Austin Ekeler's career is the kind the NFL isn't supposed to produce anymore: an undrafted back from a Division II program who worked his way from sixth string to the top of the league's touchdown charts. He joined Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour to talk about the business side of that climb — including the parts players usually keep quiet.
The conversation digs into the economics of NFL contracts and the squeeze on running backs, then turns personal: humble beginnings in small-town Colorado, difficult family relationships, forgiveness, and the sacrifices a professional career demands.
About Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler grew up in small-town Colorado and played his college football at Division II Western Colorado before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017. With the Los Angeles Chargers, he developed into one of football's premier dual-threat running backs, leading the NFL in total touchdowns in back-to-back seasons.
Ekeler has also become one of the league's most thoughtful voices on player value, an active builder in the fantasy football community, and an entrepreneur planning for life beyond the field. In 2024 he opened a new chapter with the Washington Commanders.
What Austin Ekeler and Sean Kelly Talked About
- His candid take on NFL contracts and why running backs feel undervalued
- The road from sixth string to starter as an undrafted Division II product
- Handling performance pressure and staying positive amid relentless social media negativity
- Toxic home relationships, the power of forgiveness, and what healing made possible
- His fantasy football strategies and why he engages so directly with fans
- Entrepreneurship, real estate, and building income streams beyond an NFL career
- The mentors who shaped him, and coming full circle with Anthony Lynn
- The sacrifices success demanded — and which ones he believes were worth it
Why This Conversation Matters
Player empowerment debates usually happen in the abstract; Austin Ekeler lived them from the least powerful position in football. His conversation with Sean Kelly pairs a remarkable underdog story with rare honesty about money, family, and what the game asks of the people who play it.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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