On the latest audio edition of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk podcast and radio show with award-winning host Kelsey Nicole Nelson, special guest Rob Robertson joined the show to share his story of success, purpose and reinvention.
Robertson is a man of many talents. His experiences span everything from playing professional football to the world of finance. His laundry-list resume includes accomplishments such as winning a conference championship for Northwestern State University, playing with Hall of Famers on the Baltimore Ravens, graduating from NSU with a degree in Business Administration and serving as the current President of the NFLPA D.C. chapter.
But before Robertson earned any of these achievements, he was just a kid from Baton Rouge. La. who hoped to use football to help his family. When reflecting on this period of his life, he paused to unpack exactly what he meant when he described football as a “way out.”
“All I knew was football…I didn’t have the exposure to understand corporate America and some of the opportunities that was out there. So all I knew is, if I performed well on the field and I was good enough, guess what? I have an opportunity and a chance to make a difference for my family. That’s what it was about for me.”
Robertson mentioned one specific relative multiple times throughout the episode – his grandmother. He explained that she was a source of motivation and inspiration for him throughout his upbringing.
He shared, “I continue to go back to, you know, watching my grandmother and what she did for my entire family…At the end of the day, we may not have had a lot, but we had each other.”
After revealing the catalyst for Robertson’s success, Nelson asked him to fast forward to his experience leading up to the NFL Draft and how he ended up playing for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens franchise. For a snapshot of what his process was like, Robertson told a story that encapsulated the ups and downs of trying to become a professional athlete.
He narrated, “There was a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tim Mingey, who came to my pro day…And I remember the scout for the Ravens, George Kokinis, was there. But I just knew the most interest was coming from Jacksonville…I watched the draft all weekend to see Mr. Irrelevant get called. And I didn’t get picked…My grandmother came to me after the draft, put her hand on my shoulder, and she said, ‘Baby, it’s going to be alright.’ And I’m telling you, within five minutes, the phone rang and it was George Kokinis.”
With this seemingly fated phone call, Robertson was headed to Baltimore to fulfill his NFL dreams. He reflected on some fond memories of his first season with the team, and especially the moments he shared with beloved Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. Off the field, Lewis served as a mentor for Robertson, taking the rookie under his wing and even bonding over games of Madden. But on the field, the two were fierce competitors.
Robertson joked, “I knew that Ray was the best player on our team. In order for me to get attention from the coaches, guess who I had to hit? I played fullback. So every time we got a chance to compete, I tried to bring my best self to that situation.”
After his first season, the Ravens brought in a new head coach, Brian Billick, who orchestrated a roster upheaval that involved cutting Robertson from the team. He thought he could work his way back and earn a contract with another team, but concerns over his injury history derailed that plan.
At this point, the trajectory of Robertson’s life took a sharp turn, with the help of some hard truths from his wife. She challenged him to return to school at Northwestern State University and finish his degree. Robertson remembered the call he made to the Dean of Students at NSU. The dean praised his athletic prowess and thanked him for the 1997 conference championship, but also spoke frankly with him.
He told Robertson, “You’re going to earn this damn degree.”
Robertson then recalled his reaction to this monumental turning point in his life.
“That was the moment I knew I had to lock in and buckle down…That’s when I realized, Kelsey, ‘Wait a minute, you mean to tell me I can make a decent living and I don’t have to get hit?’…The same hard work, dedication, tenacity, resilience that I had on the football field, I put it into corporate America.”
Since graduating with his business degree, Robertson has worked for some of the top banking companies in the country, including Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and PNC Bank. Now, he’s climbed the ranks to be the Senior Vice President at First Citizens Bank.
Alongside his illustrious career in finance, Robertson still stays connected to his football past through leadership positions with the D.C. Chapter of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Robertson shared some insights about the organization’s purpose and the crucial services they offer.
“This has been the most fulfilling work that I’ve done in quite a long time…We are essentially a union and that union helps our players, former players, integrate into society. And we also help our former players understand their health benefits, all of the other benefits that they qualify for.”
When Robertson talks about his role with the NFLPA, it’s abundantly clear that he is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives. He credits others with so much of his personal success, whether it be former NFL staff, the NSU administrators who gave him a second chance, or his grandmother. And now, from his new position of power, he hopes to pay it forward and be that same helpful presence for others.
Robertson advised, “I would just tell everyone that’s listening, hey, when you get a chance, pull somebody up. Pull somebody up, help somebody else grow. It’s not all about you, it’s not all about me. It’s about us and we and helping to make a difference…I want to leave people better than I found them.”
Towards the end of their conversation, Nelson commended the grit and determination Robertson displayed by completely changing the direction of his life.
She said, “I think your story is, again, a true testament to not just what sports does, but again, what it is when your life has a purpose and what that purpose can do for others as well, with all the great people that you touched.”
Although Robertson’s playing career didn’t last as long as he’d hoped, his impact on football is nevertheless felt. His purpose may not have been suiting up for an NFL team, but he found an even more rewarding purpose in helping former players value their lives outside the lines.
Robertson left listeners with one more profound piece of advice before the episode ended.
“Most people aren’t successful in life, not because they’re aiming high and miss. Most people aren’t successful in life because they aim low and hit. And some people aren’t aiming at all. So I’m just like, what are you aiming for? Let’s all aim high. If we shoot for the stars, we’ll land with the clouds and the rest will fall into place.”
Listen to the full show below.
