Episode #536
Self-belief is contagious, especially for leaders. Jake learned that a quarterback’s energy spreads to the whole team, for better or worse. Confidence isn’t just personal, it sets the tone for everyone around you.
Resilience means resetting fast after failure. Jake had to shake off bad plays in seconds, in front of millions. That same skill applies to blown pitches or hard conversations: recover quickly and move on.
Your career isn’t your identity. Jake retired from the NFL in his mid-30s and had to separate who he was from what he did. He now sees his playing days as one chapter, not the whole story.
Functional mushrooms became part of Jake’s post-NFL health routine. After years of physical wear, Jake turned to mushroom extracts like reishi and lion’s mane for inflammation, sleep, and energy. That personal experience led him to co-found the wellness brand Umbo.
“ I always challenge people to go out there and not just be this single solo entity that has blinders on. Open up to the beauty and people out there. And when you leave a wake of kindness, love, and curiosity behind you, you’ll be a legend.”
“Consistency over time equals results, just like with anything.”
You’ve had a bad meeting, a bad pitch, a bad conversation with your wife, and the voice in your head doesn’t let you forget it for the rest of the day.
Former NFL player Jake Plummer used to have that same voice waiting for him every time he walked off the field, except his mistakes were being replayed on national television.
Jake grew up in Boise, Idaho, played quarterback at Arizona State on the undefeated 1996 team, then spent 10 years in the NFL, four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and six with the Denver Broncos.
In this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” we get into how Jake learned to reset after a bad play in front of thousands of people, and why he says belief in yourself has to come before anyone else’s belief in you.
Jake shares why he walked away from football in his mid-30s while he could still walk away on his own terms, rather than wait for the game to make that decision for him. Ten years of scrutiny and physical punishment, and he never had one major injury to point to. It was what came after football that started breaking his body down.
Joint pain and inflammation in his late 30s sent Jake looking for answers outside a doctor’s office. That search led him to hemp extracts, then to functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps, and eventually to co-founding Umbo. He breaks down what these mushrooms are actually supposed to do for sleep, energy, and recovery.
Most guys wait for something to force a decision (an injury, a burnout, a wake-up call) rather than walking away from something on their own terms. Jake did it while he was still healthy, still capable, still at the top of his game. If you’ve been putting off a decision like that in your own career or health, this conversation is worth tuning in to. Don’t miss it!
Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Jake Plummer followed his dream of playing football at ASU (93-96) and on to the NFL during a 10-year NFL Pro Bowl career with the Arizona Cardinals (97-02) and Denver Broncos (02-06). During those years, he developed into a leader and has continued to follow his curiosities post-NFL career.
He is now committed to raising three wonderful souls while expanding his vision for health, wellness, and the pursuit of happiness.
After leaving the NFL and disappearing for a few years, Jake was given the opportunity to advocate for CBD and other plant medicines. With this opportunity came the real vision and dream of helping everyone create a healthier life with focus on mind, body, and spirit.
Ep 535
Ep 534
