Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons Part Owner and Former NFL Running Back, Asks: Will You Choose to Be Bitter or Better?
Warrick Dunn was only the 22nd player in the National Football League’s history to carry the football for 10,000 yards. That fact is even more amazing if you know that Warrick is only 5 foot 8, 178 pounds. As impressive as that is, his life story is better.
Warrick was born to Betty Smothers, a Baton Rouge police officer. Two days after Warrick’s 18th birthday, his cell phone rang. His mother had been shot and killed in a robbery at a bank, and he became the man of the house. What he did next is, what I’d argue, makes him one of the greatest champions with whom I’ve had the chance to work.
He built his career on hard work and meeting challenges head-on: First from his mother, then from Florida State Football Coach Bobby Bowden, and finally from Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Tony Dungy. In this episode, you will learn about Warrick’s football journey and the legacy he created with his charity, Homes for the Holidays. Today, more than 500 children woke up in a home they are able to call their own because of the work of Warrick Dunn.
After joining the Falcons’ ownership group, Warrick went back to school to get an MBA because he wanted to make sure his credentials matched his business acumen. As several of his opposing linebackers have said over the years, who’s going to stop him?
You will learn:
- 14:00 How to overcome adversity.
- 17:30 The importance of surrounding yourself with people you can learn from.
- 12:00 The moment Warrick Dunn realized his impact on the community.
- 30:00 Warrick’s one characteristic that he believes is the most important for business leaders.
Resources:
- Running for My Life: My Journey in the Game of Football and Beyond By Warrick Dunn and Don Yaeger