Often in life you lose track of people you know. Life happens and people go on their paths.
I think it was 1983 or so. I was a Sales Manager for a company selling telephone systems. The company hired a guy and put him on my sales team. His name was Jimmy Robinson.
He was a wide receivers coach in professional football since 1984, coaching for the Memphis Showboats, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and most recently the Dallas Cowboys. As a player: New York Giants (1976–1979)
He worked for me about six months or so. When I first met him I did not know his background. But I found out pretty quickly that he played professional football. We became pretty good friends even though it was for a short time. We played softball together. Ate lunch together. Went on sales calls.
As a football fan I was super curious about his experience. He told me all kinds of stories. Really gave me insight and perspective about the pro game.
We were at lunch one day when he told me he got offered a job by Pepper Rodgers to coach the Memphis Showboats of the USFL. He was recently married and conflicted. He knew the phone business was a money maker and a good opportunity. But he still loved football. He asked for my opinion.
I told point blank. There will always be businesses that will be good opportunities. But it is rare to be able to make a living at something you love.
He took the job. He went on to a career in the NFL as a coach. I ran into him recently. We talked a bit. Got caught up some. Not much you can really get into after 40 years over a brief conversation.
Professional football to players is not what it is to fans. There are a lot misconceptions.
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