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Jabari K. Smith grew up believing sport would be his ticket out. He had the talent, the drive, and the stats to back it up. But when the NFL didn’t come calling, he was forced to reckon with something much harder: the silence after the final game.

In this episode, Jabari shares his extraordinary journey from gang-affected childhood, to a life-changing boarding school, to a college football career at Texas Tech, and eventually, to arena football and entrepreneurship. But the real story begins after the sport ended, when he drove 26 hours home in silence, wondering what it was all for.

What followed was a powerful reinvention. Jabari returned to education, earned a master’s degree, launched multiple businesses, wrote two books, and founded Athlete Mindset Reset, a platform helping student-athletes build a future beyond the field.

This is an unfiltered look at identity, purpose, and how athletes can learn to own their story, not just their stats.

What You’ll Hear:

• How sport helped Jabari break free from gang life and academic setbacks
• Why his first real taste of belonging came through basketball at 13
• The reality of junior college football and the pressure to adapt fast
• His honest reckoning with falling short of the NFL dream
• What it felt like to drive 26 hours in silence after playing his final game
• Why getting his master’s degree became a spiritual turning point
• How he turned his pain into purpose with Athlete Mindset Reset
• The biggest mistake athletes make and what he wishes he knew in college
• How he’s using board games, books, and mentorship to prepare the next generation

Golden Nugget

“The biggest mistake I made in college? Not calling up a CEO and saying, ‘I’m Jabari Smith, number 34 for Texas Tech. Can I take you to lunch?’ You’d be surprised how many would have said yes. But I waited, and by the time I was ready, they had moved on to the next guy.”

This episode is for every athlete who’s wondering what happens after. It’s for the ones still grinding, still hoping, still tied to the dream, and for the ones who’ve already walked away and are trying to figure out what’s next.

Jabari’s story is a reminder that your value doesn’t end when the jersey comes off. And your platform doesn’t disappear unless you waste it.

Want to go deeper?

If you are navigating what is next in sport or beyond, visit www.2ndwind.io
to learn more or book a consult.