By John Ingoldsby
Engagement Insider
DECATUR, GA October 8, 2014 – When it comes to catching, Kendall Newson has all the angles covered.
Whether it was hauling in footballs as a wide receiver, finding fish as a professional Bass Pro Shops angler, or creating his Teach a Child to Fish Foundation, it’s been all about the catch all his life.
“I grew up going fishing with my father, and it was always what I wanted to do when I got out of football,” said the former receiver, who played for the Miami Dolphins from 2003 to 2005, after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and subsequently spending time with the Tennessee Titans. “But I also wanted to give back, and chase my dream of providing a great benefit to the community.”
That community is his hometown of Decatur, GA, and the benefit has indeed been big since he teaches approximately 1,000 kids a year to fish since founding the organization (www.teachachildtofish.net) in 2008.
And as his foundation has grown, so has his brand, since Newson (www.kendallnewson.com) was signed recently by Bass Pro Shops to be a Professional Team Member competing in fishing tournaments nationwide.
“I got an opportunity to meet with Bass Pro Shops (BPS), where we discussed me fishing on the Tour as a BPS Angler, which led to them signing me to run a boat wearing their jersey,” recalled Newson. “I had always wanted to fish these types of tournaments.”
So having snagged this big one, Newson knew it was the right time to learn how to better navigate his career, and he returned to his NFL roots.
That meant recently attending Player Engagement’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he and other NFL players got expert advice in taking their post-NFL careers to the next level.
“I was really excited to be there,” stated the former Middle Tennessee State star, “and learned the next steps necessary to take advantage of this opportunity and reach my potential.”
An opportunity that is huge for Newson, since he is competing in nine freshwater tournaments this year, including the iconic Bassmaster Open, and competing at legendary locations that include Lake Champlain in New York, South Lake in Alabama, and the Arkansas River in Oklahoma.
“So far this year, I have placed in the middle of the field as I get used to the learning curve, which includes everything from the fishing to getting the gear and travel right,” he observed, which should not be a problem since Newson knows travel, having also played football for both the Rhein Fire in Europe and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada.
And as further familiar turf for Newson in tackling this Tour, the fishing calendar resembles the once-a-week football cycle.
Each tournament is a full week, starting with practice days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then making the cut of 200 on Thursday and Friday which includes a final weigh-in of fish caught at the local Bass Pro Shops, and culminating with the top 12 fishing on Saturday.
“I have quickly come to realize early on that it’s hard to win against great competition,” noted Newson.
But when he is not participating in a tournament, he is busy seeking additional corporate sponsors, tending to his Nitro Z9 boat, keeping his reels in working order, and even working on a TV show in partnership with his wife, who is a Reggae Hip Hop Artist.
Yet, with all this activity, Newson prioritizes his passion of showing kids how to fish.
“I offer the total package when I teach, starting with instructing the youngsters about the basics of casting, boating, the tackle box, and also conservation so they can learn respect for the outdoor environment,” he stated. “Plus, we have the parents attend, and they can also fish if they like, so it’s wonderful for everybody to be outside together, rather than the kids being inside playing video games.”
All in all, the clinics are a full day of family fun in the great outdoors, since the seven clinics he holds annually start on Saturdays at 7 a.m. and go until 2 p.m., when a cookout is held to cap the day.
An unforgettable day that teaches children in need some life lessons like practicing patience, pursuing their dreams, and reaching their goals – just like Newson has.