Nate Boyer | The Renaissance Man

Some men see world events and say “someone should do something about that”; other men, men like Nate Boyer say “I should do something about that.”

On episode 3 of Return to Base, we welcome former Green Beret, Nate Boyer.

Nate is what some would call a renaissance man. Moved by a Time Magazine article, Nate bought a one-way ticket into the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur. Once there, he was put to work wherever they needed a set of hands and a compassionate human.

His travel to the Darfur is but a sampling of his extraordinary journey which would see him earn the Green Beret, have a go at the NFL, and sample the bright lights of Hollywood.

Nate co-founded Merging Vets and Players in 2015 to address the challenges that combat veterans and former professional athletes face in transition once the uniform comes off.

Nate’s Instagram.

This episode was made possible in part by the good AMERICANS at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

Transcript

Cliff  00:00

Hey everybody and thank you for tuning in to this installment of Return To Base. I'm your host, Cliff. 

Today's guest is somebody who I'm very excited about. Somebody who has an absolutely amazing story. I actually had a chance to serve with him a long time ago in Afghanistan and very excited to announce Today's guest is Nate Boyer. 

Nate Boyer is in addition to being a Green Beret and veteran. He was a walk-on long snapper at the University of Texas and from there, he actually signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. I got to pause there. This is something pretty incredible. Think about this. He was a Green Beret first and then went off to college to the University of Texas, walked on, by the way, as a long snapper at the University of Texas having never played a single down of organized football ever, not in Pop Warner, not in high school, shows up at a division one school with the audacity to say, "Hey, I want to make this team." And he did. Rest is history. 

In addition to that, he's been a fisherman, part of his life. He's been an actor. He is an actor, actually. He's an actor, producer, director, a philanthropists. He co-founded an organization called merging vets and players. Something that we'll get a chance to talk to him about, I'm sure.

And above all else, he's just a really good human being, a really good American, and we're proud to have him on this episode of Return To Base so stay tuned and if you haven't already, go ahead and click that subscribe button to get more content like this. Stay tuned. Here we go. 

 [Inaudible 00:01:52] This is Victor Lima. We are RTB. This is Return to Base. A veteran live podcast. 

All right. Got a good guest today. Nate Boyer, former Green Beret, NFL, undrafted free agent in 2015 by the Seattle Seahawks. How's it going, Nate?

Nate Boyer  02:27

It's pretty good. How are you doing?

Cliff  02:28

Doing pretty good. Thanks for asking. We got a lot to cover. Obviously, you've had an interesting life. Some might say you're a bit of a renaissance man. I like it a little bit to Forrest Gump. No offense, just running around doing everything, man. In the pop culture, if you will, or doing a little bit of everything in this century here, right?

Nate  03:00

Yes. I don't know about everything, but I'm trying to do the things that I'm into or at least attempt them.

Cliff  03:07

Yes, I think what you've done more than most people, that's for sure. If I look at your resume, we brought it up during the intro but obviously, you have a very impressive resume and one can probably say that you've lived a pretty full life. How do you feel about that?

Nate  03:27

I think it's a matter of perspective. It's like the only life you really understand is your own. 

For me, it feels just normal and of course, I don't know about it, of course, but it feels like I haven't done that much or I put maybe too much time into things that I don't really care about and wish I would have put more time into other things but I think that's probably standard with everybody. I bet everybody's got those types of-- I don't want to say regrets but regrets. You know what I mean? 

Cliff  03:36

Right.

Yes, I know you mean. You mentioned something that I always like to tell people when committing to things is, time is my only resource I can't really renew. So I'm pretty protective my time and I know you're protective of your time.  I do appreciate you taking the time to talk to us but your, your point there being that the time that you have had to spend on this world. You maybe could have did some things a little bit differently. Is that what you're saying?

Nate  04:40

Yes, I just-- I often feel like that I just wasted a bit of time doing something that wasn't really set on more earlier and it's probably because I didn't really know what I wanted to do but at the same time I have to understand that because I spun my wheels for a bit, I think it got me to a place of frustration and asking a lot of questions and that's probably what spurred the action that was taken after that. 

Cliff  05:16

Right.

Nate  05:17

It's one of those things like it's a catch-22 I think.

Cliff  05:20

Right. 

Nate  05:20

But it's hard to break, it's hard to always recognize it. I'm 40 years old now. It's like as life keeps going, you're like, "Man, I never did that thing and I'm not-- I wish I was doing this thing right now and I'm also not slowing down and enjoying my life at all." I mean, it's like, they're definitely first world problems, like all those things but--

Cliff  05:49

Well, you would know, right? For those listening who don't know, I mean, you've visited the third world and obviously, during combat, but also, before your time in the military. Is that right?

Nate  06:03

Yes, in 2004. It was my first time going to a place like that. I went to the Darfur in the-- Along the border of Chad and Sudan.

Cliff  06:17

What led you to do that?

Nate  06:19

Well, I was-- Honestly, it was a Time magazine article. I was 23 years old at the time. 911 happened when I was 19-- 20. 911 happened when I was 20 and I thought about joining the military at the time but it just didn't quite feel right. I didn't know what I would do exactly and I just-- I guess-- I mean, none of us were aware that this was going to be a long war and not to mention a 20 year war but--

Cliff  06:58

That's right.

Nate  06:59

I just-- I always remember thinking about when I was younger. I was like, "Well, I'd only really join-- Probably join the military if we were at war, something pretty big, pretty involved and I didn't do that and I-- But I did a lot of other things that I want to talk about the wasting of time, where I just felt [Crosstalk 00:07:30].

Cliff  07:01

18 to 23. What were you up to, man? Come on.

Nate  07:32

Exactly. Not going to college and I'll tell you that much but Yes and I remember this-- Just reading this article and it was like-- Just like, hit me the images. It just struck me in a certain way and I was like, "Man, I got to go over there and help." And it was like-- I mean, the title was-- the title of the Time magazine article was the "Tragedy in Sudan" and it was--

Yes, it was just these people that are in the midst of a genocide 300,000 people have been killed by the time I'd read that article and there's mostly women and children that were left abandoned and ended up in refugee camps and they were understaffed and they just needed help. They needed people and so I just made a decision, even though I was not qualified at all and--

Cliff  08:26

[Inaudible 00:08:26]. 

Nate  08:28

No, I actually didn't. I couldn't go with any organization. They wouldn't let me because I didn't have a college degree and I didn't have any special skills or anything so I just flew myself over there and figured it out when I got there. I was really stupid but--

Cliff  08:40

Wow, man. You just show up in Sudan and you-- I imagine you went to maybe the rental car place or somewhere safe [Sysco 00:08:52] point me to where all the bad stuff is happening and you might go help.

Nate  08:55

Yes, I got-- Picked up a Ford Focus that enterprise rental car and just throw it. No, I'm just kidding. 

Yes, there was not a lot of English spoken.

Cliff  09:05

Right. 

Nate  09:07

In the capital. Gimenez, the name of the capital. Chad is where I flew into. That's about the only place you could fly into anywhere near the Darfur and I talked my way onto a U.N flight. BS my way on this little the UNHCR, United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Little prop plane, they had an extra an open seat. I just BS my way on it and hopefully flew across the Sahara to the Darfur and once I got there, I talked my way into a volunteer opportunity. 

I mean, I wasn't asking for anything, including food or being put up. I was like, I just want to help out and so I ended up sleeping. I slept how the refugees slept. I just slept on the ground under a-- Not even really under a tent. It was like the back of this extended compound and-- But I assisted every day with being on the medical centers, I played soccer with the kids, I helped build some of the campsites and stuff like that and it was just a grunt as far as the refugee camp world goes. 

Cliff  10:24

Wow. 

Nate  10:26

But it just completely changed my life and perspective on things and it really made me-- My patriotism was gained over there. So many people were just enamored with America, they just wanted to talk about America and hear about my stories and like, why would I leave that to come over here and help? And I just made the decision when I was there that I was going to join the military. 

Cliff  10:55

Did you become the 18 Delta? Is that right? A Special Forces metaphor? Sorry--

Nate  11:00

ECHO [Crosstalk 00:11:01]. 

Cliff  11:02

Should have known that. 

Nate  11:03

I didn't sign up for that. I wanted to be an engineer. I wanted to be a Charlie but I think ECHO was what they gave me because they needed ECHOs at the time. I scored pretty well in some of the tests, I guess that would qualify me better as an ECHO is which is a camo guy for those that don't know, but it wasn't super into it and I didn't know anything about it. I didn't even have an email address when I joined the military. It was all very new to me. 

Cliff  11:33

You're in Darfur and you're thinking. Did you-- I mean, did you run into some special forces guys in Africa? 

Nate  11:41

No, there was no American military anywhere near where I was at all. There was-- They had some UN soldiers but maybe French Foreign Legion was there as well but not-- No American? 

Nate  11:59

Well, I don't want to say no. None that I saw [Crosstalk 00:12:02] somewhere. 

Cliff  12:02

Did you consider joining the French Foreign Legion?

Nate  12:05

No, I didn't. I didn't even know what I was going to do exactly. Coming back, I just knew it had to be something like that, like people just felt like we're worth fighting for and I got malaria the last week I was there.

Cliff  12:21

Oh, good.

Nate  12:23

Yes, sow super fun but the family that put me up and like took care of me, they put a little radio in my room I was staying. The only station that came on the radio was the BBC and the Second Battle of Fallujah was happening at that time.

Cliff  12:42

Right.

Nate  12:43

To this November. It's October or November of 2004. I think November and I'm like listening to the play by play of these guys, mostly Marines going in and risking their lives and fighting for these people and I just thought, "Man, that's what I'm going to do next. I'm going to join the military." 

I came home, went to the Marine Corps recruiting office, didn't get a great vibe from that and also, wasn't sure if that made sense, that was the right fit and then I came across this other Mark magazine article that talked about the 18 x-ray programs. I think it was also a Time Magazine, honestly but Yes, I was like getting my oil change at a dealership and just very-- Sitting there in the dealership, which is I remember it pretty clear, probably because that's where I've read that article but I just remember being like, "Oh, I come back to the real world, the hum of the lights inside the empty waiting room and I read about how you could come in off the street. 

Cliff  14:00

[Crosstalk 00:14:00]. Sounds like you were drawn at that point [Sysco 00:14:01] to service. If you knew you had to serve, it sounds like and you had this inclination spurred on by maybe a renewed patriotism as to how the rest of the world sees the United States of America. Is that?

Nate  14:19

Yes, I think so. I mean, I was proud of a lot of the-- Honestly, after 911 I just remember 912 and I lived in LA at the time and it's like, people were marching in the streets like parading, dressed as Uncle Sam and stuff like that and it was just something we don't-- It almost be-- If we saw that today people would assume it was extremist group.

Cliff  14:48

Yes. That wild when you think about that.

Nate  14:51

It's very wild but it was just like we were very united that really came together and then I remember George Bush throwing the first pitch out at the World Series--

Cliff  15:07

I know. 

Nate  15:08

In the aces in Yankee Stadium [Sysco 00:15:11] and it's just all those kinds of things. This is crazy. This is-- Really proud of this. I don't know, I was just interested.

Cliff  15:20

I was-- After 911 or during 911 actually, I was stationed in Germany at the time ao it was an interesting feeling. Germans were leaving flowers at our base which was far from any type of danger and I remember that speech he gave. George W. Bush at the ground zero. 

Nate  15:43

Yes.

Cliff  15:43

Those firemen said, "Hey, we can't hear you." And then of course, he said, "I can hear you and pretty soon the people who knock down these buildings are going to hear from all of us." That was a real proud moment and then of course, I know you're a big baseball fan so that whole first pitch, I'm sure you've seen the 30 for 30 about it. I think it's a 30 for 30 about the first pitch where Jeter says, "Don't bounce it."

Nate  16:13

Exactly. They always say that I got to throw first pitch out of a-- It was a spring training game for the mariners but yes, same thing. They were-- The main thing, they're like, aim high. If you miss high and the catcher has to come up. No big deal. Just don't bounce it. I was staring at the top of the catcher's mask and I was like, "All right, if I miss, high five. If I don't, over his head. That's fine."

Cliff  16:40

[Crosstalk 00:16:40] from the rubber. 

Nate  16:42

Oh, Yes. 

Cliff  16:42

Nice. Yes, you got to do it. 

Nate  16:44

Oh, dude, I did the full wind up through as hard as I could. I mean, it probably went 65 miles an hour but yes, did through. It was good. I wasn't messing around.

Cliff  16:58

You become a Green Beret and for the listeners, Nate and I actually served together in Afghanistan and I don't know, I guess it has to be 2013 or 14.

Nate  17:11

[Crosstalk 00:17:11] 13.

Cliff  17:12

2013 and didn't get to know each other too well. I was all over the place as were you, doing different things. I would-- By the way, I was at 18 ECHO as well. 

Nate  17:24

Oh, nice.

Cliff  17:25

Before I got promoted to-- Yes, but that experience-- What did you think about your time in Afghanistan? That wasn't your only time in Afghanistan. Correct?

Nate  17:39

No, I went to-- Well, actually just went to Afghanistan that year and I went the next year I was at Camp Morehead with third group and I got attached to an ODA but I was in Iraq before that when I was in 10th group on active duty,

Cliff  17:54

Yes. Both places, special place in my heart for both. Big shout out to Iraq. I spent a lot of time in Iraq, whereabouts in Iraq and how do you find those trips while working on an ODA and just those deployments, especially knowing now that Afghanistan's done and Iraq always in a state of mess?

Nate  18:24

Yes, it's tough to see man. I mean, I was in Iraq, I was we operate the most out of Najaf. That's where our team house was, which is south of Baghdad, it's right where the Tigris and Euphrates converge. It's near Babel or as we know Babylon and the Najaf was the Shiite holy city which has the biggest cemetery in the world with a lot of religious significance for honestly for all religions or all main ones. Major ones, I should say. Judaism. 

Cliff  18:57

Abrahamic.

Nate  18:58

Christianity and Yes, exactly and Islam but Yes, Father Abraham's buried there and many others. Probably millions of others. 

Cliff  19:11

That is a huge cemetery.

Nate  19:12

It's an honor.

Cliff  19:14

To think of the battles that went on in that cemetery in-- 

Nate  19:23

Yes.

Cliff  19:24

2000 early or late 2000s.

Nate  19:27

There was a big one in '07 right before we got there with the Marines, I think four Marines were killed and yes, our ODA, we never got in a firefight in the cemetery but I remember-- I mean, we spend a lot of time around there but it was just-- It was very bizarre. I mean, you see something like that because Najaf is a city but it's nothing like a city in North America or the West generally. It's just very desolate. It's very-- I mean, you're in the desert and even the downtown, everything's sand colored. All the buildings, very dusty, a lot of like wind storms and it's not like-- 

A lot of Iraq is very different. In some ways it was almost more like southern Afghanistan. The topography and everything but it was-- We were very far from everyone else. I mean, there was a nearby supply base but we were far from the flagpole. I don't know, the closest ODA to us was in Hilah which I think that was at least an hour drive if not more, I can't remember. 

Cliff  20:49

What year was that? 

Nate  20:51

This is in 2008, 2009. 

Cliff  20:55

Oh. Yes. 2009, I was out east. I could. 

Nate  20:59

Oh, Yes in 2010. All right. 

Cliff  21:03

Yes, same. Baghdad. Big City. Still on the outskirts, sand castles. Najaf, worse. 

Nate  21:14

Yes.

Cliff  21:14

I mean, you can just see across, there's no real big buildings but Yes, and then Afghanistan obviously, you-- It sounds like you've been a fair amount of places in Afghanistan and it's weird to see-- I don't know, you say our legacy, our generations' legacy in question, in some ways with-- Especially with Afghanistan following the way it did and then obviously, Iraq had the ISIS uprising and stuff.

Nate  21:48

Right. Yes, no it's sad. It's frustrating but it's not really an easy answer there. 

Cliff  22:00

Right. Those folks have been at war for a long time, man. I don't know. 

Nate  22:05

Yes.

Cliff  22:06

We thought we could change that but for all the people that are on the ground, families, and children.

Nate  22:14

Yes, that's the worst part. It's like there's-- That's what people don't quite understand. I think you can't really do there but I mean, I guess you can at some level but just-- I think people just don't believe it.

Cliff  22:27

Right. 

Nate  22:27

The amount of oppression that exists over there and how women and children are treated and just the class system. Obviously, things are not perfect here in the States, right? Things are not completely equal for everybody but it's just a completely different level of that.

Cliff  22:54

It's quite a perspective when you look at it. 

Nate  22:58

Yes.

Cliff  22:58

I mean, I did several deployments in Iraq and just one to Afghanistan but more or less people are people everywhere where there's just folks, a lot of times trying to get by, sometimes even the people whose houses I've been into, you realize this is just a guy trying to provide for his family. 

Nate  23:22

Right.

Cliff  23:24

And put yourself in that same situation, you might do the same thing. Who knows? 

Nate  23:28

Yes, exactly. 

Cliff  23:30

But one thing that really tripped me out was the families seemed to sleep in the first room of a house during-- I guess the fall and we would always come in to bad guy's house and just so afraid that I was going to step on a baby's arm or something like that. 

Nate  23:57

Yes. 

Cliff  23:58

And that, Yes, I'm there to do a job but I was also always concerned that oh, man, I don't want to step on a kid's foot or something. Some babies sleeping and wake him up but--

Nate  24:09

Right. 

Cliff  24:09

Yes. When we served together, I remember somebody telling me, "Hey, you should go talk to Nate man. He's got an interesting story and then found out of course, that you-- On your free time, you were a long snapper for the Texas Longhorns. 

Nate  24:31

Yes.

Cliff  24:32

I mean, that's crazy thing.

Nate  24:34

No. You got it backwards. In my free time. I was in a National Guard.

Cliff  24:40

Yes, that's right.

Now, I mean, that is such a strange turn of events where you were in the dark floor, before that you worked on a fishing boat, decided to join the army, decided to go into the national guard and then I know on a whim you're like, you know what? I bet I can snap this football 20 yards.

Nate  25:08

Well, I-- Growing up, I was always just a huge football fan and when I was a little kid, I played soccer and baseball and basketball and then when I became interested in playing football. At first, my mom wasn't thrilled about it just because it's-- I mean, it's a violent sport and I was pretty young when I first was into it and she steered me away from it and then I just got so hooked on especially baseball and basketball. I was really into it and then by the time I got to high school, it was like, man, you got to-- I got to focus on these sports if I want a chance to start and play. I can't-- I'm not good enough athlete to just play forceful sports or whatever in high school. I never played and it bothered me. It was like a regret I had for my whole life till I was 29. I had to go back to college.

Cliff  26:18

29 years on redshirt freshmen.

Nate  26:21

Yes. I was actually finishing up a deployment in Iraq in '09. I was 28 at the time then and I just made the decision that I wasn't going to re-enlist and I could do an active duty. I was a year out and so I was up for that realism. I said, "No, I'm just going to go to college and go try to play football." And ended up going to UT and I-- By after my first semester there, I re-enlisted into the National Guard. 

I wanted to keep serving and that first summer I had at school, I was bored to tears and I was like, "Man, I need to do something over the summer here." And Yes, I walked on as a safety and I was-- I made the team, I was on the scout team, and I was dressed for home games and got to run down on kickoff coverage during the veteran a day game and all that stuff. 

I was like, I want to play meaningful snaps. I want to find a way on the field. What's something that I can learn that's a specialized skill that it doesn't necessarily-- I don't necessarily have to play football my whole life? And long snapping made the most sense. I mean, it's a thankless job and it's like shooting a free throw in the sense of it's the same every time. It's a closed skill like that but it's not easy. I mean, you're hiking a ball through your legs 15 yards, it's got to be on a line, a spiral and very--

Cliff  28:00

[Crosstalk 00:28:00].

Nate  28:01

Yes, then you're about to get hit as soon as you do. Exactly. It's [Crosstalk 00:28:06].

Cliff  28:06

Talk about it recently.

Nate  28:07

Oh, really?

Cliff  28:08

For 20 minutes. Well, some reporter asked, "Hey, do you think we need to-- You think you guys need a long snapper on the Patriots or can you do without? And he went into a 15 minute explanation in history of the long snapper. It was something--

Nate  28:23

That's a very dumb question by the media there.

Cliff  28:26

Well, you know the media is not all that bright.

Nate  28:28

Yes, right. I mean, every NFL team has one-- They have no backup, they have one long snapper and that's all that person does. Puns field goals extra points and they don't play anything else. They're not-- But usually, the backup for the long snapper in case he gets hurt is a reserve tight end or linebacker or something like that but yes, it's just. That's what that is.

Cliff  28:53

What was that like? All of a sudden you're lined up against-- I don't know-- 250, 300 pound mountain of men ready to hit you in your face as soon as you step off?

Nate  29:08

Right. Yes. I mean, it's definitely nerve-wrecking but it's also just football and it's not that big a deal. I think that-- I think the time in the military definitely helped me settle into those moments and--

Cliff  29:21

Nobody's shooting at you. 

Nate  29:23

Nobody's shooting at you. That was the first thing Mac told me. My very first game that I played in, that I started in was my sophomore year. It was after week one, I'd won the starting job and practice because week one, they recruited this kid to come in and be the long snapper and he had a tough-- He didn't have a great game. 

I mean, it's-- There's 100,000 fans in the stadium. There's a lot viewers into it so skill only takes you so far and he gave me a shot. In the very first snap, I go out there and I was nervous man and it was a wobbly snap on an extra point. The holder got it and put it down and they kicked it through but it was probably the worst snap of my career, to be honest. At least on field goals and extra points and I knew I screwed it up, man. [Inaudible 00:30:16] and Mac just grabbed me, "Hey!" I was like, "What?" He's like, "Nobody's shooting at you. Relax." And I was like, "All right, Yes." 

Cliff  30:26

It probably meant a lot? 

Nate  30:27

No, I did and then I go to the sideline and I'm like, "Yes, that's such a good point, man." Just-- What are you doing? Relax.

Cliff  30:34

[Inaudible 00:30:34] You talking about here? Are you talking about Mac [Inaudible 00:30:38]?

Nate  30:38

No, Mac Brown. 

Cliff  30:40

OK.

Nate  30:40

Head coach.

Cliff  30:41

OK. I know that Mac.

Nate  30:45

He's on the sideline, quite a bit [Crosstalk 00:30:48].

Cliff  30:47

Yes, funny-- That would almost been a funnier story like, "Hey, man. Nobody's shooting at you." But it'd be a lot cooler if they were.

Nate  30:56

Yes, exactly. If he said what you would say? 

Cliff  31:00

Yes. I know we're running up on time here but I want to get through just a couple more things, if that's all right. 

Nate  31:08

Yes, let's do it. 

Cliff  31:09

Yes. I mean, you've had such an interest in life. It's hard to wrap it up into such a small format but drafted-- Not drafted but signed by the Seattle Seahawks. Did you have any inclination that this was going to happen?

Nate  31:28

No, not by the Seahawks specifically but I remember thinking after my senior year, this is probably it. This is probably my last game, we lost the bowl game to Arkansas. Pretty bad and I didn't play great. It was a little bittersweet. It's like, I wish we-- Even if we lost a game, I wish we would have played better. Would have been some epic finale to my career and it really wasn't and then I got asked to play in the senior All-Star game in Charleston called the Medal of Honor bowl and it was-- It doesn't even exist anymore but every year, they've got about three or four senior All-Star games, they've always got the Reese's Senior Bowl and the East West Shrine game, the NFL PA Bowl. 

And then the fourth one is a rotating one that the different places. This one was sponsored by the Medal of Honor Society and that's probably why they called me straight up because we want to have a veteran in the game.

Cliff  32:41

Right. Not a whole lot of them.

Nate  32:43

No. There was one other when I was playing. One other that I knew of. One other veteran in college football and that's it and I go down to Charleston. During the week of practices, they've got all these NFL scouts there and I just didn't realize I was a thing. Most of the guys I was that were in this game were at best middle round draft picks and so a lot of them were undrafted types like myself.

Cliff  33:20

Right. 

Nate  33:21

And I go down. During the practices, they had during that week of practices, I should say. They had time set aside for interviews and teams would sit down with you and talk to you and whatnot. I had four different teams sit with me and express interest. None of them were the Seahawks but Yes, it was the Dolphins, Bears [Sysco 00:33:52], the Cardinals.

Cliff  33:54

Thinking still that's a long shot.

Nate  33:57

Oh, Yes. Definitely think this is definitely. 

Cliff  34:00

They're just going through the motion, man. They're here. They might as well interview somebody is that what you're saying?

Nate  34:05

I mean, initially but a couple of them were giving me-- They were like, "You need to put some weight on but you're good snapper. You should go for it." And I was like, "All right." I did. I put on 30 pounds over the next four months. It wasn't all good weight but it was necessary to even get considered because I-- When I-- In college, I played it between 185 and 195. I was not big. 

Cliff  34:30

Yes.

Nate  34:30

That's my fighting weight though. That's what I feel good at and I mean, right now I'm 175 and I feel great. 

Cliff  34:39

Yes.

Nate  34:40

But these at that time, I mean, I got all the way up to 25 when I was prepping and I did Pro Day and then had a good pro day out at Texas. Just ran the 40 and did the bench press and did the long snapper for the coaches and all that and then draft day rolls around and my agents talking to a few different teams and ended up talking to or getting a call from the St. Louis Rams first and then the Seattle Seahawks and both teams are interested in signing me as a free agent, as soon as the draft was over. 

I had to make a decision there at about 30 minutes to make to choose.

Cliff  35:33

Wow. 

Nate  35:34

The-- I mean the Seahawks had been to back to back Super Bowls. They won in 13 loss in 14 and I mean, it was Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin and Bobby Wagner and Michael Bennett. I mean, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, just on and on and just studs. Jimmy Graham just got acquired and I just was like, "Man, this is a no brainer. I got to go Seahawks." I mean, the Rams are struggling. I think they won four games a year before and I knew I probably had a better shot of making it in St. Louis but I just couldn't turn down that opportunity to play in Seattle. 

Cliff  36:22

Yes.

Nate  36:22

I went out to-- Pete Carroll called and I answered and said that I wanted to-- That I was down. I wanted to sign on to the Seahawks and so I signed as a free agent. I'm at 34 years old.

Cliff  36:34

Wow, what a freaking inspiration story that is. I remember watching it on TV, thinking, "Oh my God, I know that guy." And super proud of what you accomplished there. I mean, just even getting a call from NFL team. That's a big deal but--

Nate  36:52

[Inaudible 00:36:52].

Cliff  36:54

Not everybody treat you in the locker room where they--

Nate  36:56

They're great. I mean, I was a rookie but I was also the oldest guy in the team which is pretty funny. Yes.

Cliff  37:05

Yes. Did you have a nickname? 

Nate  37:07

No, I did in college. I had several from old man to grandpa. Just large to whatever but not really there. It's a little different. NFL locker room versus college but the Seattle. I would say Seattle's got that. Definitely got that college vibe--

Cliff  37:24

Yes.

Nate  37:24

Than anything else.

Cliff  37:26

And plus, cool thing is right down the road. First Special Forces Group. I know that they did a lot with first group.

Nate  37:36

Yes, good buddy of mine, who's still good buddy named Ed Hall came close with-- He's a first group guy and he just retired as a sergeant major last year and he's a stud and we still stay in touch now but Yes, I was actually drafted by first group first drafted. 

Cliff  37:56

Yes.

Nate  37:57

The word [Sysco 00:37:57] but I went to my visit first-- I didn't go to Fort Lewis. I was sent to Okinawa. They were Italian out in Japan and that's where I was but Yes, I was-- I started in first group and then ended up out there too with the Seahawks.

Cliff  38:14

Yes, that's pretty cool story, especially coming back home and in some sense, obviously, you were in Okinawa. I don't know if you ever made it out to the Mentum ball [Sysco 00:38:57]. Still, not yet.

Nate  38:20

[Crosstalk 00:38:20]. 

Cliff  38:36

I served in first group before I went to the Q Course for like a year school and my brother actually, is also--

Nate  38:44

The other group I spent most-- Oh, I spent time on active duty with when I deployed with was 10th group at Fort Carson and the irony there is that the one preseason game I played in, it was-- We played the Broncos. Oh.

Cliff  39:02

Yes, the universe.

Nate  39:04

Yes, it's strange and they went on to win the Super Bowl that year. The Broncos and Peyton Manning was the quarterback and I'm like warming up in pre games and up in Seattle, it was a home game at CenturyLink and snapping footballs now stand up for a second, try to take it in, turn on my right and Peyton Manning's throwing routes to the receivers and was like, "Oh my gosh, what am I doing here? This is Crazy."

Cliff  39:33

Hall of Famer right there, man. I mean, you got to play with a bunch of future Hall of Famers as well. Hopefully. 

Let's fast forward a little bit here. Staying on the NFL and obviously, you were-- I don't know for-- Lack of a better word-- Conscripted into a bit of the social justice movement through standing up and being a friend to somebody who probably needed one at the time and obviously, a controversial figure in Colin Kaepernick. Right? 

Nate  40:10

Yes.

Cliff  40:11

Sat down notoriously or famously sat on the bench instead of standing for the national anthem as a protest for police violence and as the story goes, you convince him to take a knee because it's more respectful than sitting on your backside and walk me through how that changed your life?

Nate  40:38

Well, it was a year after I was in Seattle and the one game I got to play and when I stood on the sidelines in the anthem played, I got super emotional and I understand that's-- A lot of that's because of my connection to the flag in the anthem, those symbols mean something different to me but it was just, Yes, it was something that I'll definitely never forget. A moment I took pride in and a year later, I see Collins sitting on the bench and during the anthem and at the time, initially, at least it didn't just hurt me-- Wasn't anything. 

I was a big Niner fan growing up in from the bay. I was like, "Man, this is like one of my heroes." But then I listened to why he was doing it. I listened to an interviews he'd done about in the locker room shortly after and saying, why he wasn't going to stand for the flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color and I didn't feel like that's more obviously, that's not the intent of the flag but it's also not what I-- My experience understood.

I get that we're actually, equality does not fully exist yet and there's a lot to work towards and we knew we need to improve in so many ways and but maybe this was a bit of a wakeup call for all those things and I wrote this open letter because I kept getting hit up by everybody from the media world about weighing in on this subject, I guess because I played football and I was in the military and makes me a subject matter expert but which it doesn't and I agreed to write an open letter to the army times and I did it and just explained my relationship to those things and why I feel the way that I feel and I talked about my trip to the Darfur and I talked about serving in the military and spending time in places where there is a different type of oppression or a different level of it, I guess. 

But also, I was like-- Same time, I only know about my experience. For me to pretend that I know what it's like to be, go through what you've experienced. That's pretty ignorant and Colin read it and was actually inspired by it. Reached out to me and wanted to meet. Yes, if I could come down to San Diego, they're playing the chargers in the final preseason game that year and I did. I went down there. I met with him in the lobby of the team hotel. We talked about all kinds of stuff and end of the conversation after we really got to know each other and knew where each other stood and developed that respect-- Mutual respect. Yes. There was another way that he could protest, it wouldn't offend people in the military. Because that was not as intense in any way. 

Cliff  43:53

Right.

Nate  43:54

And I told him, no, there's nothing you can do. It's not going to offend some people. That's true. If you're asking my opinion, I think the least inspiring part of what you're doing is that you're not alongside your teammates. You're isolated on your own and he agreed that would be better if you be alongside these guys even if they don't all agree with them. 

As soon as the anthem's over, the game starts and they go out on the field. They got to work together even though they maybe disagree on some things. 

I said, "If you're alongside your teammates and you're committed to not standing. The only other option that I think makes sense is taking a knee and I think that's a pretty respectful gesture throughout history and if you're willing to do that, I'm willing to stand next to you." And he asked if I would kneel with him? And I told him, I wouldn't. I don't want to do that but I will support your decision to make that adjustment and yes, he thought that was-- He agreed. 

To me that was cool. He appreciated me willing to be with him on it, and support him in that way and it didn't necessarily meant I supported everything that Collins said an did but it's like, I'm at least willing to have a conversation and try to figure some-- Figure out a solution together like we should do. In my opinion we should do with everything in the country.

Cliff  45:24

Yes. Were you surprised by the reaction, both positive and negative?

Nate  45:31

Yes, I mean, right off the gate, man. When he took the knee, for instance, in the stadium, there was a lot of booing and this is on military appreciation night. They had a layover with seals jumping in the stadium.

Cliff  45:48

[Inaudible 00:45:48] military town too. 

Nate  45:50

Yes. It was-- This was the-- It was right around the 15th anniversary of 911 as well. Yes, it was pretty bizarre to be completely honest but

Cliff  46:05

Yes, no doubt changed your life, I'm sure. Small things change your trajectory in something.

Nate  46:12

Yes, for sure. Definitely. 

Cliff  46:14

But I guess that led to-- Eventually to-- You co-founding merging vets and players, right? 

Nate  46:24

Yes, we already actually started. We founded MVP in December of 2015 but yes, we bring together combat vets and former professional athletes to help them find purpose, identity and a team again when the uniform comes off,

Cliff  46:42

That is so important. That identity, you're right.

Nate  46:45

Yes, absolutely. Yes, if anybody wants to check out more about that, its vetsandplayers.org. There's a website and we've got chapters in seven cities now and we've also got a couple of zoom options every week and what we do when we meet up is, we'll train for about 30 to 40 minutes and just get a good sweat going. It's something that everybody can participate in. If you are a combat vet or former pro athlete, you're able to become a member. 

Cliff  47:16

Right. 

Nate  47:17

And then afterwards, we just talk about our shit, lack of a better term. 

Cliff  47:24

Yes. 

Nate  47:25

And just like, it could be good stuff, too. It's just not all negative but it's just that community support group, peer to peer and just like a locker room and it's-- And then we give each other crap but at the same time, we got crap we need to share and get off our chest. That's the place to do it.

Cliff  47:48

Yes. We'll make sure that that's in the show notes and, and I know, we're going long here and I appreciate you taking the time but I do want to get to-- What are some of the things you're working on? 

Obviously, you're hitting Hollywood by storm. Director, actor, producer, all these things and you had mentioned prior to recording a couple projects that you work on and if you don't mind enlightening us, let us know about those.

Nate  48:18

Yes, I mean, the big thing is I actually-- I directed a film called MVP about-- It's a narrative too. It's a scripted project with actors and everything and it's about a homeless marine living in a shelter in East Hollywood and he meets me a former NFL player for sure as a league and they're both going through similar struggles.

On paper, they got nothing in common but once they get to know each other, they realize they're more similar than they never imagined and they got to navigate the transition together and it's cool, man, it was great. We had half veterans on the cast and crew every veteran portrayed on screen is played by an actual vet and Sylvester Stallone, put his name on it as an executive producer and but then we've got like, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Strahan and Howie Long.

Cliff  49:20

Those are great news right there. 

Nate  49:21

Yes. Randy Couture. All these guy, Jay Glazer. They're all playing themselves in the film and it's their real stories that come to life. Tom Arnold has a little cameo in it. Its great man, it was suddenly shot in the middle of the lockdown. In LA, we figured a way out to make it happen. Made it for nothing but Yes, we're working on the distribution plan right now.

Cliff  49:45

Yes. What's that look like? When do you think our folks will be able to--?

Nate  49:51

Hard to say. I mean, I think hopefully in early next year but it's hard to say until you do a deal.

Cliff  49:59

Yes. I understand. Well, we'll keep the audience abreast. You had mentioned also, you're working on another project. If you want to talk about it? We talked before the show start here about being baseball fans.

Nate  50:14

Yes, just working on it-- Working on a documentary that we just started. That's going to take quite a while to get done but it's about the four pitchers in Major League history to throw 20 strikeouts in a game which is a pretty incredible feats and we're collecting those stories right now on the road and talking to those guys. Yes, it's-- I'm always a big sports fan. I've been one since I was a kid. Baseball was actually my very first love. 

Cliff  50:47

[Inaudible 00:50:47].

Nate  50:48

Yes. Giants fan.

Cliff  50:51

Yes. I'm NLOS fan myself. Padres and I'm happy about the Giants winning the pennant because that means the Dodgers.

Nate  51:05

Exactly. Yes. Well, they playing tomorrow night, though. Big game. 

They're playing with the Cardinals and the Cardinals [Inaudible 00:51:14].

Cliff  51:11

Yes. 

Who's pitching? 

Nate  51:17

I would guess, Scherzer but I don't know. I mean, you want to put your best foot forward out there. 

Cliff  51:22

Yes. 

Nate  51:22

I'm not sure who's up in that rotation but that would be my guess.

Cliff  51:25

It doesn't matter. They're full of killers.

Nate  51:28

Yes, it's true.

Cliff  51:30

Yes. Well, as always, I like to close with-- You're a veteran, you've done quite a bit in your life to include transitioning from the military into the civilian world. Your story's unique but I'm sure what's not unique is the-- Or at least, what's applicable to everybody, not just you is some advice that you could give veterans getting out of the military, wondering what they're going to do, trying struggling with their identity. What's something you could relate to our audience about those subjects?

Nate  52:11

I think the number one thing is to just try things.

Cliff  52:15

Right.

Nate  52:15

Try different things. Don't limit yourself. Don't think because you did this, that it's only going to translate to a narrow scope. You can do freaking anything, man. That's what your skill set-- It has prepared you for in the military and specifically in someone who served in Special Forces, in my opinion. 

I mean, you know how to solve problems, you know how to figure things out, and you don't have to be a subject matter expert on anything which I don't think I am still. To make it happen and it should be whatever you're interested in, whatever motivates you, gets you up in the morning, and whatever you're excited about. It can be any field. It's an open book and whatever that thing is. 

And if you don't know what that thing is, that's why I say try things. Try different things that you feel like you might be interested in, that may move the needle for you. Don't be so hung up on like, "Oh,I got to do something that directly relates to my background or my MOS." I mean, it's all BS, man. It doesn't matter and people, because of your background and your story, don't throw your story in people's face or anything like that but when they ask you, tell them the truth, tell them what you did, tell them what you're a part of because it does have value. 

Everybody, go read somebody else's resume, tell me they're not bragging on themselves when you read that resume. You know what I mean? And you can do it in a tasteful way. It doesn't mean-- I'm not saying go, just brag about yourself but when people ask you, "Well, who are you? What do you do?" Tell them what you can move. We've all got certain information we don't necessarily need to share but it holds a lot of weight and so you got to use it. I think it's a disservice to yourself if you don't.

Cliff  54:14

Yes, it's your story. Right?

Nate  54:16

Exactly. 

Cliff  54:17

Keep writing it, man. 

Well, excuse me. Nate, I appreciate your time. I know that you're busy man and got a lot of projects going on and keep doing positive things brother and keep trying new things. Right? Who knows maybe you have a couple more surprises up your sleeve.

Nate  54:38

And we'll see.

Cliff  54:41

I appreciate you joining us, man.

Nate  54:43

Take it easy on me, Cliff. I appreciate it. 

Cliff  54:45

Yes. Thank you. 

Nate  54:47

Yes. Have a good one. 

Cliff  54:52

All right. All right. That was pretty cool. Getting to talk to Nate Boyer. For as long as we did, he didn't have a whole lot of time scheduled for us but he was able to stick around a little bit longer and I hope I didn't make him too late to his next appointment. 

Fantastic conversation. Great talking to Nate. Just a fantastic and interesting character, really. I mean, he's a real human being of course, he's a Green Beret, a football player, and actor, producer, all these things and it was really great to hear some of the insight that he had to offer and really what his message was, is try new things. Go out there and don't let anybody tell you know.

Just go out there. Do what makes you happy. Have fun with it. If you want to be long snapper for football team in a division one college like the University of Texas, who's going to stop you? You can at least show up. Try out. Maybe not you. Maybe not you. You're probably too old but many of our other listeners. Sure, go ahead, go try it. See where it gets you. 

Very interesting to know that somebody as accomplished as traveled as interesting as Nate looks back at his life so far and says, "Man, I wish I could have done more." Makes you think that what else could I do? What else could you do? Right? 

Great talking to him. Love the conversation and then hope to hear from him again soon and hope you enjoyed listening to it. If you haven't yet, go ahead and subscribe to the podcast. Like us on Instagram, follow us on LinkedIn, all the things. We have more content scheduled. We have a lot of guests coming up and if nothing else, come visit us at veteranlife.com and we have a lot of really good information going up on the site and can't wait to see you again. Take care everybody.