789: Beat the Coverage: How a 157-Pound Receiver Lasted 9 Years in the NFL with JJ Birden, Former Wide Receiver, Keynote Speaker, & Author

What do you do when everyone says you're too small, not ready or not enough?

Former NFL wide receiver JJ Birden was 5 feet 10 inches and 157 pounds. In one five-day stretch, four NFL teams turned him away, and Jimmy Johnson told him the NFL wasn't for him. He went on to play nine seasons and catch touchdown passes from Joe Montana.

In this episode, JJ walks through the six steps of his Beat the Coverage framework, shares what he learned watching Joe Montana prepare, and explains why confidence comes from preparation. You'll also learn the "one snap and clear" reset he still uses today.

In this episode you'll learn:

How a strong "why" fuels you through doubt and rejection

What "coverage" is and the six steps to beat it: know the field, find the holes, play to your strengths, draw up the game plan, put in the reps, and execute and adjust

What Joe Montana did differently after four Super Bowl wins

How JJ kept rejection from becoming his identity

Why preparation builds confidence, not the other way around

The "one snap and clear" reset for moving past mistakes

What to do when you feel underestimated

About JJ Birden