{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fathlete-disciples.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fhardest-transition-sport-deonte-thompson-wnc_K8MP","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"The Hardest Transition in Sports | Deonte Thompson on Life After the NFL","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/371fd475-a6ca-489b-815b-e3542e991cf5/7e821a76-809b-43eb-ba9f-e9c4d7275118/img-3410.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"What happens when the game ends?\n\nFormer NFL wide receiver Deonte Thompson joins the Athlete Disciples Podcast alongside Dominic Mackery and the team at Via Vitae Partners to talk about one of the biggest challenges athletes face:\n\nWho are you when you're no longer an athlete?\n\nFrom the locker room to retirement, from chasing success to chasing purpose, this conversation dives deep into identity, faith, brotherhood, and the reality that many athletes struggle silently after sports.\n\nTogether we unpack Matthew 7:12-14 and discuss what it means to walk the narrow path in a world that celebrates comfort, self-interest, and instant gratification.\n\nIn this episode:\n\n• Why so many athletes struggle after sports end\n• The identity crisis that comes after the NFL\n• The power of mentorship and brotherhood\n• Why purpose matters more than fame or money\n• The difference between worldly success and eternal success\n• How athletes can prepare for life after the game\n• Why integrity compounds just like bad decisions do\n• What it means to walk through the narrow gate\n\nDeonte also shares his powerful testimony of coming to faith, getting baptized as a young athlete, and watching God transform his life both on and off the field.\n\nOne quote that stood out:\n\n\"The game ends for everyone eventually. The question is — who are you when it does?\"\n\nBecause your sport was never meant to carry the weight of your identity.\n\nYour identity is found in Christ.\n\n📖 Scripture: Matthew 7:12-14\n\nGuests:\n• Deonte Thompson — Former NFL Wide Receiver\n• Dominic Mackery\n• Via Vitae Partners\n\nIf you're an athlete navigating transition, purpose, or life after competition, this episode is for you."}