JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new partnership between Gallagher and the Jacksonville Jaguars is giving pro athletes a clearer runway toward life after sports.
On “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” host Kent Justice spoke with former Jaguars linebacker Akin Ayodele, who now works as Gallagher’s market leader for South Florida, about the Gallagher Partnership Internship Program—a hands-on experience that introduces players to consultative work in insurance, risk management, and employee benefits.
Ayodele said the end of a playing career can hit fast, even for athletes who expect a long run.
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“When it ends, you’re not sure quite what the next steps looks like,” Ayodele told Justice, adding that the internship is meant to show athletes they already have the traits businesses need. “You already have the skills… you’re resilient, you’re problem solvers by nature.”
Ayodele described the internship as an inside look at real corporate work—sitting in on leadership meetings, learning how client service teams operate, and building presentations that mimic the pressures of high-level business communication.
“They get real lived experience of… ‘What’s a real experience to really walk and have a sales pitch and build a deck?’” he said.
Justice compared that “translation” to what many military veterans face when moving into civilian careers—knowing they have skills, but not always knowing how employers will value them. Ayodele agreed the key is exposure, mentorship, and taking initiative.
“One of the things that we all do is analysis by paralysis… we overthink the next process,” he said. His advice: accelerate learning through grad school or online courses, and use professional networking intentionally. “LinkedIn has been a great resource… people are really ready and available to network with you.”
Ayodele also had a message for employers: don’t get stuck looking only for the “perfect” résumé.
“If employees just start there—resiliency… competitiveness… the grind mentality—that’s where I would recommend [they] start,” he said, noting sales is often a natural first stop for former athletes.