LeSean McCoy, a native of Harrisburg, PA, is a retired NFL player who started playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010. In 2015, McCoy was traded to the Buffalo Bills, later ending his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (2019) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020), winning the Superbowl in each of those seasons. Retirement has not slowed down McCoy – he fills his time with his real estate ventures, as well as making guest appearances on shows like I AM ATHLETE TV. In the following article, McCoy discusses I AM ATHLETE TV, where the program originated, how it’s grown, and the future of the program.
After retiring from the NFL, football legends Brandon Marshall, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder came together to create a powerhouse media company where athletes and celebrities could share their experiences and discuss the latest trends in sports, entertainment, and culture. Today, their company – I AM ATHLETE – has expanded to offer a host of shows that cater to women, NASCAR fans, and the LA sports market.
The original show is now in its second season and has garnered much attention for its down-to-earth commentary and insightful glimpse into the lives of America’s most talented athletes. LeSean McCoy discusses more about what I AM ATHLETE has to offer, the background behind the idea, and where the media channel is headed.
The Origin of the Story – I AM ATHLETE Miami
After retiring in 2018, Brandon Marshall reached out to former NFL players, Chad Ochocinco, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder with a million-dollar idea—to join forces and create their own media company. In its beginning, I AM ATHLETE started as a simple YouTube channel that first launched in 2020. However, it wouldn’t be long until the channel gained support and grew into something larger says LeSean McCoy.
All four of the players had recently retired and wanted to create a platform where they could share their unique perspectives on the sports world, current affairs, entertainment, mental health, and social issues. Their idea was to recreate a locker room environment where athletes, such as LeSean McCoy could regularly come by to speak and hang out, just like they would during their professional careers.
This led to something more than a podcast where celebrities could present completely unscripted, off-the-cuff commentary that listeners would relate to, helping to create an air of candidness. Their model proved to be successful, and I AM ATHLETE is now in the process of expanding its offerings to cover a wide range of home, sport, and cultural content, says LeSean McCoy.
As I AM ATHLETE Grows, So Does Programming
After the success of their first season, the brains behind I AM ATHLETE saw the potential of recreating similar programming with more than just the NFL roster. This had led to a series of spinoff shows, including:
- I AM ATHLETE LA: Whereas the original show was based in Miami, FL, I AM ATHLETE LA focuses on the Los Angeles sports market and includes members of the NBA, such as Nick Young and Brandon Jennings. LeSean McCoy says the LA show follows a similar unscripted, uncensored format, where athletes and guest celebrities discuss hot topics and controversial current affairs.
- I AM WOMAN: This spinoff takes a new approach and instead focuses on the lives of former athletes’ wives. Together, Michi Nogami-Marshall, Sharelle Rosado, Aja Crowder, Terricka Cromartie, and Kiajfa Vick discuss race, class, and what it means to be a wife, mom, or girlfriend in the modern world of today’s athletes.
- I AM NASCAR: The original crew of NFL players comes together with Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to talk about all things NASCAR and learn more about the sport.
- I AM BLACK: The four founding NFL players discuss race, culture, and what it means to be black men in today’s America.
- Girls Gone Veg: For this one, the team takes the tried-and-true cooking show format and adds their own little twist by having the NFL players learn to cook with their girlfriends and wives, says LeSean McCoy. The recipes are healthy, delicious, and built around vegetables and non-meat produce.
LeSean McCoy says the original series and its spinoffs can either be viewed on I AM ATHLETE’s YouTube channel or through the official I AM ATHLETE TV homepage. The content is completely free, and most episodes come in at around 30 minutes in length.
I AM ATHLETE Apparel and Accessories
Along with the media company’s long list of programming, fans can enjoy a range of sponsored t-shirts, hats, socks, hoodies, joggers, performance wear, and other I AM ATHLETE apparel, which is available through House of Athlete.
I AM ATHLETE also hosts a health and training center, known as the “House of Athlete”, where members can practice yoga, undergo intensive athletic training, and receive science-based performance coaching explains LeSean McCoy. By pivoting into a full-service athletic company, I AM ATHLETE clearly has its eyes set on the future and will likely become a leader within the industry.
Final Thoughts
The media company’s shift towards a full-service, content-based platform has been a resounding success. In just a few short years, I AM ATHLETE has managed to build a devoted fan base, expand its programming, and release a range of branded apparel. As the company continues to grow, LeSean McCoy says we can only expect great things from I AM ATHLETE in the future.
