How Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George swapped NFL for a career on Broadway after football days were over
EDDIE GEORGE has had not one but two careers that any average person would dream of.
The 48-year-old from Philadelphia spent eight years in the NFL after a stellar college career.
And George remained in the spotlight even after he stopped playing by going into Broadway.
He is now back in football where it all began as head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers.
Back in college, he won the Heisman Trophy during his days at Ohio State.
George was a first round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, going No 14 overall to the then Houston Oilers.
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He hit the ground running in pro football as well on his way to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The 48-year-old spent most of his career with the Oilers, who latterly became the Tennessee Titans.
He retired after one year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004 and is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
George then got a bachelor degree in landscape architecture and went on to earn an MBA.
But he was back in the public eye when he turned his attention to the big stage.
He began his Broadway career in 2016, and one of his biggest moments came three years later.
George played the role of Billy Flynn in the famed Chicago musical across the country.
He admitted in an interview three years ago that Broadway wasn't what he planned on doing, but he relished the chance to challenge himself.
George said: "I’m always kind of leery of being in the right place at the right time saying the right thing.
“You’re stretching yourself, you’re stretching your faith, you’re stretching your talent, and you’re pushing through a point of non-belief to get you to believe that if you put your mind to it and the work into it, you can get it done.
"People will resonate with it.”
George retired from the NFL as a four-time Pro Bowler.
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He had his jersey retired by the Titans during the 2019 season in recognition of his contribution to the franchise.
And George is still the center of attention these days as head coach of Tennessee State Tigers.