & Football

[00:00:09] Welcome to Mental Toughness with Dr. Rob Bell. Each week, Dr. Rob sits down with athletes, executives, and expert coaches to talk about mental toughness and their hinge moment. Here's your host, Dr. Rob. But like just spiritually, like my relationship with God just grew incredibly close because

[00:00:37] I had nothing that I had before in Indy where I didn't have my friend group. I didn't have family. I didn't, at the time, I didn't have my girlfriend. We had broken up.

[00:00:48] There was a lot of things that God just removed me from and took me somewhere very, very uncomfortable where like I just had it just me and him leaning on him. And so my faith grew incredibly.

[00:01:01] So it's probably that 2017 year where that shift going from released to signed to somewhere I didn't want to go. Just feeling like I was really just on this trajectory just with my relationship with God at the time and just that was where my priorities had to be repriority.

[00:01:19] Guys, I feel like my prayer was, hey, I want to play football again and God answered with like, all right, well, I'm going to take you somewhere where we don't want to go. Folks, when I finished my 100-miler, I was happy to be done but I wasn't finished.

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[00:02:51] Our guest today has been playing in the NFL since 2007. He was the long snapper for the Indianapolis Colts 2012 to 2016 Pro Bowler in 2013. He's since. He's played for Jacksonville, Tennessee, the Chargers, most recently the Dallas Cowboys. He's host of the Stay Ready podcast.

[00:03:13] Excited about this because I've known this individual for many years and finally get to connect. Our guest is Matt Overton. Matt, thanks so much, man, for joining us. Thanks for having me. Long overdue, for sure. So two daughters now, Tatum, Newborn, and then you got Big Sis, True.

[00:03:28] What's the rhythm like in your world right now? I don't even think we have a rhythm right now. Just pure madness and chaos just trying to get into a good routine. They always say people with kids that have, you know, two or more say when you bring

[00:03:43] the second one in the house to kind of change the dynamic quite a bit. So that transition from one to two has been a big step for us. And right now, you know, our young, the one that just was born three weeks ago.

[00:03:55] So we're in that, you know, trying to get into good sleeping patterns and, you know, the, our oldest is going to be two years old next week. So she's kind of has some of the jealousy issues and, you know, her adjusting emotionally

[00:04:08] with it and not being the baby anymore. You know, so we're going through all that, but it's great. Two girls full on girl dad mode right now and my wife's doing great. And yeah, it's just, it seems like life is just extremely more busy, but in so many

[00:04:24] good ways. Yeah. No, that's really cool. We're at the age now where our kids are just old enough 14 and 12. Yeah. We are back to the point now, Matt, where we can be like, Hey, do you want to go to dinner tonight?

[00:04:38] Like, do you want to go do something? Yeah. Like we can just go do it. Yeah. I mean, that's, I don't think like people understand like when you have kids or it's not like, Hey, you know, just want to run off. I know.

[00:04:49] That was always the biggest adjustment for us. Now we got to pick and choose our battle battles for sure because going to dinner and bringing our two year old, I mean, you got to, you got to, it seems like

[00:04:57] you got to order your dinner as soon as you get there. You got to have some sort of, you know, toy or crayons or an iPad or something for her to stay, stay still for a little bit. So it's a little chaotic. Yeah. And it's, it's just crazy.

[00:05:12] I mean, it's, I think you kind of forget the newborn phases for the most part, a lot easier than having a toddler running around. So, yeah, we're in the thick of it, man. And it's, it's, it's great though.

[00:05:23] But I love it how you and Brie didn't have, he didn't know the genious gender. Like we didn't know the gender either. Yeah. We were always, we were on. Yeah. Secret. Yeah. Or I thought that was the best man because my, my wife comes from a family of 11.

[00:05:38] And she was the youngest and her mom never knew any of them. And we were always like, how did they do it back in the day? You know what I mean? And then there became like, okay, these gender reveal parties.

[00:05:48] And then it was like, all right, this is just a whole lot of pressure. Let's just go back to the way we did it. I mean, that's the best way to do it though. I thought. No, I loved it.

[00:05:56] But I think when, before my wife and I got pregnant, that was kind of a non-negotiable for me is that I don't want to do a gender reveal. I want to go old school and have it very spontaneous and have had the suspense leading up to it.

[00:06:08] And I think a lot of people just, they get kind of full of anxiety, not knowing and they want to prepare and all that kind of stuff. And I understand, but you know, we, we did everything like very gender, gender

[00:06:18] neutral as far as like the nursery and the clothing and all that kind of stuff. And man, when that baby pops out and you see if it's a boy or girl, it's, it's incredible. And so going into our second one, we're like, we got to do it again.

[00:06:30] And this time a little bit different because we were hoping we're, I think we're, we're hopeful for a boy. And we really thought that it was. And just by the way she was carrying the baby and the way her belly was shaped and all this kind of stuff.

[00:06:46] And you know, when that our daughter came out and, you know, I didn't see a little pee pee, you know, I was like, oh, we got another girl. Here we go. And so it's been, it's been great.

[00:06:58] And yeah, I firmly believe that, you know, one of the people have told me this, like one of the greatest gifts ever is, is revealing and seeing your baby boy or daughter born and you not knowing going in.

[00:07:13] So it really is truly an incredible gift and the suspense and surprises is great. Yeah, you can't, you can't, you can't get a much better surprise than that. Yeah. So when my kids were born as well, man, like I remember, remember the movie like Benjamin Button? Yeah.

[00:07:34] So this is a little bit, you know what I mean? It seems like yesterday. Yeah. I remember like watching that movie and then I was like, I mean just tears come down my face. I had no idea. Did you become more emotional like when your kids were born?

[00:07:47] No, I think, I think naturally I'm pretty a sentimental guy. I do get emotional a little bit, but I think in the moment, especially with my first daughter, I was a little bit more like just kind of surreal and taken back more than anything. My wife cried.

[00:08:04] I think I was in the state of shock just for a while. But as my, you know, my young or my oldest has grown up and seeing her just in these stages of life. Like, you know, sometimes when I put her to bed and I just lay next

[00:08:17] to her, sometimes I tear up just thinking about how fast she's grown up. And then so in the moment of, you know, the two girls being born, like I didn't, I wasn't as emotional as I thought I would be.

[00:08:30] Just because I think the experience when you actually watch a baby be born and you're there physically, like, you know, my I was the first hands to touch both of my daughters and just helping my, helping my wife,

[00:08:41] like being right there bedside with her and really seeing like just the beautiful gift of life happened before your eyes. It's very, I mean, it just takes you back. So I'm definitely the more sentimental one out of the two of us.

[00:08:55] And but in the moment, I was just kind of just, you know, more and more in shock. And then again, you you process the whole thing of like, man, I got two girls now, like, holy cow, I got my hand full, you know.

[00:09:06] And so and then a little bit of, you know, I hate it. I hate to say it, but sometimes you get a little disappointed when you are hoping it's a certain gender and it doesn't happen that way.

[00:09:18] And I'm in a like, you know, a little, little down and discouraged, but, you know, it takes 30 seconds to once you hold that baby, it doesn't matter, you know, what the gender is. And you just want to help be a happy, full grown baby.

[00:09:33] And we've been blessed with that for sure. So it was, you know, immediately I was just like so incredibly happy to have another girl. I didn't mean for this talk on kids that go for so long, but. Are good.

[00:09:47] You know, I feel like the outer statesman here when it comes to this. I mean, so I when it came to like faith growing up, I was always like Jesus loves us all the same. You know what I mean? It was like doesn't love anybody more or less.

[00:10:00] And I was always like, how can Jesus possibly love somebody that's going to be over here in Cincinnati as well as like this person? How can he love him the same? Yeah. Only when kids were born did it finally make sense. Yeah.

[00:10:16] Because how the depth of love for one can go, but then the width as well. And only when kids were born, did it finally make sense? That's true. That's a really good perspective to have because it really

[00:10:30] is true. And then, you know, when you don't have kids and you talk to people who do have kids and you always hear like there's no greater love than the love you'll have for your child. And you really just don't quite understand and grasp that that concept

[00:10:44] until you you have one, you know, but it's very true. So let's take a little bit further back, man. So playing football at Diablo Valley College going to Western Washington being the Vikings. Like, when was that hinge moment that you were like, Hey, I mean, pro football?

[00:11:05] Like, meaning when did I want it to be a reality or my dream or when when was that seed planted? Oh, I mean, I come from a football family. So when I was I was born into

[00:11:21] a pretty, you know, deep rooted football family, me and my dad played a college ball, my cousin did. My my grandfather at the time was a head college football coach. My mom was, you know, the daughter of a head football coach.

[00:11:35] So I mean, like I was put into football at age seven and Pop Warner. And I mean, ever since been playing and it's crazy to even think that, you know, for like 85 to 90 percent of my life, I've been playing the game of football.

[00:11:52] But it was early on that, like my dream was, you know, professional athlete, whether it was football or baseball or anything like that. And once I got to, you know, the high school level, I think it more shifted to football.

[00:12:05] Everything was driven around that, you know, my office season training, you know, obviously trying to get recruited. And, you know, the dream kind of became more of a reality or more of a realistic goal

[00:12:20] when I got to college and, you know, I was playing linebacker at the time. But I was long snapping as a secondary position. And I was getting the attention of scouts and coaches by my ability to long snap.

[00:12:33] And that was when people started telling me, hey, man, you have a special like if it's going to end, if it was your dream, like this is your golden ticket, stick to it and you have a God given ability that you know, a lot of guys don't have.

[00:12:46] And so I really honed in on that skill and, you know, went to camps and looked for any help that I can get because at the time I was pretty much just self taught.

[00:12:54] And yeah, I mean, lo and behold, I was kind of at the right place at the right time when I transferred up to Western Washington and Michael Cainan was a all American kicker and punter who had just recently got done with his eligibility, but he was being,

[00:13:10] you know, scouted for pre-drafts workouts. And at the time the Seahawks were working them out before the before the draft on campus. And I get a text message from my position coach saying, hey, you know,

[00:13:24] are you are you able to get to the field in 15 minutes and snap to Michael for his private workout? And at the time it was definitely, you know, against all NCAA rules for underclassmen to do that. But we went to a small Divin to school.

[00:13:42] So, you know, we weren't being investigated by the NCAA. So I went out there and snapped. And that was kind of when I got my name on the radar. So those next two years, I transferred to Western after my sophomore year

[00:13:55] at after Diablo Valley had played at Junior College for two years and then transferred up to Western played two years there. But those next two years after I got that feedback from the NFL scout was like, all right, this is this is something that could be really promising.

[00:14:12] And, you know, fortunately, that's what got my name on the radar was long snapping. Hey, good looking. If you like this podcast and are already a bad ass, but it's all way too complicated, then visit our website, DrRobBell.com

[00:14:32] and schedule a call with us to help capture your very own hinge moment. You know, it's the same thing like Dwight Clark, man. Like I remember here in the story, like Dwight Clark is walking out of his dorm room at Clemson and the phone's ringing.

[00:14:52] And then he goes and answers it. It's Bill Walsh for the quarterback. Yeah, he says, well, I mean, are you able to come catch passes? Yeah. And, you know, and and there's moments. Yeah, I know. I know. So that was definitely a looking back on my career.

[00:15:08] Like that was one of the those pivotal moments that, you know, you you look back and like, man, there's just is it, you know, God's blessing on that or is it just coincidence? And, you know, I'm a man of faith.

[00:15:19] So I had no no doubt that, you know, God put me there in that that position to, you know, be at Western on campus when Mike was there and and, you know, be able to snap for and I really don't even remember doing. I know I was there.

[00:15:37] It just seems so long going and but I do remember getting that feedback from my coaches saying, hey, wow, like they thought you did really well for being a junior and they're going to be watching.

[00:15:46] They're going to be watching for your name, you know, in a couple of years. So that was really like, like people had always told me coaches, family members, like I had a special niche skill. But when I heard it from like an NFL coach in Scout,

[00:16:00] that was when it was like, all right, right? It was something special. So then, you know, you're undrafted. You go to the Seahawks, though, invited on. I mean, don't make the team after training camp, right? Nothing. I was there for three days, man. Yeah. Three days.

[00:16:15] Yeah, I got I was never signed. I was an invited player. Right. So technically, I was never under contract, but when guys get invited, the hope is to get signed. So I was only there for three days during a mini camp and didn't do well enough

[00:16:29] to even I mean, at the time I was so raw and very underdeveloped and they come in from a small school. Like it was very intimidating for me. And I mean, I was like Starstruck to be in an NFL locker room

[00:16:42] coming from Western, you know, like, you know, it's not it's not the when people go to Western to play football, the dream isn't to go to the next level. It's there because you're there for academics and football is a hobby.

[00:16:54] And obviously, people do have aspirations at the Division two level. Don't get me wrong, but it's it's not, you know, you're not going to USC or, you know, Clemson or Alabama. I mean, that's why people go there because that's just a stepping stone

[00:17:08] to the next level and Western has never really been that. So for me, I never really had. I never had the prep, you know, going into the next level was just, you know, because either my coaches had no idea what the next level was like.

[00:17:23] And so I had no expectation. And so I went in there just like deer and headlights and didn't do very well and got let the nerves get the best of me. And so that was my first taste of the NFL.

[00:17:34] And, you know, the acronym is not for long. And for me, it was like, I got a taste of that three days and I was done. And I didn't get my next NFL opportunity. That was 2007. I didn't get my next NFL opportunity until three years later.

[00:17:48] So during that time, I mean, you just stayed in it. You were still playing and then just craft and still getting better. I mean, did you still have that vision about where it is that you wanted to go? Oh, the dream never died.

[00:18:01] I mean, I guess you could say I was definitely discouraged with after the Seattle mini camp. It was definitely just eyeopening to me like, all right, like when it comes to like the athletic ability, I definitely have what it was

[00:18:14] that would have took because I was there with two other veteran long snappers. So when it came to like size, strength, speed, like athleticism, I knew that I had that there was no question about it. And that's where playing linebacker and defense at any college like helped me

[00:18:31] kind of have a leg up on guys who normally would just snap in college and not have experience at a position. But it was the mental side of it. It was the technique side of it that I just really lacked.

[00:18:42] And so from there, I just sought out as much help as I can. And again, at this time, there was there was no YouTube. There was, you know, the internet is, you know, Facebook starting to take off a little bit.

[00:18:54] So the resources were especially for my position were just very far and few in between. And but there were some camps. There were some summer camps and some places that I could go to get some instruction

[00:19:07] where nowadays it's like, man, these kids in high school and middle school are going to these snapping camps and clinics and really getting grip prepped. Whereas, you know, 15, 20 years ago, that just was non-existent.

[00:19:21] And so again, it was just like, you know, I sought as much help as I could. Found some people that helped me. Again, it was still mainly mainly self taught. But between that 2007 and 2010, I got the opportunity to play in the United Football League just for snapping.

[00:19:39] And that that really helped me develop develop my game. And it helps me just continue to keep my name on the radar. But then your experience with the Colts, man, that was the longest I mean, the longevity that you had.

[00:19:58] I mean, you had a great trio with you guys, man, with Pat and Adam Beneteri. Talk about like that experience, man, what what you got from that experience, learning from those guys? Yeah, I mean, yes, it's been the longest spent five years there ever since then.

[00:20:15] It's kind of been a year to year deal for me bouncing around. But the five years I had there in Indy was truly special. I mean, obviously I walked in filling the shoes of Justin Snow, who had been there for like 11 years, one of Super Bowl with them.

[00:20:31] And, you know, it's not often that you get a long snapper. That's what the team for that long. So for me, it was just like, man, my goal would to be to be there for as long as Justin Snow was.

[00:20:45] And but going in knowing that I snap into the best kicker that has ever been in the NFL is incredible. And just, you know, thinking about where I was at when Adam was kicking game winners in the Super Bowl.

[00:20:58] I mean, I remember I was working, you know, at Home Depot, stacking cards at night while he was kicking a game winner against Carolina, you know, so it was just like a just a full circle moment, like getting an opportunity with the Colts.

[00:21:11] And I still remember, you know, getting the call and flying out there having my workout. And then I knew a little bit about Pat. I mean, at the time he was still a young player, but being around Vinitari was incredible.

[00:21:26] And then as we progressed and with the years together, it, you know, McAfee elevated his game to Pro Bowl and all pro and Vinitari the same. And so I got to work, you know, and witness firsthand what greatness looked like and what being a true pro really meant

[00:21:44] on and off the field. Share with us something about that, Matt. Like when you get to see that next level stuff, what did you take from it? What did you witness? What did you see? Yeah, it's just a small stuff.

[00:21:54] It's just the day to day, you know, tasks that these guys do. And, you know, I, you know, I know, you know, Vinitari is a kicker, but everyone in the locker room, especially the young guys can take something away from like, hey, look at this guy.

[00:22:10] Like he's going to be in the Hall of Fame one day. You know, there's a reason why he's here on year 20. And at the time we had Robert Mathis, Dwight Freny. I mean, Reggie Wayne.

[00:22:22] So there we had so many guys that we could just look to for like, hey, do what he does, you know, and it's a little things. It's the day to day tasks. It's the showing up on time.

[00:22:34] It's the, you know, taking care of your body on on off season and in season and the mental preparation, the focus and like just the determination to always be better and never be content. And I learned a lot of that from Vinitari and then Maccuffee was,

[00:22:49] you know, obviously he was learning too. And man, just the way that those guys just approached day to day, it was always, it was always competitive. It was never, never satisfied with where you're at. They always wanted to be the best. And I rubbed off on me.

[00:23:04] I wanted to, I wanted to help them be the best, you know, it starts, it starts with the snap, you know? And so, you know, I took a lot of pride in working with those guys

[00:23:13] and we had a really good friendship on and off the field there together. And it was just a special time. And I look back on it seems like so long ago, but it's just

[00:23:23] it is really cool that I get to that I can say that I played with the goat. I mean, I know Justin Tucker is arguably the best kicker currently. But, you know, I'm biased and I think Vinitari is the best

[00:23:35] that ever do it and all time points leader and score in the NFL. So, you know, it's just it's incredible to have had that experience with him and Pat, you know, and, you know, because Pat left the game at his highest

[00:23:51] and he'd probably be still playing at the highest level right now. He was still playing because that's just how good he is and how competitive he is. But when I take when I go to a new team and I have a younger kicker or younger punter and

[00:24:06] it's an honor and privilege to kind of be in that older mental role. And, you know, I take things that I learned from those two guys and implement try to implement that with young guys because I get asked a lot.

[00:24:16] You know, what was like playing with Vinitari and McPhee? And now because those two guys are so widely respected by everybody across the league and even guys that are young that, you know, we're probably at, you know, in I don't know, middle school when those guys were playing,

[00:24:32] you know, so we're not even born. You know, some of those guys weren't even born yet when Vinitari entered the NFL. So it's just it's crazy. So but it was it was a special time, special time in my time in Indy was very

[00:24:46] was very cherished and I look back and those were some some awesome times. Yeah. You know, with the years that you've been in the league, you know, in Jacksonville, Tennessee, I mean, trials with the Broncos, your podcast, Stay Ready.

[00:25:03] I mean, that's become a theme for your life, hasn't it? It has been since being cut by the Colts. Yeah. Yeah. Talk to us about, man, you know, Stay Ready and that mentality that you have to have and, you know, and how you've approached,

[00:25:17] you know, your career life. Yeah. I mean, you know, like I said, there was I definitely look back on my time as a Colt and there's some really high moments and great memories. And then there's some really like low moments, whether it's,

[00:25:32] you know, personally or professionally and and had a lot of struggles at times during my time there. Like what were some of the low moments, man? I feel like I'm asking. Yeah. I mean, 2015, I went through you know, started the season off just like in a rut.

[00:25:48] And I think a lot of it had to do with, you know, distractions and just priorities and and being too comfortable being content, not taking the offseason seriously. And so I got I got released after it was the spring of 2017, I got released and kind of just got

[00:26:06] swiped, you know, I, you know, at the time McAfee had just retired and so it was just me and Vinitari and and they're kind of unsure about who would fill the shoes of Pat at Punnner. And then they brought a new GM in.

[00:26:22] I get I get released before the draft and that kind of just, you know, you know, my world just kind of you know, came crumbling down. And again, it goes back to my faith, my priorities, everything. And at the time, you know, just football was everything to me.

[00:26:37] But, you know, I also was just kind of living a life that was very that wasn't helping my professional career become like fruitful and and what not. So I just I just, you know, was that was in the moment where

[00:26:53] hey, I at the time I wasn't staying ready for, you know, my preparation or staying ready for certain things that to either go right or go wrong. And the stay ready mentality kind of just started with a hashtag, you know,

[00:27:07] when I was training and trying to get back on a team. Right. And it was just I mean, it's just pretty self-explanatory like stay ready for the opportunity. And you never know when that opportunity is going to come.

[00:27:16] But when it does, like, you know, hopefully you are ready and putting the putting the work in. And so I was doing that. But it over time, it's just kind of grown into more of a faith based spiritual more like, hey, like stay ready for God's divine,

[00:27:31] you know, appointments, you know, sometimes it's a door closing. Sometimes it's a door opening and how are you going to react? How are you going to respond in those moments? And, you know, so it's kind of just yeah, it was in those dark days

[00:27:42] of me being released by the Colts that kind of shifted my mind, shifted my faith and my perspective. And it took a while for me to get priorities in line. And, you know, with the Colts, we talk about faith, family, football.

[00:27:53] That's like the three pillars of success within that organization. And for me, for the longest time, it was football, family, faith, you know, football was took precedent over everything and which is good. You know, you need to, you know, you need to put the energy

[00:28:07] into your into your craft, into your job. It's it is your job and your responsibility. But, you know, I was I was putting football in front of family and faith and, you know, I had everything just out of whack, you know.

[00:28:19] And, you know, I took I didn't know how to leave work at work and I brought the stresses home. And so talk talk to me about that a little bit like when when you shifted and when the priorities then became faith family and then, you know, your career,

[00:28:35] how did how did that change? You know, your focus and the way you approached it. I mean, really, I've shared the story several times, but it just it took it took for God to take me somewhere where I didn't want to go. So during that 2017 offseason, spring time,

[00:28:52] kind of had a had a short list of teams that I wanted would like to go play for. And again, our desires and never what God wants for us, you know. So, you know, I was looking at certain teams like Green Bay and Arizona

[00:29:05] and all the kind of stuff. And and at the time, the Jaguars were the only team showing any interest and, you know, being AFC South opponent and then being at the bottom of the total pool every year. My I did not want to go to Jacksonville.

[00:29:24] And I honestly, I went there twice on two different occasions for workouts and never seemed like every time I went, I was a little discouraged. Like, I don't want to be here. And I did well in the workouts.

[00:29:36] Like, I put I feel like I put my best foot forward when I was on the field. But like just deep down inside, I'm like, I just I don't want to be here. Like selfishly, I just don't want to be here. I want to be somewhere else.

[00:29:48] And at the time, you know, they, you know, they come like a 16 or three and 13 record. So it's just bottom of the barrel. You know, the attendance at games are the worst in league. They're kind of the black eye of the NFL, you know?

[00:30:04] And lo and behold, that's where that's where I got signed. And God took me there. And it was it was the greatest, probably one of the greatest years I had. For many reasons, like I was I was playing really well.

[00:30:18] But like just spiritually, like my relationship with God just grew incredibly close because I had I had nothing that I had before in Indy where I didn't have my my friend group. I didn't have family. I didn't at the time I didn't have my girlfriend.

[00:30:34] We had broken up. There was a lot of things that God just removed me from and took me somewhere very, very uncomfortable where, you know, like I just had it's just me and him leaning on him. And so my faith grew incredibly.

[00:30:48] So it's probably that 2017 year where that shifts, you know, going from released to signed to somewhere I didn't want to go. Just feeling like I was really just on this trajectory, just with, you know, my relationship with God at the time.

[00:31:02] And just that was where my priorities had to be repriority. As I feel like, you know, my prayer was, hey, I want to play football again. And, you know, God answered with like, all right, well, I'm going to take you somewhere where we don't want to go.

[00:31:15] You're going to be very uncomfortable, but these are the necessary changes you need to be. And I mean, it's crazy looking back. You know, that was six years ago and, you know, I'm now married to the girl that I was broken up with.

[00:31:28] And I've been playing ever since and it's been, it's been an incredible journey. But yeah, it took so it took for, you know, to get knocked on my butt a few times to realize like, Hey, like, you got to get your priorities and check.

[00:31:39] And at first and foremost, you got to be, your faith has to be before anything. And so stay ready has kind of evolved to go back to your question. Like stay ready is evolved into this more of like, which is a faith based

[00:31:54] like mentality where every day is like, you don't know what's going to happen. And you got to be able to respond to good or bad things. And, you know, I try to instill that in some of the young guys and

[00:32:06] that I work with and hopefully just set a good example. And, you know, because nothing's ever guaranteed. Yeah, you're definitely doing that, my man. Like I always say faith isn't really faith until it's all you've got. Oh, and that's all I had in Jacksonville. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:32:25] So I mean, my wife will probably roll my eyes because I talk about too much. But I my desert season was in Jacksonville where I just felt like I was just desolate by myself, you know, had, you know, I was I was happy on the field

[00:32:41] because that was my outlet. But at home I was just lonely. I was alone and and just kind of in a very depressed state. But in that moment, that's where I just the Holy Spirit was with me along

[00:32:54] the way like, hey, we're going to get through this, you know, like. And so and I even got hurt my first time ever getting hurt and put on an IR that year. So like I just like all these different things that have happened

[00:33:05] that year that was so good for me at the time they weren't good. They didn't feel right. But looking back, it was like, man, that's exactly where I needed to be at that time for for God to mold me into the man that he was like

[00:33:20] trying to get me to be. It's awesome. Moses reference there, man. Yeah, yeah. Well done. Yeah. So with the Cowboys that we're at, I mean, as a complete organization and you've talked about this on your podcast as well, I mean, they do it

[00:33:36] right as an organization, don't they? Yeah, every every little thing is is pretty. It's Jerry's world, man. Everything's done right. Everything's bigger, bigger in Texas. And with the Cowboys, it's I mean, it's it goes like it goes down to

[00:33:48] like the the minute details of, you know, the star logo being on a napkin or on a, you know, a paper coffee cup. I mean, there's no stone left unturned with that organization as far as like really, you know, being all about football and the brand.

[00:34:05] And it's bigger than football there. It's it really is it's what Jerry has done with that organization. It's become just like this culture where, you know, if you if you're not familiar with what the star is in Frisco, but it's the star is our practice facility.

[00:34:21] But like the star is like its own little mini community right there in Frisco where there's retail, there's shopping, there's tourists coming in every single week to visit. And there's literally like tours of hundreds of people that walk

[00:34:36] around our facility daily, you know, we're at lunch or we're in meetings and there's like these massive groups of people walking in and out, you know, seeing what the Dallas Cowboy organization is all about. And and it's just different, man. It's it's it's at the highest.

[00:34:53] I mean, it's like being a New York Yankee is the probably the easiest way that I can put into terms, you know, and it's just very, very special. A lot of rich history and tradition. And and it's just it's it's really cool. It's cool to experience that night.

[00:35:07] Every every place has been special in its own way. Yeah. But from like just the grandness of of an organization and a brand and all that kind of stuff, like being a cowboy is different, man. Yeah. Yeah. So your very first snap then, like as a cowboy.

[00:35:27] Yeah, I thought it was a great snap. Obviously, you know, it was just a tad early. Yeah. When that happens in a game, you're a veteran, you've done this so many thousands and thousands of times yet this still happened. Yeah. Where does your mind go in that moment?

[00:35:42] And how are you able to move on from that and adjust? Yeah. So, I mean, again, going back like, you know, if that would have happened, you know, early in my career, you know, I probably wouldn't have had

[00:35:55] just the more the mental fortitude to like just stay poised in the in the moment. I would probably would have let my emotions get the best of me. And and yeah, it was just one of those things were like, man,

[00:36:06] like looking back on it and even in the moment. As soon as that ball left my hands, I knew it was early. And it was just it went back to like maybe my preparation during this, you know,

[00:36:17] because when, you know, I signed my first game with with them was in early October. So I'm joining the team week five with very little preparation with the team. And so it's just it's really just thrown into the fire immediately.

[00:36:32] And I've been in that situation before and I'm very comfortable in a, you know, situation. But in that moment, you know, I was obviously I was frustrated and upset that that happened.

[00:36:43] And it was kind of just I was kind of laughing at myself, like, are you kidding me? Like, is this really my first play as a Dallas Cowboy? You know, and it was against the team that I was just I was against the Rams.

[00:36:54] I was just on the Rams practice squad two weeks prior to that. So it's just like, gosh, thing, are you serious? You know, so my first impression, I'm like, gosh, I just let my I just felt like my first impression with the team, Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy,

[00:37:07] our special teams coach, Bones Fossil, like, gosh, that's just awful. And I just leaned on we have we have a great mental strength coach named Chad. And he's he's the head mental coach for for us and for the Yankees.

[00:37:25] And that week, the kind of the theme going into the week was poised in confidence. And I just went I remember writing that in my notebook. It's my first week, you know, I'm I'm I'm a big note taker.

[00:37:37] So for me to be in there and taking notes is big. Like this is my you know, I'm trying to get into the groove of the team. It's week five, you know, the teams, you know, four and oh at the time or whatever was they're rolling.

[00:37:48] And so yeah, just I'm taking my notes and I remember writing down poise and confidence and for whatever reason, I like. That that really resonated with me on the bench after that play happened. Like, hey, stay poised, stay confident. And, you know, poise is huge in professional sports.

[00:38:04] You just can't get too high can't get too low. And then just the confidence as like, like you said, like I've been I've been doing this for a long time and just go out and go have the confidence and trust in your abilities.

[00:38:15] And that's kind of what I leaned on in that moment. And I look at I remember just like looking up at the scoreboard, like I know the cameras on me. I know people in the stands are heckling me.

[00:38:24] I know my family and friends back home are probably text text message of me and Twitter is blowing up. But I was just like, man, just stay confident in the moment. And and went out there and I just played well, you know,

[00:38:36] just kind of let that move on to the next play. And, you know, we you kind of you have to have that that mentality in sports like next play, next play, next play and for a long snapper. I know it's, you know, we don't get very many plays.

[00:38:51] Not like we're going out there and playing quarterback where we throw an interception like, hey, I still have several other opportunities that correct that as for us, you know, you know, it's it's, you know, maybe you get five snaps and what not. So, yeah, I definitely remember staying

[00:39:08] staying in the mental like focus of being poisoned confidence. And it worked out. Yeah. No, I appreciate you sharing that, man. Yeah. So week 18, right? And watching first Washington, your kicker at the time, Red Mour, missed an extra point, which by itself is no big deal. It happens.

[00:39:27] I noticed because I was watching and then the next week, then he missed his first extra point kick. And when he missed that one, I was the only one to kind of jump on it because I said that's not good because I remember the Washington kick.

[00:39:40] And I said, and there's a thing like, especially like with golf and sometimes like when you'll or when you hook it or when you push it. And it's very, very similar like with kicks, but it was the way he missed it.

[00:39:50] He ends up missing four in that playoff game. And then he became, you know, a big story then heading into the San Francisco game. I mean, he's drafted in 2013 as well. I mean, he's a veteran. I mean, what was it like for you during that time?

[00:40:06] And how were you able to, you know, impart upon him? Yeah, man, go back to my first snap. And we know the first person to comment to me after that play was Red Mour. Like, hey, man, like we're good. Like let's move forward.

[00:40:19] Like and and so like I never want to act as if I know specifically what that person is going through, whether it's a kicker or quarterback. Again, I'm not a quarterback. I'm not a kicker. I just know that, hey, like the trio, us, you know, us together,

[00:40:35] we have to stick together if you're thinking thin. And for me, I just wanted Brett to know, like, hey, dude, like you got this. And unfortunately it went, it went, you know, kind of. I mean, just was one of those blue games where like again,

[00:40:49] like a golfer, just you weren't making contact the right way and you weren't whatever the case may be. But yeah, I just said those days were like for me, like I feel like my snaps are off, whether it's my release or my fall through

[00:41:01] or my grip and there's just something missing or it's just the mental aspect of you get too far in your head where you just you're thinking way too much. And that may have been the case for Brett, but I just want to brought to know,

[00:41:12] like I just went to the sideline, like give him fist bump. And, you know, I don't want to say the words on here that I said to him. But like, you know, I was just like, dude, I want to let you know that I got your back.

[00:41:23] I got your back, bro. And and let him know that I'm as confident in him as, you know, anyone else. You know, so again, it's it's very important for the three of us to kind of just say we we are our own team within this team.

[00:41:38] You know, don't worry about what a receiver says to you or a coach says to you, like, let's just hone in on our responsibilities as a trio and and do our best. And it was a crazy game.

[00:41:49] And, you know, obviously, it was a rough one for Brett and, you know, he he manned up as a as a true pro and in, you know, answered the media and all the questions directly after the game.

[00:42:00] Obviously had a lot of pressure and a lot of like, and you mentioned the spotlight of being a Dallas Cowboy. I mean, it's just it seems like the the media attention is 10 times is greater than anywhere else.

[00:42:12] And so yeah, there was just a lot of pressure on him going that week. And obviously everyone talking about it on TV. So he handled himself like a true pro man. I'm just incredibly proud. And it just speaks to the character of of who Brett Maher is.

[00:42:28] And and he has been through a lot in his career, you know? And so, man, I go to bat for that guy any day because it truly and when I've I've been around some really, really good kickers, you know, Benetaria being one of them, Dustin Hopkins,

[00:42:42] Stephen Gaskowski, those are guys who have snapped to and Brett Maher fits that fits that mold as being one of the one of the great kickers that I've been able to work with. So it was it was a crazy time.

[00:42:53] And again, for me, the greatest thing that I could be is just a positive asset to him and just always be positive upbeat and just knowing that. Hey, like in that moment, it could be very, very lonely, especially at that position.

[00:43:07] So I just wanted everyone to know that I had I had his back and especially he knew that. Yeah. No, and I love that, man. And I appreciate that with with that said, like that week heading in did

[00:43:19] I mean, obviously, there's going to be a little bit more stress, a little bit more tension to it. Did your preparations stay exactly the same or was there anything? Oh, yeah, you don't you don't ever change the approach.

[00:43:28] I mean, I think that's what happens to a lot of young guys. They try to change the routine. They try to change certain things. I mean, that's what the offseason for the offseason is for, you know,

[00:43:41] changes, you know, you know, in season, you just have to obviously make corrections. But these big drastic changes that it just it's unnecessary and it's unrealistic. And so you have to stick to what works.

[00:43:54] And it was just again, it was a fluke game and I'm sure he watched film and was able to like see, you know, ball contact where his foot was his plant foot. It was a lot of different factors with kicking, just like a golf swing.

[00:44:07] And so, man, he went into that week with just a lot of obviously he just kind of had his head down like, hey, I'm just going to focus on me. Distractions just try to eliminate as much as possible and just go forward.

[00:44:20] And he had, I mean, he crushed it. He was perfect on the week and and was kicking the ball just like he was, you know, the entire year. And people people forget, you know, he had a he had a pro bowl caliber year. Oh, yeah.

[00:44:33] It wasn't like he was struggling early on or anything. No, like he like up to that point was arguably one of the best kickers in the league. And and so, yeah, man, he just again, that's the true pro of Brett Martin. Just going in there.

[00:44:48] I mean, the year before me, Mason Crosby had a game like that. I mean, Mr. Yeah, I mean, there's yeah, I've been I've been with Vinitieri when he struggled too. I mean, obviously, the end of Vinny's Vinny's career when he was going through some injuries.

[00:45:01] I mean, he was missing kicks all the time. And you know, it's just guys go through that, you know, and it's one of those again, it's like the snapping position. It's you go unnoticed and you're not really you're just kind of taking for granted. And that's good.

[00:45:15] But when things go wrong or one blip happens, like people just, you know, go crazy, you know, or they, you know, they think kicking is easy. They think snapping is easy. It's not, you know, it's it's there's a reason why there's 32 in the league doing it.

[00:45:27] So or in the world, you should say. Yeah. Um, when it comes to the mental game, like how important is is patience? Oh, it's well for me being a free agent every single year, like patience is like such a virtue for me.

[00:45:43] I mean, I get ants, especially it's free agency right now. Like I am very hopeful to play again. I want to I want, you know, again, my desire is to be a cowboy. I want to go back there.

[00:45:53] Um, but, you know, I've been through this is my fourth year in a row now, like most likely going to a different team. Um, whether it's signed today or in October, I just don't know. But being patient is definitely key.

[00:46:07] Um, there's some benefits for sure to be in a being in my position at my age. Like it gives me a lot of time at home with my family. It gives me a lot of time to train with my trainer and really work on my craft.

[00:46:22] Um, and, uh, it kind of keeps the chip on my shoulder too. So there's always like that edge, like where, you know, I have to, I have to set out and prove it, prove it over and over and over again.

[00:46:33] And, and so like never being content and comfortable. It's, it's, it's kind of a good thing, you know? Um, but also if I get signed early and go to a team, like go back to Dallas,

[00:46:43] for instance, it would be great to be with that team early on and build that camaraderie and be a leader and, and be, be with the team, like from day one and the dog days of training camp.

[00:46:53] I would love to experience that, but I just have to trust in what God has for me and for my family. And, and, uh, um, so there's times I get anxious. I, you know, sometimes I look at my phone too much like seeing if I'm,

[00:47:08] who's getting signed, if my agent's called and stuff like that. But I've been through it enough that I went, I went into this off season with the expectation of like really having no expectation.

[00:47:18] Um, I kind of have, um, really accepted the role that I have in this league. And that's, you know, if I'm the emergency guy, then so be it. You know, I know that I've proven it over and over again, that if a

[00:47:33] guy gets injured, um, in the, in the season or doesn't do well, then they need a guy to come step in last second, like that I can be the guy that they can trust. And if that's my role, um, from here on out, that's great.

[00:47:46] I just, I just love the play. I love to compete. Um, there's something kind of cool and special to go somewhere else and somewhere different. Um, it's a way for me to obviously meet, meet different guys and,

[00:47:58] and be a disciple in a different locker room and my, uh, my family can experience a different city. Um, again, there's just the unknown is kind of exciting. Want to listen to your favorite music, but you're sick of all the commercial interruptions and negative news today.

[00:48:14] Tune into cucko radio.com music for your mindset. We're a commercial free online radio station. Play nothing but hits are free iOS and Android apps are available for download at Cucko radio.com. Yeah. Oh, I love it, man. Like long snap or profit, man. There you go. Yeah.

[00:48:35] Yeah. I just came up with that. There you go. I like it. Coin it. Um, well, and back to your point, man, just about staying ready. I mean, living that philosophy out. I think it's one thing to say it, but when you embody it, it's definitely another.

[00:48:50] Yeah, it's never, it's never that easy. You know, but, um, you know, I think for me, it's just like, you know, there's been moments and whether it's not even football related when, you know, when there's opportunities that come along and, and you know that you haven't prepared

[00:49:05] for that, whether it's a speech at school or a test or a job interview, like those are uncomfortable situations to be in. Um, and you know, I'm not, I'm not witty enough to weeds on my way through stuff like that. Sometimes depending on the setting I'm in.

[00:49:22] And so for football, like there's been workouts that I've gone to where I'm like, all right, I definitely haven't been training the way I have. And again, it goes back to being cut from the Colts. Like those off seasons, I didn't, I didn't really focus

[00:49:37] on the off season for training and like, and I never wanted to feel that way again. If I get cut, that's fine. Sometimes that's the control of it. If I know that I didn't give my all, then that's where the let down is at.

[00:49:48] That's where the disappointment is at. So for every, every off season really since it's been like, man, it's been really heavily dedicated to, you know, getting in better shape, always trying to get better. This like we have the, the, the same, this is the best yet,

[00:50:04] the best yet, like every year it's like, let's, how can we get better? It wears before when I, young, my career, I never had that mindset. Um, I got a little too comfortable and I don't want to be that way again. Yeah. No, I love it, man.

[00:50:18] Matt, what, uh, what question should I be asking that, uh, that I'm not asking? Just to me in particular or two other athletes are No, just you brother. I guess you can ask too. It's like, how do you, how do you balance your professional life and family life?

[00:50:40] Obviously for me, it's, you know, five years ago, I was, you know, single with no kids. Life's a little bit easier, you know, because you can live that selfish lifestyle and do whatever you want whenever you want. And there's those pros and cons of that.

[00:50:55] Obviously I was in a place where I was probably doing stuff that I shouldn't have been doing. Um, but when I got married, obviously that, that was an incredible blessing, but now you're, you're providing for another person, you're coexisting with another person, you're building

[00:51:10] a life together with another person. So some of those selfish ways, like how to, like, go to the wayside, you know? Um, and then obviously you add kids and for me, like trout, like, you know, going from team to team logistically, it's like, man, like,

[00:51:26] what is, what does life look like if I go to a different city, where are my kids going to go to school? What's, where's, where's my wife going to be able to, uh, you know, go work out or the women she can meet, you know, like

[00:51:38] there's just all these things that what ifs, you know, or if I was just single, it'd be so easy because it's just, it's just me going. But as I've grown older and my family's grown and I've had to reprioritize a few things

[00:51:50] and, and yeah, I'm just not playing for myself anymore. I'm playing for something much bigger. And so, um, seeing my wife and my daughter in the stands at a game means so much more to me than I ever thought it could be. Um, because we're doing it together

[00:52:08] and, and, uh, it's really cool. I always, you know, when I, when Venetairi's kids would be at a game or at a practice, I always like envied that. I'm like, man, it'd be so cool to have your kids see what you do, see what daddy does.

[00:52:23] You know, and again, if you don't have kids early on in your career, because, you know, if you're not having kids really, the NFL is really the average age is, you know, you make it three years maybe. And so if you come into the league at 21,

[00:52:39] you're done by 24. A lot of those people are not having kids. So for me, it was like, man, it would be really cool if I can get to that age at the time. You know, I was 27, 28 years old, single with no kids.

[00:52:51] But I may not even be lucky enough to be married and have children to see me play. So the fact that I'm able to have that now and share in those special moments has been really cool because that's just, again, God's blessing

[00:53:09] to be able to play this game for as long as I have and share it. It's more meaningful when you share it with others. So I think my, you know, when I kind of like it goes back to the priorities, you know,

[00:53:21] setting things and where they need to be. And it's more it's more impactful for me and more, more meaningful for me that I can share this football journey with my wife and my daughter as my family. It's not just about me anymore.

[00:53:37] I love it, man. That's a mic drop. Yeah, right? Matt, thanks so much, man, for joining us and I really appreciate it. My pleasure. My pleasure. Yeah, it's really good to connect with you, man. And again, like I got, I got put on to you

[00:53:52] and following you on Twitter, like when I was going through some really, really tough times and I mean, it's what you talk your daily, when your daily tweets is persistent and persistent, patience and persistence. And it's like, it's so true.

[00:54:06] So I appreciate you just kind of leading by example. And and you probably helped me more than you ever thought. So it's great to finally connect face to face after all these years, man. Awesome, man. Thanks so much, man. I appreciate that.

[00:54:20] Thank you, man. Have a good day. Thanks for listening to Mental Toughness with Dr. Rob Bell. To find out more about Dr. Rob, visit his website at DrRobBell.com or follow him on Twitter at DrRob Bell and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform

[00:54:50] to get the next episode of Mental Toughness as soon as it's available. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.