Ep. 15: John Welbourn - Former NFL Lineman

In Pursuit

MeatEater

Wilderness, Science, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Sports

4.9 • 6.8K Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Join Rich Froning for a powerful conversation with John Welbourn, a former NFL lineman who forged a decade-long career battling the toughest competitors in the sport. John shares how he stumbled into the early days of CrossFit, competed at the Games with only a week of preparation, and eventually helped shape CrossFit Football after years of learning under some of the most influential strength coaches in the world. He opens up about the shift from life as a pro athlete to finding purpose in coaching, teaching, and raising a family. His stories move from the chaos of NFL trenches to the challenge of jiu-jitsu, the pull of addictive habits, and the comfort he’s found through training and structure. Rich and John talk honestly about identity, fatherhood, and the struggle to adjust when a chapter of life closes.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:04.0	Hey folks, Steve Ronella here.
0:05.8	It's that time again, the Meat Eater Black Friday sale.
0:09.1	From November 20 through December 1, you can save up to 50% across the entire meat eater family of brands.
0:17.2	First Light, FHF Gear, Dave Smith Decoys, Phelps, and the Meat Eater store.
0:23.4	Whether you're chasing elk, setting decoys, or just gearing up for camp,
0:26.8	this is the time to upgrade the kit that carries you through the season.
0:31.9	Visit your favorite brand site to find your deal,
0:35.0	and don't miss the meat eater Black Friday sale.
0:38.9	You know, I think as a pro athlete, like you live in this weird ivory tower where like, I, like I said, I got the chance to one-on-one fist fight the toughest dudes in the world for a decade. Yeah. Every Sunday in front of millions of people wearing white spandex. And like, you like, when you break it down like that, people are like, really? I'm like, yeah, I never touched a ball.
0:53.8	Right.
0:53.9	Like I just got to basically impose my will.
0:56.0	And I think that like level of addiction of like
0:58.3	like i know exactly who i am and what i'm doing and i know the you know the results of my heart work right
1:03.2	and uh dude i was telling somebody the other day i'm like don't be upset about the results you
1:07.6	didn't get because you didn't do the work.
1:13.9	Out here, the stakes are real.
1:19.0	Effective preparation starts with fitness, but it requires so much more.
1:24.7	This show explores the tools, knowledge, resilience, and skills needed to be ready when it matters the most.
1:26.8	Join me, Rich Groening, as we apply the decades of wisdom I've gained through training
1:31.5	and competition to hunting in the backcountry.
1:35.5	This is In Pursuit.
	...

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