Tyler Campbell: If I’m Going to Bet on Anybody, I’m Going to Bet on Myself

Rebirth With J.R. Martinez

Tyler Campbell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2007 but would continue to pursue football for two more years before the neurologist permanently sidelined Tyler’s dreams to play in the NFL. His journey into football was not easy, having lost multiple scholarships due to underage drinking, Tyler knew he had an uphill battle to take if he really wanted to make it into football. Today, Tyler shares a bit of his story, his dreams, and his adversities, and the life he’s created after football.

Key Takeaways

• Tyler wanted to tell his story when he was dancing with the stars and watched JR’s ‘game film’ to get ready.
• Who is Tyler and what was it like growing up with a famous football player, Earl Campbell?
• Tyler shares a little bit about his family history and how they come from a long line of people doing impactful and meaningful things.
• Tyler grew up not knowing the football side of his dad. His dad kept all of his trophies out of the house.
• Tyler’s first love was in basketball and then he converted over to football. However, he wasn’t as good as his brother or his dad.
• This had a lot of psychological impacts on Tyler. He felt like he had let his family down. That was just his own internal monologue.
• One thing Tyler overlooked was he and his father put in the work early on. They showed up consistently. When he recognized that, things started to shift for him.
• If you want it bad enough, you will get there. Just keep hanging on.
• Tyler got in trouble for underage drinking and it severely hurt his chances to become a pro athlete. This is something Tyler had to own up to. He lost every single scholarship.
• If I’m going to bet on anybody… Tyler was going to bet on himself.
• After so much struggle and determination, Tyler was living his dream...until he got injured. This was the first time he had depression. Football defined Tyler.
• The words that his father told him, that Campbells don’t quit, Tyler used his adversity as fuel.
• Tyler decided he was going to put more things on his plate that would define him as a person, and not as a ‘football athlete’. This was life-changing. Mentoring others, working on himself, he saw a completely new world.
• Finally, Tyler got into his dream school!!!
• We all hurt differently. Tyler learned in his injury recovery that he had to put his ego aside and show up as a leader and mentor to his teammates.
• Be a teammate, you don’t know what somebody else is going through.
• Tyler talks about the day he found out he couldn’t walk. That’s when he discovered he had MS.
• By this point in Tyler’s life, adversity was just the name of the game. It was nothing he couldn’t handle.
• Tyler had to take all of his finals left-handed.
• Tyler had another MS relapse. And that was it, his potential NFL career had officially ended.
• Tyler found his way through communication and started to become a speaker. When he got up on stage to talk at an MS conference, it changed Tyler’s life.
• You can change the world with your words.
• Tyler opens up about his erectile dysfunction and the stigma black men have talking about their emotions.
• Do not minimize your pain. If it’s painful, you got to get it out.
• What advice would Tyler give to his younger self?

Continue On Your Journey

Iamtylercampbell.com

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J.R. Youtube Channel

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