Episode 8: NFL and College Athlete’s Career Transitions

Episode 8: NFL and College Athlete’s Career Transitions

Author: Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Group November 27, 2020 Duration: 1:00:48

In this episode of Transforming Sport, Dr. Anastasiya Khomutova from the University of Brighton speaks with Dr. Robert W. Turner II, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science and Global Sport Visiting scholar at Arizona State University. They sat down to discuss the issues facing professional football players transitioning out of sport and the unpaid labour of college athletes in the United States. Uniquely qualified as a former professional football player in the NFL, CFL, and defunct US Football League, and an expert in psychosocial and neurocognitive risk and protective factors in sport scholarship, Robert Turner’s ethnographic account of the lifeworld of professional athletes and the transitions between college, professional, and retired status highlights the struggles of pursuing the athletic dream. Here he discusses his personal journey and trajectory from professional football player to career academic researcher. Noting the mistrust which athletes often have of journalists, Robert discusses the necessity of an ethical approach to building rapport with interlocutors. He also discusses how a lack of focus on the transition to life after sports can have a variety of long-term health consequences and that teachers, coaches, and scholars need to support athletes to develop their skills and themselves as individuals beyond their sport.

Robert W. Turner II’s book is entitled Not For Long: The Life and Career of the NFL Athlete. He can be found on twitter at @robertturnerphd, and his other research, including the HBO Sports documentary Student Athlete, is accessible via his website or his George Washington University staff profile page.

Anastasiya Khomutova is Senior Lecturer and member of the Sport and Leisure Cultures research group at the University of Brighton. She can be found on twitter @DrKhomutova, and her research is accessible via her University of Brighton staff profile page.


Hosted by the Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Group at the University of Brighton, Transforming Sport digs into the complex and often surprising ways athletics intersect with our everyday lives. Each conversation moves beyond scores and statistics to explore sport as a powerful social force, examining its relationship with politics, health, economics, and identity. The discussions, led by researchers and expert guests, are grounded in academic insight but focused on real-world implications. You’ll hear thoughtful analysis on how communities are built through leisure, how inequalities are both challenged and perpetuated on the field, and what the future holds for physical culture. This isn’t about predicting winners; it’s about understanding the deeper currents that shape why we play and watch. The central question throughout this podcast is how sport itself must adapt and evolve to meet the pressing challenges of our time-from climate change and technological disruption to ongoing fights for inclusion and fairness. By listening, you gain a clearer picture of the transformations already underway and the ones still desperately needed. Tune in for a nuanced perspective that treats sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital lens for examining contemporary society.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 16

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