The Player Development Pod

Register for the Athlete Career Experience (ACE):

https://forms.gle/xAcaD2qgnkFu6zVVA

Student-athletes… if you’re trying to figure out what comes next after sports, this video is for you.

The Athlete Career Experience (ACE) is a new opportunity happening at the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit in partnership with Northwestern Mutual – Metro Detroit.

This is not just a networking event.

This is a real hiring and career opportunity designed specifically for student-athletes and recent graduates interested in business, leadership, and financial services.

Northwestern Mutual leadership, directors, and talent acquisition staff will all be in the room and conducting interviews during the experience.

Athletes selected for ACE will receive:

• Professional headshots

• Career and leadership development

• Networking opportunities

• On-site interviews and career conversations

• Access to professionals actively looking to hire athletes

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

• Juniors

• Seniors

• Recent graduates

• Athletes interested in business, leadership, sales, or financial services

• Athletes interested in living and working in Detroit

🚨 SPOTS ARE LIMITED 🚨

This is an intentionally curated experience, and we are only selecting a small group of athletes for the room.

If you are serious about your future and looking for a real opportunity after sports, apply now.

EVENT DETAILS:

📍 Industry Innovation Center

461 Burroughs Street

Detroit, Michigan 48202

📅 Friday, May 29, 2026

🕘 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

If you are a coach, parent, administrator, or player development professional, please share this video with athletes who should be in this room.

Too many athletes finish sports without a clear next step.

We want to help change that.

#NorthwesternMutual

#NorthwesternMutualMetroDetroit

#StudentAthleteCareerJourney

#AthleteHiringAthletes

#AthletesLookingForJobs

#AthleteCareers

#StudentAthlete

#CareerDevelopment

#AthleteTransition

#PlayerDevelopment

#BeyondTheField

#Detroit

#SportsIndustry

Recently, I had the opportunity to work directly with the Iowa State Football Player Development staff, leading a full workshop on the Beyond Player Development Model.

In this episode, I break down exactly what we did, what I observed, and what changed after implementing the framework.

One of the biggest challenges in player development today is not effort.

It is lack of structure.

Programs are doing a lot, but it is disconnected.

This episode walks through how to bring everything under one system that creates clarity, consistency, and long-term impact.

You will hear directly from:

Leon Douglas, Director of Player Development at Iowa State

Alec Cook, Assistant Player Development

And how this framework helped them:

Identify gaps

Build alignment

Strengthen their approach to athlete development

If you are an Athletic Director, coach, or player development professional, this episode will challenge how you think about your current structure.

If you are looking to bring this system to your program:

Fill out the interest form here: https://forms.gle/hjrmy6KSRpobfcWG8

Or email: [email protected]

As always, go out and create generational impact.

-

After 10 years in player development, I finally figured it out.

It was never about doing more.

It was never about better programming.

It was about having a system.

In this episode, I break down the BEYOND Player Development Model, a framework designed to bring clarity to one of the most misunderstood roles in sports.

If you have ever struggled to explain player development to coaches, administrators, or athletes, this episode will give you the structure you need.

🔑 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why player development feels confusing even when you are doing great work

The biggest mistake I made early in my career

How to organize everything you do into one clear system

The six pillars of the BEYOND Model:

Belonging

Education

Your Purpose

Opportunities

Navigation

Development Systems

How to identify strengths and gaps in your current program

💡 KEY TAKEAWAY

Player development does not have a programming problem.

It has a structure problem.

Once you fix the structure, everything else becomes clearer and more impactful.

TAKE ACTION

Ask yourself:

Which pillar is strongest in your program

Which pillar needs the most work

That gap is where your growth is.

CONNECT

If you are serious about building a player development system that creates real impact:

Email: [email protected]

SHARE

If this episode gave you clarity, share it with someone in your department or network who needs it.

Donald Trump recently signed an executive order titled Urgent National Action to Save College Sports.

In this episode, Ed Jones II breaks down what this order means — not from a political perspective, but through the lens of player development and the student-athlete experience.

This conversation focuses on:

The growing pressure within college athletics

How NIL, transfers, and financial structures are impacting athletes

The importance of academic success and long-term development

Key areas where this executive order could improve or challenge the system

You’ll also hear Ed’s perspective on what player development professionals, coaches, and administrators should be doing right now to prepare for what’s next.

This episode is designed to help you think differently about college sports, athlete support, and the systems needed to create real impact.

⚠️ This episode is for educational purposes only and does not endorse any political party, policy, or individual.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit (May 29–30), this episode gives you a real look at what makes this experience different.

In this episode, I break down the true return on investment of the summit. From access to high-level professionals, to the intentional community that’s built, to the real outcomes attendees experience after they leave.

You will also hear:

What separates this from a typical conference

Why community matters more than networking

A speaker spotlight featuring Reggie Calhoun Jr

A real attendee testimonial from Emily Del Real

If you’re in player development, athlete development, or looking to grow in this space, this episode will help you understand why this summit exists and why it matters.

📍 2026 Player Development Summit

Detroit, Michigan

May 29–30

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

Four years ago, I started The Player Development Pod for one reason:

To clear my name.

After being let go and hearing things about myself that didn’t align with who I was, I made a decision…

If I showed up every week and gave real value to coaches, athletes, and professionals in this space, the truth would speak for itself.

What I didn’t expect was what this podcast would actually become.

In this 4-year anniversary episode, I take you behind the scenes of the journey from that moment… to building a global platform that has reached hundreds of thousands of people in the player development space.

We cover:

The real story behind why the podcast started

The interview that changed everything for me

How pain turned into purpose

The 4 original pillars of The Player Development Pod

What 300+ episodes have taught me

The biggest lessons from showing up consistently for 4 years

Why interviews, athletes, and high school coaches are the future of this space

How this podcast helped build Beyond The Field, books, and the Player Development Summit

We also reflect on what’s been built:

300+ episodes

600,000+ listens and views

A global audience across multiple continents

A growing movement around player development

But more than anything… this episode is about impact.

Because this was never just about a podcast.

It’s about helping people:

Develop people. Elevate programs.

If this podcast has ever helped you, challenged you, or supported your journey…

Share this episode with someone else who needs it.

And if you’ve been listening since the early days…

You already know what to do.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode shares insights, conversations, and real experiences that help explain what the Summit is truly about.

In this episode you will hear three perspectives that bring the Player Development Summit to life.

First, an insight about the Summit and the story behind why Detroit became the host city for 2026. What started as a conversation with Jessica Gray quickly turned into a vision for bringing the Summit to a city with a strong sports culture, passionate professionals, and a growing ecosystem of leaders who care about athlete development.

Detroit's pride, history, and community of sports professionals make it a powerful setting for the next chapter of the Summit.

Next, you will hear a speaker spotlight from the 2025 Player Development Summit featuring a conversation with Tobruk Blaine, founder of The Athlete Career Lab and Director of Player Development at the University of Arizona. In this discussion, she shares insights on leadership, mentorship, creativity, and helping athletes build identity and purpose beyond sports.

Finally, you will hear a reflection from Taja Dotson, who attended the 2025 Summit in Kansas City and shares what the experience meant to her. Her perspective highlights the energy, connections, and powerful conversations that happen when professionals who care about athlete development gather in one space.

This episode also includes an invitation for organizations interested in becoming strategic partners for the 2026 Player Development Summit. The Summit brings together decision-makers, athlete development professionals, athletic leaders, and organizations that serve athletes across youth, college, professional, and international sports.

If you want to attend, speak, or explore sponsorship opportunities, all of the information is linked in the show notes.

The 2026 Player Development Summit will take place in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30.

If you are not in the loop yet, it may be time to get in the loop.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode gives you a deeper look into what the Summit is really about.

In this episode, you will hear three important perspectives that help bring the Player Development Summit experience to life.

First, a Summit insight that explains the purpose behind the event and why this space exists for professionals who support athletes.

Next, a speaker spotlight from the 2025 Player Development Summit featuring Savannah Bailey, Senior Director of Player Relations at the University of Florida and founder of Gator Made. In this conversation, Savannah shares powerful thoughts on curiosity, leadership, creativity, and what it means to develop athletes beyond the game.

Finally, you will hear a reflection from Sensei Kenny Francis, Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Formation and Success at Boston College, who shares his experience attending the Summit and why the event continues to grow as a meaningful space for athlete development professionals across sport.

This episode also includes an invitation for organizations and companies interested in becoming strategic sponsors for the 2026 Player Development Summit. Sponsorship plays a major role in creating the experience, supporting attendees, and expanding the impact of player development across sport.

If you are a leader, company, or organization that serves athletes, athletic departments, or the professionals who support them, this may be a space you want to be part of.

Learn more about the Summit, sponsorship opportunities, speaking interest, and event updates through the links in the show notes.

The 2026 Player Development Summit will take place in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30.

If you are not in the loop yet, it may be time to get in the loop.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode takes you inside the movement.

This isn’t just a conference recap.

This is the story of how a virtual gathering of 28 people turned into a national in-person summit with leaders from the NFL, NBA, MLS, collegiate athletics, and beyond.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The origin story of the Player Development Summit and how it started in 2023

• What made the 2025 Kansas City in-person summit different from any other sports conference

• Why collaboration, not competition, defines this community

• A powerful speaker spotlight featuring a leader from Monumental Sports & Entertainment

• A real attendee reflection from someone who experienced the summit firsthand

• A direct invitation for strategic partners looking for real ROI in 2026

If you work in:

Player development

Athlete engagement

Player care

Student-athlete development

Athletic administration

Or leadership development in sports

This episode will show you why this summit exists — and why it matters.

The Player Development Summit isn’t about titles.

It’s about impact.

It’s about enhancing the athlete experience through holistic and intentional programs.

It’s about the people who serve athletes being served themselves.

Whether you want to attend, speak, or sponsor the 2026 Summit in Detroit, everything you need is linked in the show notes.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode gives you a clear and honest look at what this experience is really about.

This is not just another conference.

This is a room built for the people doing the unseen work in athletics.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• A 2026 Summit insight explaining exactly who this event is designed for

• A powerful speaker spotlight from the 2025 Summit

• A real attendee reflection from Kansas City that captures the heart of this community

🎯 Who Is The Player Development Summit For?

This episode answers that question directly.

The Summit is built for:

✔ Professionals currently in player development or athlete development roles

✔ Individuals transitioning into the field

✔ Athletic directors, head coaches, GMs, presidents, and decision-makers

✔ Organizations looking to enhance the athlete experience

✔ Companies and partners who serve athletic departments and athlete-facing leaders

When I started in this role, there was no roadmap.

No central place to grow.

No annual gathering of minds.

No unified community.

That’s why this summit exists.

That’s why I wrote The Player Development Guide.

That’s why this podcast exists.

This is professional development for the professionals who develop people.

🎤 2025 Speaker Spotlight: Jeremiah Brown

You’ll hear from 2025 opening keynote speaker Jeremiah Brown, who delivered one of the most transformational sessions of the Summit.

His message?

“Achievement without alignment is success that drains you.”

We unpack:

• Why chasing titles can lead to burnout

• The difference between achievement and fulfillment

• How trauma often points directly to purpose

• Why alignment is the bridge between who you are and what you do

This wasn’t hype.

It was transformational leadership development for the leaders who shape athletes’ lives.

🤝 2025 Attendee Reflection

You’ll also hear from returning attendees who describe the Summit as:

• A place of growth

• A relationship-builder

• An origin story for real professional friendships

• A community that extends beyond the event

Because this Summit is not transactional.

It’s relational.

🤝 Strategic Partners + Sponsors

We are actively seeking aligned strategic partners for 2026.

This is not just logo placement.

Our audience includes:

• Athletic directors

• Front office executives

• Player engagement professionals

• Athlete-facing leaders across youth, college, professional, and international sports

If your organization serves athletes or supports those who serve athletes, this is a room you need to be in.

We are building long-term, integrated partnerships focused on real return on investment.

The sponsorship interest form is in the show notes.

📍 2026 Player Development Summit

🗓 May 29–30, 2026

📍 Detroit, Michigan

Whether you want to attend, speak, or sponsor, all details are linked in the show notes.

If you care about developing people and elevating programs, this Summit is for you.

I hope to see you in Detroit.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program