Terry Crews: From Athlete to Hollywood Star

Terry Crews: From Athlete to Hollywood Star

Terry Crews has lived a life many only dream of, and he’s here to tell you it’s possible for everyone. From his days as a professional football player to becoming a beloved actor and author, Crews embodies the idea of chasing multiple dreams. His new book, “Many Hats,” aims to inspire young people and adults alike to explore all their passions, not just one.

Embracing Every Dream

“You have to try everything,” Crews stated in a recent interview. He shared how he was often told growing up that you could only have one dream. This idea, he explained, is often true in competition, but not in creativity. “When you’re being creative, you got to try everything,” he urged. Crews recalled being an art major in college while also playing football. Despite his passion for art, he was advised to switch to business for an easier path. He even missed out on getting his degree because he stayed true to his art major, a choice that led to him being drafted by the LA Rams. “There is no choice,” he insisted, emphasizing that people should follow all their interests because it’s more valuable than ever.

The Hardest Challenge: Failure

Looking back on his diverse career, Crews identified dealing with failure as his toughest challenge. “You have to fail. You have to, and it hurts,” he admitted. He related this to athletes who often face more failure than others. Crews experienced this firsthand, getting kicked out of auditions and being told he should never return. The key, he believes, is to be “undefeated” not by avoiding failure, but by learning from it. He shared a story from high school where he missed a game-winning shot, leading to criticism. “Everybody said, ‘You a failure.’ The coach said, ‘You should have never took that shot.’ But you know what? I took it and I learned,” Crews explained. He stressed the importance of taking those shots, because while “nobody remembers that game,” they remember your resilience and ability to keep trying.

Beyond the Field: New Ambitions

While Crews has achieved incredible success as an author, actor, and host, he’s not done exploring new avenues. “Oh, there’s so many,” he said when asked about hats he hopes to wear. His next big ambition? Becoming an accomplished chef. “I would love to have a restaurant, be a restaurant owner, to have a hotel, to get into hospitality,” he revealed. Crews sees a connection between serving people as an entertainer and in the restaurant business. “Serving people is one of my favorite things to do as an entertainer. That’s what I do,” he explained, adding, “So, I see that hat. It’s going to happen.”

Helping Athletes Transition

As a former professional athlete, Crews understands the immense difficulty many face when their playing careers end. “You spend your whole life going after one thing and all of a sudden it’s over,” he said. He compared the intense focus required in pro sports to that of the military; both demand everything be dedicated to one goal for survival. When that ends, athletes must redefine their lives. “It’s like you have to turn things off,” Crews noted. He shared a mantra he told himself when he retired: “The best thing that has happened to me has not happened yet.” This belief helped him overcome the feeling that his NFL career was the peak. “I didn’t try acting until I was 31 years old. And now I have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” he marveled, proving that new, amazing chapters can always begin.

The Power of Multiple Dreams

Crews encourages everyone, especially young people, to cultivate multiple dreams. “Don’t just go after that one dream. You got to have five, six, 10,” he advised. He highlighted the difference between a wish and a dream: “A wish is something that just happens to you. All dreams must be acted on.” He urged people to start taking small steps now, as these actions can grow into something incredible over time. “If you don’t start now, you won’t know how when you need to,” he concluded.

Football: The Ultimate Sport?

When asked which sport requires the most talent, Crews, with a bit of bias, chose football. “I gotta say football simply because when you talking about all the package, the whole pack, you got to be fast, you got to be strong, you got to be smart,” he explained. He noted that while he loves the NBA, a player’s height can give them a significant advantage. Football, however, needs all types of athletes: “big guys, small guys, fast guys, smart guy.” He praised current player Miles Garrett, calling him “the best athlete in any sport” and someone who “could have his own Olympics.” Crews admires players who build teams into winners, stating, “I want to see somebody who changes.” He also expressed interest in a potential Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, though he quickly added, “Hell no. I don’t want to see that.” He also has a soft spot for the Los Angeles Rams, his former team, saying, “I do love the Rams. I’m a former Ram. 1991. These are my people.”

You can catch Terry Crews’ new book, “Terry’s Many Hats,” on bookshelves everywhere. First Take airs weekdays at 10 a.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Source: Terry Crews went from pro athlete to the Hollywood Walk of Fame 🌟 | First Take YouTube Exclusive (YouTube)