Pivot Podcast

“Going against Ceedee and GP is prepping me for what I need to be at my best." Caleb Downs

On the road, hitting all the Training Camps and had to make it to Oxnard to check out the rookie sensation- Caleb Downs who joins us for a conversation during his first NFL training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, stepping into the league as a first-round pick with expectations already sky-high.

Caleb opens up about making the transition from college football to the NFL, the pressure that comes with being a highly touted first-rounder, and what it means to now wear the Cowboys star. He talks about going against elite teammates like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens every day at practice, learning what separates NFL players, and the intensity of competing against the best in the world. He opens up on his immediate bond with Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker and what he sees in his new coach that can take the defense to the next level.

The conversation also goes back to his championship-winning college career, his time playing for Nick Saban, and the lessons he took from one of football's greatest coaches. Caleb reflects on playing alongside stars like Jeremiah Smith, the competitive mindset that helped him win at the college level, and how those experiences prepared him for Sundays in the NFL. He shares how the upsets and losses are just as important as the wins in maintaining a championship mindset. Caleb tells the guys that since he was young, he's studied some of the greatest athletes from Kobe Bryant to Tom Brady to Michael Jordan not because of their skill set but because of their habits and uses his findings in his everyday life.

Caleb also gets personal about family, the pride of following those who came before him, and what it means to have a brother already playing in the NFL while continuing a football legacy of his own.

From winning in college to earning his place in Dallas, Caleb Downs gives The Pivot an inside look at the mindset, expectations and family foundation behind one of football's rising young stars.
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As our NFL Training Camp tour continues, we stop in H Town to sit with a big part of the league's top tier defense with one of the leaders, Linebacker, Azeez Al-Shaair, who sits with us for an honest conversation about the journey that shaped him—his upbringing, family, faith, and the adversity he had to overcome to reach the NFL and stay in the league.

Azeez opens up about his path to football, the obstacles he faced along the way, being one of eight children raised by a single mother, and the mindset that helped him turn challenges into motivation. He gets candid about his NFL career, his identity and religion, the intensity of playing defense, and the moments that tested him both on and off the field.

The conversation also dives into the controversial hit on Trevor Lawrence, the aftermath and lessons that came from it...he doesn't hold back on the realization of how he quickly became judged by the world for that one moment and how it affected him mentally and on the field. With head coach DeMeco Ryans being one of his early supporters from their time in San Francisco, he shares how Coach was one of the people who helped him through his darkest time and bring him full circle picking him as one of the leaders on the Texans defense, demonstrating what it takes to play with emotion while maintaining discipline and perspective.

This is a conversation about more than football—it’s about faith, resilience, identity, adversity, and the relentless pursuit of becoming the person you’re meant to be.
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Sitting with one of the most interesting and energized leaders in football, Liam Coen chops it up with the fellas during training camp for an honest conversation about his rise through the coaching ranks, the people who shaped him, and the lessons he’s carrying into his second year in Jacksonville.

Taking a 4-13 team to 13-4 in his first year as head coach is quite the feat but it also comes with high expectations in year two. Coen opens up on his approach, how he plans to capitalize on veteran talent and utilize young playmakers in every game-plan.

Coen takes us through the viral moments of his first year, on and off the field, and gives us an inside look into his journey from college football to the NFL, the success he found in Tampa Bay working with Baker Mayfield, and the impact of learning under Sean McVay. He opens up about his coaching philosophy, the evolution of his career, the one regret that haunts him still and how those experiences have prepared him for his opportunity to lead the Jaguars.

He also gets personal, talking about his close relationship with his dad, the role family has played throughout his journey, and the sacrifices behind becoming an NFL head coach.

With Trevor Lawrence and a young Jaguars team entering a pivotal season, Coen discusses his expectations, the identity he wants to build, what he sees in his team, and what it will take to take the team to the next level.

A conversation about the journey, family, mentorship, leadership, and the pressure and opportunity that comes with building something from the ground up.
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“I cannot sit on the sideline.”Travis Hunter

Couldn’t come to Duuval and not talk to our guy Travis Hunter!! We were able to catch him for a few minutes on his off day while he was at the facility with his family and we had to ask him all the things everyone wants to know and put truth to the headlines and rumors that constantly surround this young star.

Heading into his second year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Travis keeps it real with us about life on and off the field. Coming off an injury, He opens up about his determination to continue playing both sides of the ball, the physical and mental demands that come with it, and the expectations surrounding one of football’s most unique young playmakers.

Ryan and Channing push back on all the snaps he takes and being a Hall of Famer at one position is tough let alone trying to compete at two! But Travis makes it clear and lets the guys know what drives him to be out there for both! Travis’ bond with Trevor Lawrence is what keeps him grounded and confident on the field as well as the respect and brotherhood he has with his teammates on both sides of the ball, although they have labeled him with a “cheat code” nickname…

He reflects on becoming a dad, balancing family and football, and navigating the pressure to live up to the hype while continuing to grow into the player and person he wants to be. The growth and perspective this young man has at such a young age is truly remarkable.
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"It's a new beginning for us." Minkah Fitzpatrick and Adonai Mitchell

As the Pivot Training Camp tour continues, we hit the Big Apple, where we sit down with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Adonai Mitchell to preview the season ahead with the NY Jets, and reflect on the hard roads that brought them to this moment.

Two players. Two very different journeys. One shared mindset: keep going, keep growing, and embrace the opportunity in front of you. From adversity and setbacks to finding their way to New York, Minkah and Adonai open up about the moments that tested them, shaped them, and ultimately helped define who they are today. Now, with training camp underway, the focus shifts to what comes next: earning it, building something together, and making an impact when it matters most.

For Minkah, Nine years. Three stops. One journey that brings him back home. His transparency is on full display as he talks growing up in New Jersey to going to Miami as a first round pick to becoming a cornerstone of Steelers defense in 2019 and building a nine-year career defined by adversity, evolution, and excellence, Minkah has seen it all. Now, he returns to familiar territory to begin a new chapter with the Jets — and perhaps the most meaningful one yet. His respect for Coach Aaron Glenn and leading the young roster which is Minkah's focus.

Adonai Mitchell brings the Jets a big, athletic X receiver with downfield speed and the ability to win one-on-one matchups. His time in Indianapolis ended after a costly focus mistake, fumbling at the goal line on what would have been a 75-yard touchdown against the Rams...but he responded well after the trade, showing flashes of the talent that made him a second-round pick. In New York, Mitchell gives the offense another explosive weapon opposite Garrett Wilson, and confidence in Geno Smith to be able to turn those flashes into consistent production.

This isn't just a training camp stop talking preseason...It’s a conversation about resilience, purpose, pressure, and the power of a pivot. The journey brought them to this point, and now, it’s time to see where it takes them.
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