Ethan LockshinSales at NVIDIA focused on AI adoption

Gridiron to Boardroom: DeMaurice Smith, ex-NFLPA chief, on athlete influence

Name: Gridiron to Boardroom: DeMaurice Smith, ex-NFLPA chief, on athlete influence
Uploaded: 2025-08-28T13:29:16+00:00
Duration: 46 s
Channel: Ethan Lockshin
Description: DeMaurice Smith, former NFLPA chief, traces athlete activism to historic social movements and argues that athletes now have a disciplined collective…

28 Aug 2025 · 1 min

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DeMaurice Smith, former NFLPA chief, traces athlete activism to historic social movements and argues that athletes now have a disciplined collective voice powerful enough to shape politics, culture, and business beyond sports.

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It's truly an honor to interview you because you will go down in history as somebody who reshaped the role of athlete advocacy in American sports. I want to talk about beyond the field. You helped redefine the role of athletes as activists and leaders. How do you see the future of athlete influence evolving in politics, culture, and business?
I think what has been a very positive movement of athlete activism and empowerment has literally been an extension of the women's rights movement, the civil rights movement, the student movement of the 60s and the 70s. It's this idea that we have a voice that needs to be heard, and if we're disciplined about that, we can use that voice to effectuate change.