215: Former NFL Exec Reveals Her Playbook for Innovation People Actually Adopt | Jennifer Langton

Success in leadership (and on the field) isn’t just about innovation or stats—it’s about authenticity, trust, and knowing how to bring people along for the ride. 

In this inspiring conversation, Damon sits down with Jennifer Langton, former Senior Vice President of Player Health and Innovation at the NFL, to explore how bold leadership, relentless curiosity, and being your authentic self can move mountains—even when you’re the outsider in the room. Jennifer shares battle-tested lessons from breaking barriers as a young athlete, leading game-changing health initiatives, rolling out transformative technology, and championing both personal and organizational growth. Whether you’re launching big changes like AI or stepping into your first management role, this episode is packed with actionable insights on leading with conviction, leveraging difference as strength, and always learning. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How Jennifer built unshakeable confidence by embracing her unique story, even when she felt like an outsider 
• What to do when you’re leading experts—without being one yourself (and why asking “outsider” questions is powerful) 
• Jennifer’s “Langton Roadmap” framework to align your strengths with your organization’s mission and make bold career moves 
• The secret to driving behavioral change and technology adoption inside large, legacy organizations (think: NFL, Viacom, Atari) 
• How to overcome fear and resistance around AI—by putting people at the center of digital transformation 
• What sports taught Jennifer about leadership, resilience, and identity—and how those lessons shaped her personal and professional journey 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Jennifer’s philosophy: Solve with a human-centered approach 

01:32 – Breaking barriers: Jennifer’s all-boys lacrosse story 

04:58 – How to earn trust as a new/younger leader 

06:44 – What happens if you’re not authentic 

08:00 – Using difference as strength when you’re the outsider 

11:47 – Confidence and asking the “right” questions 

13:56 – Recovering from setbacks: injury and loss 

17:40 – The Langton Roadmap: a framework for career growth 

22:14 – Driving behavior change with technology in large orgs 

24:35 – Using pilots and feedback to roll out innovations 

33:48 – Building the NFL Digital Athlete and leading without being a subject matter expert 

38:22 – Why you don’t have to have all the answers—just be curious 

40:41 – Advice for parents about kids in sports and navigating risk 

44:31 – Leaving the NFL: Reflections and the power of impact 

46:36 – Serving clients as a keynote speaker and consultant 

50:28 – The jaw-dropping power of AI in health and sports 

52:50 – Addressing fears about AI and how to bring people along 

56:10 – Final lesson: Be yourself—it’s your greatest leadership tool 

 

About Jennifer Langton 

Jennifer Langton is an award-winning strategic executive with extensive leadership experience. As CFO of Atari to Senior Vice President of Innovation at the NFL, Jennifer has driven transformative initiatives with measurable impact. Most recently, as SVP of Player Health and Innovation at the NFL, Jennifer spearheaded groundbreaking advancements in athlete safety and performance, setting a new standard in football that will impact other sports and industries.Now, Jennifer is committed to inspiring others through keynote speeches at prestigious events and offering advisory services that empower individuals and organizations to embrace innovation, inspire change, and lead with purpose. Her mission is to...