Life After the NFL and Finding Your New Purpose

Jon talks with Don Carey and Glenn Parker, former NFL players, about life after the NFL and finding their new purpose.

Don Carey: The REECH Foundation provides students the opportunity of academic achievement and exposure to diverse areas through hands-on, innovative programs with the hope of ultimately inspiring them to reach their maximum potential and become significant contributors to society.

It was founded by Don & Lakeisha Carey to impact inner city youth by expanding their horizons to new opportunities they may not have known existed. They believe that by providing students the opportunity of academic achievement and exposure to diverse arenas, they can ultimately be inspired to reach their maximum potential and become significant contributors to society.

The foundation's main areas of focus are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math), physical wellbeing, health, social and moral responsibility along with vocational and collegiate preparation.

Glenn Parker: Born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA, Glenn was raised at the beach. He played all sports until age 14 when being physically and emotionally less mature than his friends he quit. In HS he continued to surf and play basketball at the community courts and became involved with a historical reenactment club.

It was while working as a bouncer and attending some classiness at the local JC at the age of 20 that the idea of playing football was introduced to Glenn. It was something of a perfect storm to bring him to trying out at Goldenwest College. Working in a club where the LA Rams frequented, they recognized him while he was playing basketball at a local court against ex-NBA guys, the fact that working his way through college looked to be a long haul, and that his best friend who played at Stanford also encouraged him to go out, all served to push him into action.

After sitting and watching for a year at Goldenwest he started 7 games and was heavily recruited. He chose Arizona over USC, Tennessee, and Oregon among others. Glenn Started 21 games as a Wildcat and was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He would play 12 seasons in the NFL, 7 for the Bills, 3 for the KC Chiefs and 2 for the NY Giants. In 1998 Glenn is one of a handful of players to play in 5 Super Bowls. He became the only Offensive Lineman in team history to be elected MVP by his teammates, also winning the Ed Block Courage award from the NFL along the way.

While in the NFL, Glenn pursued his other passions of food and wine, training during his off time at a restaurant with the chef. He also interned at Robert Mondavi Winery every off season. In his time in the NFL He had a radio show in Buffalo, and a TV show in Kansas City.

Parker has been an analyst on the NFL Network's Playbook since late 2003, and was the main college football analyst for the CBS College Sports Network, The AFL on NBC. Parker also has appeared on Fox Sports, covering features on NFL Europa, and appeared on ESPN's NFL 2Nite. He was also one of the main analysts for College Football on Versus, NBC Sports and the Pac-12 Network. He has also called Arizona Cardinals preseason games with Mike Goldberg.

He was previously the host of In The House, airing on KCUB-AM in Tucson, Arizona.

After 15 years of broadcast he transitioned into coaching. He coached at The University of Arizona in 2017, the Arizona Hotshots of the AAL in 2018. He currently serves in the Principal Gifts office at the University of Arizona Foundation. Glenn and His wife Casey have raised 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy, all 4 earned athletic and academic scholarships to college.

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