By John Ingoldsby
Engagement Insider
CHARLOTTE, NC December 11, 2014 – When Joe Gibbs returned to the Redskins in hopes of recreating his past coaching glory, Renaldo Wynn faced a difficult decision on day one.
The defensive tackle was the team’s Player Representative and the Player’s Association was holding a meeting in Hawaii.
But the legendary coach was also holding his first minicamp to evaluate the team he was taking over, and made it clear that those not there may not have a job.
So faced with this risky business decision, Wynn did what he felt was right and went west to the gathering.
“I felt it was my duty as an elected Player Representative to make the meeting, and fortunately I still made the team in Coach Gibbs’ first year,” said the Notre Dame grad who ended up playing 13 years in the NFL.
It was tough at the time but proved to be the right decision, since what started with team game plans in Washington has grown into Wynn working for Gibbs in his highly acclaimed Game Plan for Life.
“I have found my calling, and have such a passion for this that it doesn’t even feel like work,” he said from his Charlotte office as the organization’s Director of Inner City & Prison Ministry, which includes his motivational speaking. “When I am asked if I miss football, I say ‘not at all’ since I am now positively impacting people’s lives.”
This atypical transition has likely been even easier since the Chicago native need not look far for one of the greatest second acts in American sports history, which would be Gibbs becoming as successful a champion in NASCAR as he was in the NFL.
And Gibbs has taken Wynn along for the car racing ride as well, where he works with sponsors of Gibbs’ winning race teams, thereby keeping him involved in competitive team sports.
“In 2004 when I was still playing, I was in Las Vegas and called Coach to say I wanted to attend a race being held there, and I instantly fell in love with NASCAR,” said Wynn, who was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997 and played there for five years before heading north to D.C.
That call would lead to his calling, as Gibbs recognized his enthusiasm by saying, “It seems you really like this stuff, so perhaps you should consider racing for your post-football career.”
Words of wisdom from a man who mattered made all the difference for Wynn, who also played one year for both the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants before returning to the Redskins for one more year to close out his gridiron career in 2009.
“When I retired, I stayed in contact with Coach and came on board in 2010 to officially become part of this new team,” recalled Wynn.
He brought a lot more to the table than just his football experience, having been in the first class in 2006 to participate in NFL Player Engagement’s (NFLPE) Harvard Business Management & Entrepreneurial Program.
“I enjoyed it since they made me feel like part of the Harvard family when I lived in the dorms for two weeks,” Wynn remembered. “We hardly opened a book since it was all Case Studies, which prepared me for real life by teaching me how to think out of the box.”
A thought process that later led to Wynn expanding his education even further by taking two more NFLPE courses, an Executive Business Program at Rice University in Houston in 2010, as well as a Broadcast Boot Camp.
All adding up to a versatile career, that now even includes his work as a football analyst for ESPN3 and the ACC Digital Network, following a former foray into media when he did a show while with Washington.
But in the end with all this education, it may be his BA in Sociology from South Bend that gave him his best background.
“I didn’t realize how my Sociology major from Notre Dame would serve me, but now I know as I speak to kids in cities around the country for the Game Plan for Life,” pronounced Wynn, who spoke at approximately 30 events in the past year. “We partner with cities and do this for free since Coach Gibbs believes we should not charge for this service, so I have learned from a great man.”
Those teachings include real-life lessons, with topics ranging from relationships and health to vocations and finances, all presented through spiritual principles and leading to youngsters asking the question, “What am I created to do?”
Wynn has fortunately found that answer for himself, and is fulfilled by passing on the path of his life to others.
“A man’s true legacy is not about winning football games or car races, but how you can impact other people’s lives, and I believe I was called to reach out to youth,” Wynn proclaimed. “Being a product of Chicago and seeing the gangs and the drugs, I try to inspire kids that they can overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their goals.”
And as if this isn’t impact enough, Wynn is also involved with a new video offering on the Game Plan for Life website (www.gameplanforlife.com), called “Just Your Average Joes.”
“We interview some well-known people, who like all of us are just average Joes, and they simply tell their story of what they had to overcome to become who they are today,” stated Wynn, who appreciates this new forum like all the other ones he has.
“I feel like I have the best job in America. I impact lives and also get to do racing. You can’t beat it.”