Jaylon Smith - NFL Veteran - Father - Brother - Founder

Jaylon Smith nearly lost his NFL career to a devastating New Year’s Day injury in 2016 - ACL, LCL, and peroneal nerve damage that left him with drop foot and a doctor telling him he’d never play again. But the setback that could have ended everything instead accelerated something bigger: his mindset, his business education, and his path into entrepreneurship. Murphy Cheatham sits down with Smith for a candid conversation about what happens when elite performance, real pain, and long-term thinking collide. From growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to becoming a national top linebacker at Notre Dame, Jaylon shares how family, competition, and an early obsession with excellence shaped him long before the NFL. You’ll hear how Jaylon started thinking like an entrepreneur at 11, why a family connection to legendary agent Eugene Parker changed his view of the business world, and how a Burger King job in high school became an unexpected lesson in service, discipline, and communication. He also opens up about the pressure of being seen as "more than an athlete" and why he chose to spend offseasons learning P&Ls, ROI, and deal flow instead of just taking time off. Murphy and Jaylon also break down the mindset behind delegation, why surrounding yourself with experts matters, and how Rise Family Office helped him build a structure around wealth, relationships, and investing. Jaylon explains why he prefers partnering with seasoned operators in spaces like restaurants and real estate rather than trying to do everything alone - and how that approach lowers risk while speeding up learning. This episode is a reminder that the biggest edge isn’t just talent - it’s adaptability, humility, and the willingness to learn before you’re forced to. Essential listening if you care about athlete entrepreneurship, wealth building, leadership, or what it really takes to turn adversity into leverage. Jaylon Smith is a former Notre Dame standout and NFL linebacker who has become an investor and entrepreneur, known for building businesses while still competing at the highest level. Murphy Cheatham is the host of the Murphy Cheatham Podcast, bringing the conversation to life with a mix of personal connection, sharp questions, and real-world business perspective.