Isaac Ukwu once had his heart set only on a football career, aiming to make it to the NFL despite facing challenging setbacks with two severe knee injuries during his college years. His experiences offered him valuable insights into the unpredictable and fragile nature of a career in sports. Signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, Ukwu’s awareness grew — he realized the need to venture beyond football and establish an identity elsewhere. Therefore, when the NFL introduced a new initiative aimed at assisting players interested in film and television careers, Ukwu was quick to seize this opportunity, aiming to cultivate his legacy off the field.
Ukwu participated in the NFL Career Tour held in collaboration with Hidden Empire and Skydance Sports. The tour attracted over 20 active and former players, offering them the chance to dive into various facets of filmmaking, including directing and producing, and to hone their acting skills. Concluding with the creation of short films, the sessions were orchestrated by the accomplished Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Empire.
Ukwu envisions transitioning into acting, eventually steering toward directing and producing. Fellow participants included prominent players like Kyler Murray, Orlando Brown, Cam Heyward, Dion Dawkins, and Daiyan Henley. This program, now in its third rendition, convenes influential industry panels featuring personalities such as Tyrese Gibson and Master P. The initiative demonstrates to athletes the pathways available beyond their traditional roles.
Deon Taylor’s groundbreaking approach seeks to transform storytelling, channeling authentic narratives from top athletes’ experiences. The Hidden Empire Sports Collective, unveiled recently, empowers athletes by focusing on content creation and intellectual property development. Through this collective, athletes are encouraged to craft and share their stories, turning personal highs and lows into impactful content. Roxanne Avent Taylor describes it as a cultural storytelling hub, manifested through partnerships and deals with sports icons like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Scottie Pippen, and James Harden.
Athletes participating in the program were guided by industry experts, drawing inspiration from Ephraim Salaam, a former NFL player turned successful screenwriter. Salaam emphasizes the importance of owning and narrating their stories, as their unique perspectives offer incredible value.
Throughout the immersive learning experience, athletes embraced filmmaking with dedication akin to their approach to football. Workshops and discussions highlighted the multifaceted roles involved in the film industry, revealing valuable career avenues. Ukwu, likening the producer’s role to that of an NFL general manager, acknowledges the invaluable guidance from Deon Taylor on this novel career journey.
The NFL Career Tour is part of the Skydance Sports initiative, a collaboration with the NFL aimed at equipping athletes with media skills — empowering them to create and share their narratives. Tracy Perlman, an NFL executive, emphasizes the integral role players hold within the league, underscoring the importance of cultivating their holistic development beyond being athletes.
For players like Dion Dawkins, the program is a springboard into the entertainment industry, echoing paths of others like Terry Crews and Vernon Davis, who successfully ventured from football into film and television. Dawkins, driven by the examples set by his predecessors, believes in diversifying beyond football, confident that a robust future awaits those who venture into new domains with confidence and determination.
Throughout the years, several ex-NFL players have successfully transitioned into film and television, including icons such as Terry Bradshaw, Jim Brown, and Tony Gonzalez. The landscape of opportunity continues to expand for current and former athletes willing to explore and adapt their stories for new audiences, bridging their experiences onto broader platforms beyond the football field.
