By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
Nate Kaeding jokes that he’ll always be known in certain circles as, “the guy who used to kick the ball.’’
Kaeding “kicked the ball,’’ and kicked it long and accurately, for the San Diego Chargers from 2004-12. A third-round pick of the Chargers out of the University of Iowa in the 2004 NFL Draft, Kaeding connected on 181 of 210 (86.2 percent) field-goal attempts. He went to two Pro Bowls (2006 and 2009) and led the league in scoring in 2009. He still ranks sixth all-time in field-goal accuracy in the NFL.
That’s all in the past now for the 33-year-old Kaeding, who left sunny Southern California with his wife Samantha and their three children when he retired after the 2012 season to return home to Iowa City where he is now the Downtown District Retail Development Coordinator.
“Yeah,’’ Kaeding says with a laugh, “Most people don’t leave Southern California for the Midwest when they retire. It’s usually the other way around. But I’m a Midwesterner. I wanted to come back home. I love it here, I love the Midwest.’’
Kaeding, who had earned an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the University of Iowa, went back to school for his MBA at the school’s Tippie College of Business.
“I took advantage of the NFL’s business program,’’ Kaeding said. “If I was going to do this, I wanted to do it right. So I went back to school and got my MBA.’’
The business world wasn’t really anything new to Kaeding. While he was still kicking for the Chargers he opened a restaurant in Iowa City, Short’s Burger & Shine; and partnered in a clothing store, Tailgate, which has since been bought up by a national chain. His latest endeavor is as a co-owner of the Pullman Bar & Diner, also in Iowa City, which opened in January of 2015. But more important is his effort to build up and develop Iowa City’s downtown.
“It’s just a sense of community,’’ Kaeding said. “It’s giving back. But it’s just something I wanted to do. I wanted to be involved. In this second chapter professionally for me, somewhere in it I wanted a public service thread through the work in some shape or form. It’s just something I feel really passionate about.’’
Kaeding’s passion shows when he talks about Iowa City and his plans for its development.
“My goal is to continue moving our downtown forward to be the arts, entertainment and culinary hub of not only Iowa, but as a hub between Chicago and Denver," Kaeding said. "This is the gem of downtowns. It's small in size, but the quality of offerings is amazing.’’
Like most former athletes who get into the business world, Kaeding is starting over in a different life.
“There’s no doubt playing in the NFL has helped me,’’ he said. “Rarely, in your early 30s, do you get a chance to hit the reset button and think about what else you want to do. This is what I want to do.’’
In some circles Kaeding will always be known as, “that guy who used to kick the ball,’’ but as he says now, “I want them to know me for more than that.’’
He’s on his way.