Ra’Shede Hageman (From the NFL to authorship)

Ra’Shede Hageman is a former standout NFL player who is also an aspiring author.

Born in Minneapolis, as a young boy Hageman was shuttled between different foster homes until him and his brother were adopted by a set of loving parents.

“My brother and I eventually grew up in a great household, but before that we were in foster care at six or seven different places, and we had been through three failed adoptions,” Hageman says.

Once Hageman’s home life became more stable, he then began to develop emotionally, evolving into a jovial kid who frequently had a smile streaking across his face, even though internally there was still unresolved trauma from his past.

To counter the disharmony lurking beneath the surface, Hageman spent a lot of time playing sports.

“I always used sports as an outlet to cope with some of the anxiety and depression I felt while growing up,” Hageman says.

“I had a lot of pent-up anger that sports allowed me to release.”

As an athlete, Hageman quickly excelled at basketball and baseball, but there was soon no denying the physical prowess Hageman possessed on a football field.

An imposing figure who today checks in at 6-6 and 318 pounds, in high school Hageman played tight end, and his name was littered on every opponent’s scouting report due to his insane ability to haul in difficult catches and also serve as a capable run blocker.

“I was kind of a hothead when it came to playing football, but I was able to use that to my advantage because of the aggressive nature of the game,” he notes.

By the time Hageman was a senior at Minneapolis Washburn, his name had become synonymous with exceptionalism, and blue-blood football programs like Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin were vying for his talents.

Despite the influx of letters from coaches across the nation, Hageman, who was the 6^th best tight end in the country, according to Rivals.com, opted to stay home and sign with the University of Minnesota.

“I chose Minnesota because it was close to home,” Hageman clarifies.

“As soon as I got on campus, they put me on an eating and lifting program, and very soon I had put on fifteen extra pounds of muscle.”

Hageman appeared primed to be a stud tight end in the coming years for the Golden Gophers, but during practice one day he was mesmerized by the drills that the defensive line was doing.

Derek Lewis, Hageman’s tight ends coach, noticed his prized prospect’s fascination, and after a short conversation with Hageman and other members of the coaching staff, the direction of Hageman’s football career was forever altered.  

“During that specific practice, Coach Lewis called my name and he winked at me,” Hageman prefaces.

“I didn’t know what that meant, but after practice he introduced me to Coach Cross, who was the D-line coach. We had an immediate chemistry, and the thought of being in the trenches and throwing guys around, that started to really appeal because it was a way for me to make an immediate impact on the field.”

Over the course of the next few seasons, Hageman balled out, his formidable presence consistently causing problems for opposing offenses who couldn’t figure out how to contain the quick and powerful defensive lineman.

Hageman’s brilliance eventually caught the attention of NFL scouts, and in the 2014 draft Hageman was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round.

For many, being chosen by an NFL team would make them ecstatic, but Hageman recalls the day he got drafted as one filled with anxiety.

“There were so many cameras, reporters, fans, and security, that it all just became overwhelming,” admits Hageman, who in many ways finds comfort in the fact that wearing a football helmet protects him from the stares of onlookers.

“Most players would say getting drafted was one of the best moments of their life, but I just wanted to play football. I’m not super extroverted and I don’t love being in front of a camera. I just like to work, so when I got drafted, all I wanted to do was get out on the field and show the Atlanta Falcons what I could do.”

Right away, Hageman found playing time, and over the course of the next three seasons Hageman amassed 62 tackles and 4 sacks while repping the Falcons’ iconic red and black uniform.

He even recorded two tackles in the 2017 Super Bowl when the Falcons lost in heartbreaking fashion to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

And while Hageman enjoyed battling every Sunday alongside his teammates, there were also several ancillary factors that led to his time in the NFL being less than ideal.

“Privacy, or lack thereof,” Hageman describes as being the most challenging aspect of life in the NFL.

“As football players, we are public figures, and we get a lot of attention. People, from the fans to front office execs, are always watching you.”

Hageman then says that the difference between the NCAA and the pro level is that in college the team is like one big family, but in the NFL the tenor of the league is much more cutthroat and business-like.

“I didn’t know what kind of world I was walking into when I entered the NFL. A lot of the realities that existed simply blinded me, in the sense there wasn’t really anything I could do to prepare for it. I just had to live it,” Hageman explains.

“But again, football is a business, and as a player, you always have to be locked in mentally and physically. Of course, you have to watch what you say to the media or what you post online, but you also have to take care of your body so that when Sunday comes around, you’re ready to go and produce a return on your team’s investment.”

In a league where a guy could be driving a Corvette one day and on the waiver wire the next, Hageman advises the next generation of NFL players to exercise caution upon entering the business, and to not approach the game lackadaisically.

“Just be smart. Everyone in the NFL is talented, so even if you are a super athlete, that doesn’t make you unique,” Hageman emphasizes.  

“What truly separates the good from the great is not just can somebody get to the NFL, but also do they possess the physical and mental resiliency to last in the league?”

To endure the arduous grind that comes with being employed by the most popular sports league in North America, Hageman adds that there is also a certain level of obsession that is required.

“Guys who make it a long time in the NFL, they are consumed by the game,” he says.

“Everything from their body to their playbook, it all becomes a science, and so coming in, if new players don’t take that approach, it’s very possible their tenure in the NFL will be short-lived.”

Since losing to the Patriots in the Super Bowl six years ago, Hageman struggled to remain on the Falcons’ active roster, to the point that prior to the pandemic he hung up his cleats and walked away from the game of football.

At first, saying goodbye to the sport was difficult, but over time Hageman has begun to embrace the next phase of his life.

“Until recently, I’ve been focused on letting go of the game of football,” Hageman says.

“Of course, it was hard to go from being a guy whose identity was shaped around the game to reintegrating into mainstream society, but now just being a normal person makes me happy and gives me an extreme amount of peace.”

To stay busy while he ponders his next move, Hageman has been playing golf, softball, and bowling, plus spending time with family.

He’s also started drafting a memoir, not only to talk about his football career, but also mental health and the importance of overcoming adversity.  

Hageman says his goal with the upcoming book isn’t to become famous, but rather to share his story, and hopefully inspire other people who have struggled with mental health and finding their place in the universe.

“What makes my story compelling is that my life hasn’t always been easy,” Hageman mentions.  

“To an outsider, it might look like the physical gifts I’ve been blessed with made everything easy, but that hasn’t been the case. Like anyone else, I’ve experienced hardship, but my story also has a redemptive element to it. I’m more than just a football player, and I want to use my story to show other people that they can be more than simply what others see them as.” QS

**

Today’s post is sponsored by realtor Caleb Carlson!

If you’re a Twin Cities homeowner or property owner who is looking to buy/sell, I personally endorse Caleb Carlson. 

A staple of the Twin Cities real estate market, Caleb has helped countless homeowners buy and sell properties. 

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or this is your fourth time moving, Caleb’s expertise spans all corners of the real estate market. 

To get in touch with Caleb, call or text the number 701-520-8569 to speak with him directly!