The Post Game Podcast #80: David Fales - From NFL QB to Tech Sales - Visualization, Identity & Starting Over
David Fales is a former NFL Quarterback who played seven seasons with the Bears, Lions, Dolphins, and Jets.
He was a sixth-round pick out of San Jose State in the 2014 NFL Draft and played behind NFL veterans like Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford.
Since retiring from the NFL, he has worked in tech sales with Zoom and Docker and is actively involved with Pro Athlete Community, an organization that helps professional athletes navigate life after sports.
What You'll Hear About:
- The unlikely path to quarterback: From backup right guard to NFL signal-caller
- The power of visualization and mental preparation using techniques from "Mind Gym"
- Constant transitions: Navigating college transfers and NFL team changes
- What separates NFL players who last: Intelligence, communication, and natural gifts
- The reality of NFL contracts: Living with weekly uncertainty about your job
- The decision to retire
- His hardest year: Identity crisis and finding motivation without football
- Building a career in tech sales
- Pro Athlete Community: Resources for players transitioning out of sports
- Applying football lessons to life after sports: Controlling what you can control
Timestamps:
(0:00) - Introduction to David Fales
(2:10) - Becoming a quarterback in 8th grade - nobody else wanted the position
(7:00) - Nevada experience with Colin Kaepernick on the roster
(7:50) - Transfer to junior college and the rock-bottom moment that changed everything
(11:25) - Discovering "Mind Gym" and the foundation of mental training
(14:40) - Visualization techniques: seeing plays before they happen
(16:55) - High anxiety during the week vs. flow state on game day
(21:35) - Never feeling settled in the NFL - living contract to contract
(24:10) - What qualities help NFL players stick around (intelligence, communication, natural ability)
(26:50) - Carson Wentz - how character shows in tough times
(30:40) - The retirement decision and saying no to other leagues
(33:10) - The hardest year of his life: losing football identity
(36:10) - Why tech sales appeals to former athletes
(38:00) - Pro Athlete Community and filling the resource gap for transitioning players
(42:40) - Applying football mental tools to daily life - controlling what you can control
(44:25) - Finding flow state again through golf
(46:30) - Where to connect with David
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/fales10/
The Post Game Podcast:
https://postgamepodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Email me: joe.poduslenko@gmail.com