Beyond the Redzone: My Story - Leave No One Behind

From the euphoria of the gridiron, to the depths of stress, isolation and depression - and back again.

For as long as he can remember, BJ Daniels ate, slept and breathed football. He became a star quarterback at the University of South Florida and went on to play professionally in the NFL, winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013.

In many ways, it seemed like BJ was living every athlete’s dream. However, he also saw first-hand the lows that accompany being a football player at the highest level. The mental health struggles both he and his teammates faced - often in silence - have inspired a new passion and purpose in him: to share his story, from setbacks to success, and encourage others to face their wellbeing head-on.

Here, with raw vulnerability, through his own lived experience, BJ explores the importance of resilience, mindset, dedication, passion and perseverance - all of which can help you to rise above your circumstances.

This book embodies BJ’s mission to ＂Leave No One Behind＂, and shows us that, beyond all our obstacles, there’s a life worth living.

BJ Daniels is a former professional football player and passionate mental health advocate. His career began at the University of South Florida, where he started as quarterback for all four years and still holds a record as the Big East’s second all-time yardage leader. In the 2013 NFL Draft, Daniels was selected in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers. Shortly thereafter, he was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos. Daniels also played for the Houston Texans, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.

Now, BJ has returned to his roots and works at USF as the Assistant Director of Donor, Community and Alumni Engagement in Development, and also the head of the USF Athletics Alumni Association. He has also made it his mission to use his lived experience in football - both the positive lessons and difficult realities of life on the gridiron - to inspire international change in the way we talk about and deal with mental health. He is the Global Ambassador for TriggerHub, which has taken his trademarked mantra, ＂Leave No One Behind＂, from Florida to Sheffield, UK, where it is emblazoned across the jerseys of four professional sports teams: Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, the Sheffield Sharks, the Sheffield Steelers and, starting in fall 2024, the Sheffield Hatters. He is also a sought-after public speaker on resilience, adaptability and mental health.