Jason Avant: Gangs, God, Grandma, and the Gridiron – his story of perseverance

On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Peanut and Roman welcome 10-year NFL receiver Jason Avant to the show. Jason has a one-of-a-kind story of perseverance, and shares stories about his childhood growing up in the “Wild 100s” in the South Side of Chicago. He talks of overcoming gang violence, his stint as a drug dealer as a child, and run ins with the law to make it to the NFL. And who does Jason credit for him surviving a rough childhood and becoming an NFL player and successful businessman? God and his grandmother. Jason gets emotional describing the influence his grandmother had on his life before she passed. He also talks about making the most of his abilities in the NFL, and how playing for Andy Reid helped him find his niche in the league. We also hear the inside story of the “Miracle in the Meadowlands II.”

0:00 – start of show

1:15 – Jason Avant interview starts

2:47 – Jason talks showing his faith while playing

3:24 – Jason defending receivers being divas

4:11 – Jason on his welcome to the NFL moment

6:39 – Jason on the “Miracle at the Meadowlands II” play

9:23 – Jason on playing for Andy Reid

11:26 – Roman and Jason on what players want in a head coach

12:11 – Jason on getting the most of his abilities in the NFL

13:47 – Jason on surviving his violent childhood in Chicago, and the influence of his grandmother

16:36 – Jason on being introduced to football

18:49 – Jason on how he navigated growing up around gang violence

24:42 – Jason’s advice to kids who may live in a tough environment

27:00 - break

28:44 – Jason on creating his “Launch Trampoline Parks” franchises, and media career

31:43 – Jason on his podcast “Q&A With Quintin Mikell & Jason Avant”

33:52 – The guys on how to balance being critical of current players

37:57 – Jason on talking retirement in the Jason Kelce documentary

41:03 – Jason on hating playing against Peanut and the Bears defense

44:24 – Jason on basketball being his first love

44:48 – The guys give their all-time top 5 NBA players

47:10 – Jason on his prowess at Scrabble

50:45 – Jason on his personal Mount Rushmore

*NOTE: Time codes are approximate

The NFL Players: Second Acts podcast is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeart Radio.

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