For Coach Farnsworth the road to the NFL wasn’t always a certainty. In fact the dream only began to take shape as his college career came to a close. Before all of that, the seeds of his passion for the sport started when he was watching football on TV as a kid. He admired family members who had played at the collegiate level. He would imagine what it would be like to follow in their footsteps. “I had some people in my daily life play college football, so I think my biggest inspiration was really to get to the college level, to be like them,” Farnsworth shared. “My dad played college football andI had a cousin who played. I really wanted to kind of live up to the example they set.” That inspiration carried him through his own college career, and as his skills sharpened and opportunities arose, the NFL became more than just a dream, it became a real possibility.

Mr.Farnsworth describes his NFL experience as short and sporadic but also one of the most formative chapters of his life. He said, “I was signed to three different teams in three years. I was cut three times in three years.” He also said he did get some playing time but it was very challenging. One of the greatest hurdles he mentioned was navigating life as a free agent, those stretches of uncertainty when he wasn’t signed to a team but had to stay ready at a moment’s notice. He mentioned that, “You really can’t commit to anything in life,” and, “As soon as that coach calls, you’re moving your life to that new city in a moment’s notice. The uncertainty of being signed tested his resolve, but it also built something greater within him: resilience. “It was one of the biggest challenges effort wise I’ve ever had, but it taught me to be pretty resilient in most of my endeavors outside of football,” he said.

Since stepping off the field Coach Farnsworth has found a new calling such as education. Today he brings his on-the-field experiences into the classroom and high school football field where he’s a teacher and coach. “My NFL experience really prepared me for high pressure situations in life,” he said. “Teaching and public speaking,for example, don’t really bother me anymore. I’ve played in front of people, I’ve talked in front of legendary coaches.” And speaking of legendary coaches, Farnsworth has learned just as much from the sidelines as he has between the lines. “I’ve sat in meetings with Bill Belichick. I’ve been yelled at by him,” he said with a smile. “I’ve also had coaches with different styles, and I;ve seen what works with kids and what doesn’t. That’s really helped me become a better teacher adapting to what each student needs.” His approach to coaching and teaching is rooted in experience. Farnsworth doesn’t just teach lessons, he live them. This all shaped him into the man he wants to be fit, healthy life, enjoying life to the fullest, and educating the next generation. Having him teaching me and coaching has shown me how the NFL and people around him helped him grow as a person..

When I asked him if there were any lasting words of wisdom he carried from his time in the NFL, Farnsworth didn’t hesitate. He mentioned a quote from his former Coach Brian Flores when he was with Miami. “He told us, “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is forgotten.” It wasn’t a matter of punctuality, it was a guiding principle on life itself. That quote has stuck with him till this day. “All our clocks were set five minutes fast. We showed up early to everything,” he said.“Timeliness is a big thing in sports, and honestly, in life.” All of this accumulated to how he lives his life till this day.

While his NFL Journey may have been short and at times uncertain. Coach Farnsworth’s transition into coaching and teaching has proven that his impact goes far beyond the gridiron. He is like a mentor to all the young student athletes. His experience in the NFL has definitely shaped how He approaches coaching. In this way Farnsworth’s role goes beyond what a typical coach and teacher is. He’s a mentor and someone you can talk to because he has been in the situation at some point in his life. He helps you navigate not just the challenges of football, but the challenges of life itself.