November 13, 2025 • 41 mins
🎙 The Mornin’ Experience — Thursday Newsmaker Interview From the streets of West Baltimore to the bright lights of the NFL… today’s guest is living proof that hard work, faith, and focus can take you anywhere.
🏈✨ Joel Gamble went from Carver Vocational-Technical High to becoming a standout tight end at Shippensburg University — and eventually, an NFL player for the Eagles, Browns, and Titans. But his real legacy? What came after the game.
Today, Joel is an educator, mentor, and philanthropist, dedicated to empowering young people and uplifting his community. His story is one of transformation, purpose, and the power of giving back. Grab your coffee (and maybe put down that donut 🍩), because this conversation is guaranteed to motivate you to move, dream, and do more.
🎧 Tune in to The Mornin’ Experience — where every story starts with purpose.
🏈✨ Joel Gamble went from Carver Vocational-Technical High to becoming a standout tight end at Shippensburg University — and eventually, an NFL player for the Eagles, Browns, and Titans. But his real legacy? What came after the game.
Today, Joel is an educator, mentor, and philanthropist, dedicated to empowering young people and uplifting his community. His story is one of transformation, purpose, and the power of giving back. Grab your coffee (and maybe put down that donut 🍩), because this conversation is guaranteed to motivate you to move, dream, and do more.
🎧 Tune in to The Mornin’ Experience — where every story starts with purpose.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. You're listening to the Morning Experience. I am
Marquise Lupton. Folks, thank you for joining us on this Thursday.
And you know what that means. It is our news
and Maker Thursday where we talk to ordinary people doing
extraordinary things. And today is serving up something just like that.
Today we have from the streets of West Baltimore to
(00:23):
the bright lights of the NFL. Today we're talking great discipline,
community and what it means to turn ambition into purpose.
Our guest is the name you should know. And if
you don't, don't worry. By the end of this conversation
you'll be inspired enough to do a workout or at
least rethink finishing that second doughnut. Folks, today we're talking
(00:45):
with Joe Gamble, who is a proud graduate of Carver
Vocational Technical High School, a standout at Shippensburg University where
he majored in criminal justice and just casually became an
all conference tight end, leading the team in receiving yards
and receptions as a sophomore. And if that wasn't enough,
you fulfill the dream you ever do stepping on to
(01:07):
the field in the NFL suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles,
Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans. But Joel's story doesn't end
with football. His life's mission has evolved into serving, building, mentoring,
and leading, proving that true greatness isn't defined by a
jersey number, but the impact you leave long after the
(01:28):
stadium lights go out. Joe Gamble, educator, philanthropists, community champion.
Welcome to the morning experience. Good brother, how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
What's going on? Brothers? Long time? No sea shipping? Third? Yes, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
Super excited to be on. Man.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I appreciate you reaching out, you know and looking forward
to the conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And that intro, Man, that intro was fire. They're like, oh,
shut Shannon charge.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Hey man, I'm just I'm just telling the truth.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Y'all.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Provide me with the resume and I just put the
words together.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You guys make it easy for me.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So let's started off here and growing up in West Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
What first sparked your love for football? Man? Well, you
know what didn't?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
So you know, of course, you know everybody's seen the
Wire and you know heard of Baltimore and all of
that type of stuff. I grew up in it, you know,
so I didn't need to watch the HBO series The
Wire to actually know what was going on in West Baltimore.
You know, it was right outside of my doorway.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And honestly, you know, one of the things that got
me really interested in football is just like my life
experiences at a young age, being able to actually you know,
just like take out my frustrations, anger, and you know,
everything on the football field. You know, that's that drew
(03:09):
me to the game. I'm like, man, I can legally,
you know, take somebody's head off here for me, you know, like, oh,
this is my sport right here.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Of course, it took some time to get get used
to running smack into somebody, you know, because that's not
a natural thing to do. But you know, yeah, man,
you know, my life experiences kind of shaped that. You know,
what I went through. Parents got divorced when I was
ten years old, so that really kind of feeled you know,
(03:41):
great parents, you.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Know, morals, values, all of that instilled in me.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
But then, of course now mom and dad are separated,
and so you know, that created a lot of anger, resentment,
and just like fuel in me.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And you know, one thing I wish I could bottle
up up you know, ambition, drive, perseverance, dedication, all of that,
because I'm not sure you know where people get it from,
but you know, their life experiences that kind of you know,
I guess you know, light your path up. And you know,
that was one of one of those things that you know,
(04:19):
like I was like, hey, I need to have an outlet,
and sports was always my outlet for you know, I
didn't fight in school and nothing like that. You know,
sports was always my outlet to get that anger and
frustration out that I was, you know, living in the
hood that I was. You know, I was seeing you know,
seeing things that I you know, just the trauma and
(04:40):
all of that that comes with limit in the inner city,
you know, and not having a whole bunch uh you know,
having to ask my parents for a pair of sneakers
and and and sometimes you know, not being able to
get it and seeing you know, other guys get and
then selling drugs and all of that is you know,
(05:02):
it's just one of those things that you know, when
I was growing up, it's like you play sports or
you know, you on the streets one or the other,
and so you know, at the time, of course the
guys on the streets looked out for those that were
playing sports because they're like, yo, like you, you about
to make it out. You you know you're doing the
right thing, you know, so they would look out for
(05:24):
you at the time. But you know, I would say
just that my life experiences kind of shape me being
interested in the game, and then I just became a
student of the game from that point on.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Now, you were also a standout at Carver Votec. So
what were some of your biggest lessons from there and
what lessons stayed with you?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Man?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So, my my junior year was wonderful. I stepped in
on the varsity field. I was playing wide receiver and
a little bit of time as well. And you know,
I got nominated for the one of the top twenty
two juniors in merit in the state of Maryland, and
(06:10):
so got a chance to get honored with the Baltimore Ravens.
Jonathan Ogden at the time was like a rookie on
the Baltimore Ravens squad. He's a Hall of Famer, right,
And so I got a started jacket Ravens started jacket.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
The Ravens had just came to Baltimore. You know, Memorial Stadium.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
All of that weren't at MNC Banks Stadium yet, and
so you know, I got honored through that honor and
it kind of carried on into my senior year where
now and I'm you know, one of the superstar well
actually these started the team and and so you know,
it was it was definitely a learning experience because my
(06:52):
senior year we went totally defeated. I got injured after
three or four games games I played, and then the
rest of the season I set out and you know,
I had a knee injury, and you know, I was
the only one to score touchdowns on the team, you know,
(07:13):
literally only one to score touchdowns on the team when
I got hurt that fourth game. We didn't score after that. Yeah,
it was it was crazy. And so that kind of
that you know that that you know, showed some of
that determination or or that grit that you speak of,
because you know, it takes a lot to go through
(07:33):
a totally defeated season, you know, and and be you know,
just sitting in that uncomfortab ability of you know, knowing
that you're you know consistently illusing, You're not able to
to keep up with the other teams. But you know,
of course, you know, colleges came knocking. Uh, they were
(07:54):
always they were looking at me in my junior year.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Then of course, with the injury, you know, opportunities got
a little thinner, and I went on a couple of
different college visits and Shippensburg was won.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
But but you know, high school to college was quite
the transition.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I was a superstar and in high school went to
all of the all star games. So I came back.
I ended up playing three or four games my senior year.
Still ended up making all of the all star teams
through city and the county.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Uh, and played in.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
The Parkway Classic, which is like the DC versus Maryland,
DC versus Baltimore football game. So like players like Josh
Cribs and the Browns and you know, others that come
from d C. Brian Lefwich, you know, came from d
C as well. So a lot of players that made
(08:49):
it to the NFL played in that game. And so
you know, I had an opportunity to play in that
and be one of two receivers to get to catch passes.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
In the game. Uh. And we actually won that year
against DC.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And then you know, coach Nixon from Shippensburg, who was
a running backs coach at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
He was recruiting me. He actually recruited.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
John Coon and Ron Johnson, a whole bunch of guys
that actually went to the NFL bring grimes and so
you know, he came and you know, came knocking, and
you know, we got a chance to visit Shippensburg. It
was far enough away from Baltimore because you know, that
was one of the things like I was, I was
(09:32):
so you.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Know, ready to get out of the city man.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
And and experience something completely different.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
And so I was like, I want to go to
a school.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Out of out of state, got to be out of state,
you know, and got a chance to visit, and it
was just great, you know, great experience, you know, completely
different from the inner city.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Of course, definitely is quite the cultural shock and transition.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
But you know, I feel like my piece is found
in nature and you know, like in rural, rural areas
where you know, it's just like nice, peaceful and quiet,
even though Shippensburg isn't that type of town, but you know,
it was just a nice different pace from from Baltimore,
from you know, me seeing people friends of mine getting
(10:21):
shot and killed and things like that. You know, so
that transition was was quite the transition. I'll get into,
you know, to that. But yeah, going from high school
to college, man, who you know, it was crazy. We
didn't have all the resources at our high school, you know,
as far as like a weight rum and you know,
(10:41):
and gym and trainers. Nowadays, the kids got everything right,
you know, so everybody's bigger, faster, stronger. But but yeah,
it was quite the transition, man.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I tell a story about when when I got into
a Shippensburg's weight room facility and we were all doing
like our our our I guess, our testing, our conditioning
testing and max max lifting testing. Man, I got under
one thirty five and I barely could lift that thing.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Like I lifted it like four or five times, and
I was like, that's it. That's my max.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Right there, you know, And I'm watching everybody else bounce
around to twenty five, and I'm like, man, like this
is this is tough, you know, because I was six.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Of course, that's great size for a receiver.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
And in high school and all of that, but coming
into college, you know, being recruited for tight end now
I got to bulk up, put on some weight, you know,
all of those things to be able to play at
a high level.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
So it was quite the transition.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Now, now that was that was your your freshman year.
Now take us through be becoming an all conference tight end.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
What did that grind look like? Man? So it's start
started off with me gaining weight.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So every year, honestly, man, I put on like ten pounds,
you know, and to keep it a buck like, you know,
I was in Baltimore, Man, I was eating pop tarts
and you know, and you know, bowls of cereal. I
wasn't really eating meals like that. Maybe some hot dogs,
you know. We you know, we were struggling. And I
(12:22):
got to the college campus, of course, and now you
know I got access to go and get me some
some omelets and you know, get me a nice course
meal every you know, every uh, you know, every day, and.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So uh it was, it was it was great.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
You know, I was able to put on some weight
from from my freshman year to my sophomore year.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I red shirted my first year at Shippensburg.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
A lot of the freshmen that came in that freshman class,
a lot of us red shirted, so like on Coon,
you know, Brink came in a little later, but pretty
much all of us that you know graduated together, we
red shirted that year. So by the time two thousand
and four rolled around, I mean, it was all seniors
(13:11):
on that squad that you know made it to the
Division two playoffs. But but the year that I was
all conference tight end. Man. You know, it just I
would say it just it took a lot of hard work, right,
you know, it was quite a transition going from high
school to college, having to put on the weight, having
to get stronger, learn the pace of the game, learn
(13:35):
the plays and everything. And it just speaks to you know,
kind of like that focus and determination that you speak of,
where you know, you you gotta have something inside you
just says, you know, what I can do this. I'm
gonna try my best, and you know my best is
going to be good enough and it's actually going to
be great, you know. And so that's something I you know,
(13:57):
continue to describe to be the best that I could be,
and you know, try to get better each and every
time I step on the field, even outside of the field,
you know, learning game, learning defenses, learning the offense. You know,
being a student of the game. Back then, social media
wasn't really a thing, you know, right, So I remember
(14:21):
always watching like highlight clips and in film of wire
of receivers at that time. So I would watch guys
like Peter Wark. I would watch guys you know, you know,
older than me that were running routes and being able
to turn guys around, and that was you know, like
(14:42):
my thing. I will watch how guy how receivers ran routes,
and I would just you know, implement that and how
I actually did things. So that translated to you know,
me being able to to shake defenders and you know
and get open when you know other guys couldn't. And
so that's you know, really how I you know, became
(15:05):
that that you know, all conference tight end is you know,
being able to catch the ball and it didn't drop
you know, much of anything unless it was in practice,
you know, and it was very rare in practice that
you know, I dropped anything either, because it was just like,
you know, I want to you know, I want to
be great at what I do, and what I do
(15:25):
is catching the ball at a high level, you know,
you know, having a huge catch radius and being somebody
that the quarterback can trust in. And so I didn't
drop much anything my entire career as Ship, you know,
and and I prided myself on that. And you know,
in my sophomore year, I led the team and receptions
(15:48):
and reception yards at the tight end position, and I
was actually sharing the position with another tight end, Brian Sequel,
and we ran we ran a lot of double tight
end sets, so it was both of us out there
on the field at the same time. And you know,
I still was able to delete the team and receptions
(16:11):
and yards that year.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So it was, you know, it was it was wonderful. Man.
You know, we we can you know, we were a.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Winning team when I was there at Ship, and you know,
so it was a great experience.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Now now you had this amazing transition as well, from
from when you went from Shippensburg University to the NFL.
Can you tell us about that transition and what that
looked like.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Man. So I didn't get drafted, of course, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
So my junior year, uh, you know ESPN you know,
websites were saying that I was you know, it was
a possibility I could get drafted sixth and seventh round,
you know, from out of division to school and you
know ESPN predicted, you know, like some of the Division
two prospects that the NFL was looking at.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
You know, I didn't get drafted at all on that day.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I remember, I you know, graduated with my criminal justice degree,
and I remember I was still you know, coaching at Shippensburg.
The year after I graduated, I decided to coach stay close,
you know, stay close to ship. And I was also
working as a correctional officer and coaching at the same time.
And so I remember being on the security unit and
(17:32):
I'm listening to.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
You know, the draft and like waiting, you know, hoping
that I.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Get a phone call, all of those types of things,
and it just didn't happen. And so, you know, I
was disappointing, of course, and I was like, all right, well,
you know, maybe I get a phone call the next day.
And the day after that, no phone call came, and
so you know, of course, you know, I was just like, man,
you know, I still I feel like I can you know,
(17:58):
I feel like I can do this thing. I feel
like I could make it. And so I went to
coach Rocky Reese, you know, rest his soul, uh and
you know, at the time he was he was the
head coach at Shippensburg, and so I went to him
and I said, Coach, I still got something left in
the tank.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
At that time, I'm coaching the tight ends and I'm
seeing guys run routes.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I'm trying to teach them, you know, things that I.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Did with ease on the football field, and then you know,
I'm seeing them kind of struggle to go through the motions,
and I'm like, man, you know, if I know I can,
I know I can make it.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And so Rocky rees he he actually had.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Some connections with arena football, and so so he called.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Up a coach.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You know, I got an opportunity to go down, worked
out and actually made the team for the Tennessee Valley Vipers.
And if you know anything about arena football, there's not
a tight end position on the field, so you either
have to play for or you got to play a
wide receiver. Right, So I played full back for the
(19:06):
Tennessee Valley Vipers, and I also played defense also, and
then I got traded to the Oklahoma City yard Dogs
and finished up the season there.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Came back to Baltimore and.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Was like, you know what I you know, I wasn't
really feeling arena football. I met a trainer of mine,
Troy Jones, who you know, trains a lot of NFL
and professional athletes, and just started to kind of home
in on revamping my body. That's one of the things.
Like I graduated Shippensburg, I was probably around two forty
(19:43):
or so, but by the time I got to the NFL,
I was too fifty. But my body looked completely different
from you know, college.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And so that's just a testament.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
To you know, the training, uh, the you know, the
the the type of eating uh and regiments that I
went through and put myself through during that time.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
And then Troy, Troy's training.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Of you know, just is you know, teaching me how
to be explosive and you know, just getting stronger and faster.
And so that was you know, that was a blessing,
you know, being able to meet Troy and and be
able to rebap my body. And then there was an
opportunity that came about where was arena football team again
(20:31):
in DC? And I was like, all right, it's close
to Baltimore, you know, not too far. I'll try it out.
I'll play a couple you know, play play for a
season or two, right, and got a chance to play.
Only played for like maybe three games, but in one
of the games, I had like eleven catches for over
two hundred yards and two touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Yeah, and uh, and so I sent that to the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
And and well actually didn't ended to the Eagles. I
actually took it up there to them. So that's that's
one thing that I tell a lot of people, like,
if you got dreams and aspirations of you know, accomplishing something, you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Gotta go get it.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
You got to be a go getter, Like you got
to stand outside of the facility and be like, yo,
I'm here.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I'm trying to get our opportunity, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
And that's how it was. I was like, man, I'm
going up to Philly.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
At the time, I think they had their training camp
somewhere else, maybe like in beIN you know, bethle Ham,
PA or something like that. And so I went up
there and gave my film to coach Nixon, who recruited
me out of high school into college and he ended
up coaching for the Eagles during the time that Andy
(21:45):
Reid was there. So I ended up giving my film
to him. I borrowed a friend's car at the time
because I didn't have much money.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I was training. I stopped working.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I fully, you know, put my all and my focus into,
you know, making sure that I was ready for any opportunities.
And you know, I remember that at the time. He
was like, all right, you know, well we got practice tomorrow.
I'm I try to get you into the practice, not
like practicing with the team, but just like you know,
being able to be on the field and actually actually
(22:17):
watched the practice and everything. And so I remember it
rain all night that day. It rained all night. I
didn't have money for a hotel or anything, so I
slept in the car. I remember it vividly because you know,
of course in the car, I had to roll down
the window a little bit to get some air when
I'm sleeping. And then it started raining, so I'm like, dang,
(22:40):
you know, the rain's coming in. And you know, it
was just a I was pretty much up all night, right,
And so Coach Nixon called me in the morning and
was like, hey, man, you know, because of the weather,
we're going to be they weren't going to be practicing outside.
They were going to be practicing in the bubble and
it was closed to the public. So I was like, dang,
you know, so's you know, there was no opportunity there.
(23:03):
So I went home. You know, I was like, all right, well,
you know they got my film and all man, maybe
you know a week later or so, you know, Coach
Nixon calls me up. Hey, you know player personnel. You know,
they they took a look at your film, and man,
they love it. They want you to come out and
do a workout.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I'm like, oh, here we go. Action.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
We got action. So you know, I ended up going
up to Philly. It was it happened so fast, man,
like you know, it was like on a Tuesday, and
they had us up there on a Thursday or something crazy,
you know where they had us up there, like, you know,
maybe a day or two later.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And so go up to Philly.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
There's two other tight ends, you know, from larger schools,
you know Division one schools and all, and so we're
battling it out and one tight end drops a pass.
So that pretty much x him out of the equation
because myself and the guy there's another tight end from
b y. You he didn't drop anything. I didn't drop anything.
(24:03):
And so the guy that did drop a pass. It
was like, all right, you know, you don't.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Have a shot.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And they put us through a gauntlet like they you know,
had his catching passes on the sideline. You know, I
was catching one hand passes, you know, like they was,
you know, wanted to see us run routes things like that.
And so they ended up, you know, after the workout,
they ended up signing the guy from BYU. You know,
he was six five, you know, two hundred and fifty
(24:32):
or so pounds, so you know, he was more of
the build that the NFL looks for. Yeah, and so
he ended up getting signed. I went home, you know,
of course I was disappointed. You know, took the time
to you know kind of you know, sit with my
disappointment just that day. And then the next day I
(24:53):
was back at it with my workouts with Troy and
so I would say maybe a couple weeks later, maybe
two weeks or so, maybe even less, you know, the
Eagles player personnel called me, uh and they were like, hey,
what have you been up to. I'm like, man, I
just been working out, you know, getting ready for that opportunity.
(25:16):
And they were like, hey, you know, we're gonna we're
gonna go ahead and bring you in.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We're gonna sign you. And so I was just like
we got action. Like, man, this is a dream come true,
right you know.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Uh, Apparently the tight end that they signed couldn't block
and so you know, they were like, all right, we're
gonna go ahead and release him and bring Joel in
because you know, we had you second on the list.
So they brought me in and I finished up the
season with the Eagles. You know, that was the year
that we went to the playoffs against the Cowboys. But
(25:50):
before even that part, like just the like you talked
about the transition, like you know, finally getting to you know,
the NFL. My first an opportunity of course, like you know,
all my friends from ship, you know, half of half
of them live in Philly, you know. So I'm like,
all right, I'm close to home, got all my people's
(26:13):
you know, you know, close to me. And then this
opportunity I get up to the to the facility Nova
Care Center, and you know, I mean being able to
walk in to the facility and see my name getting
stitched on the back.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Of the jersey.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Oh my gosh, man, there's nothing, nothing ever will compare
to it.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I mean, it's just like one of those.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
You know, like you know, a lot of a lot
of us guys grow up just dreaming of playing professional sports.
And you know, you walk into that locker room and
see your name on you know, on the locker and
you know, NFC Ees, Joel ganb Will, Philadelphia Eagles, all
of that. Now you got your gear and on, and
I'm like, Dan, you know, this is what I dreamed of, right,
(27:03):
And then they take me into the back and equipment
room and now I'm trying on cleats and you know,
like in my gear and all of that, and they
fit me for stuff and you know what face masks
do you want?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Pick?
Speaker 3 (27:16):
You know, take your pick and all of that. I'm like, man,
it's like the creative play on that, right, you know.
And so so after all of that, you know, you know,
signed my contract all of that, and then they walk me.
They're like, all right, well, you know right now where
offenses in film study? So the entire offense was in
(27:38):
you know, like the you know, they're in the training facilities.
We have like classroom spaces, audience you know, like auditorium
spaces all of that where we watch film and have
meetings and all of that type of stuff for the NFL,
and so, you know, they walked me into the auditorium
space where the offenses meeting, and I'm talking about I'm
(28:01):
in the room now with Donovan McNab, Mike Vic, you know,
Lashawn McCoy, Toshawn Jackson, you know, Brian Westbrook, all of
these guys, and I was like, damn, I was just
playing Maden.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
With with you.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
You know, when I was at Cole that ship right yeah,
in two thousand and four, Mike Vick was the man
on you know, he was spamming with him. So you know,
it was just like, man, I'm finally here, you know,
and being able to actually chop it up with those
guys was it was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
And then it was like all right, you know, now
it's time to work, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
And I remember the first time I was on the
field caught the first past that I caught on the
field with the Eagles was from Donovan McNabb and I'm
just like, damn, you know, I was playing the video
game with this guy and now I'm catching passes from him.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
And he's like, all right, rook, I see you out
there for eight. You know, I'm like all right, you know,
like I'm high.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
You know, because it's like, all right, I'm here playing
for Andy Reid. You know how he uses his tight ends, man,
and so you know, it was just like, man, this
is surreal experience and moment. And then of course you know,
and I don't even get into the financial piece, but
you know, it's just just the experience, man, you know
(29:28):
of you know, the love that you get, the you know,
the you know in the city, and you know, just
the experience of you actually going to work doing something
that you love each and every day.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Like I don't think anything that I.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Do will ever compare to you know, just like the
dream job of playing professional sports, doing something you love
every day. And you know, you've grown up playing this game,
so you know it's something that you know always going
to be a part of you.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
So what what are what are you doing right now?
We have about our ten minutes left in our interview,
and I don't want to skip over what you're doing
right now because you're doing some fantastic work right now,
beginning with your foundation.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
I have my j g c YO Community Youth Outreach organization.
It started off with you know, when I came back
retired from football, came back to Baltimore, and you know,
as I mentioned, there weren't a whole lot of resources
or weren't any NFL players or NBA players coming into
the hood actually giving and providing resources, right, Yeah, And
(30:46):
so that's something that I wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
You know, I always wanted to do it.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
You know, I say, when I'm successful, I'm gonna come
back and give back. And so came back, started off
with a football camp, and then you know, I saw
there was a need for just more resources and programming,
and so I was just like, these kids need, you know,
more than just one day of you know, of fun
(31:11):
and activities. And so then I started the Flag Football League,
which is, you know, in conjunction with the NFL, played
sixty flag football and so started that co ed for
elementary school and middle school students. Started my own my
own health and wellness program, uh, trying to curb childhood obesity,
(31:35):
especially in our communities where we don't have access to
to as healthy of foods, you know, possibly and there's
food deserts and things of that nature. So you know,
really teaching people how to take care of their bodies,
how to train, how you know, especially if you're an athlete,
how to eat appro you know, properly and you know healthy.
(31:58):
I had Nutrition has come in and talk to you know,
the students. And then I was, you know, at the time,
I was a teacher. I started when I started my organization,
so I became a children's book author as well. And
so one of the projects that I was working on,
you know, especially starting off in elementary school, I would
(32:18):
see Scholastic, you know, would have the book fairs, and
they're at the book fairs. There weren't a whole lot
of books that represented us, right, you know, of culture,
and so one of the things and I saw how
impactful it was when Black Panther came out and you know,
everybody was just like, man, you know, this was this
(32:39):
was my favorite superhero because it looks like me, right,
you know. And so what myself and another former NFL
player created was a comic book series. And this is
the comic book series right here, you know, entitled The
Justice Duo. So these comics, you know, are superhero comic
books showing representation. They they touch on, you know, various
(33:06):
community issues such as bullying, gentrification in communities, food deserts,
you know, real life situations and scenarios. We you know,
create villains out of the scenarios and then you know,
of course fight crime. But you know, we're actually teaching
the community like, hey, these are things that are happening,
(33:27):
and then we're bringing fun back into you know reading.
You know, kids short attention spans nowadays with all of
the technology, and so you know, of course graphic novels
and comic books are a way that you can really
be instrumental in bringing that literacy piece back to back
to schools. So that's what you know, that's what I
(33:49):
do with my organization, you know, outside of work, my
you know, my day job work for financial institution, the
largest financial institution in the country. I'm in charge of
community and business development in the state of Maryland, and
I teach financial literacy, you know, to our community, you know,
(34:10):
and try to get in front of many as many
people as we can uh to to really teach that
financial education. And not a lot of us had growing up,
and so that you know, of course, I you know,
there was some pitfalls along my financial journey that I
went through, you know, because of the lack of financial education.
And so you know, the more we talk about it,
(34:32):
the more we have conversations about it, the better off
we are, you know, and my pie and.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
The skies, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
For everybody to own a home, for everybody to be
invested in the stock market, for everybody, like you.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Know, to have life insurance.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And I'm not talking about just enough to pay for
funeral costs. I'm talking about life insurance that are set
your family up for you know, generations to come. And
you know, those are the things that I talk about now,
you know, and in order to uplift our community.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
So Joel, to wrap everything up again, I want to
thank you for coming on the morning experience and and
just really giving us all this game.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Brother, I really do appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
What would what would young Joel that's at home in
West Baltimore, what would he think about older Joel?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Now? Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Man, I've always been a fan of success, you know,
even to this day. Like you know, it's funny that
a lot of athletes that make it to professional sports,
we're all a fan of each other. It's always the
folks that ain't athletes is hating on somebody, right, you know,
it's crazy. It's like, yo, you ain't even played out
of high school, you know. But but you know, I've
(35:56):
always been a fan of people's success. So I think,
you know, if and I always wanted to be a
professional athlete, there was between that and you know and
working in the FBI FBI agent.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I put that I have, like.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
You know, if in elementary school we do these like
essays and drawings of what do you want to be
when you grow up? I still have it to this day.
It's a professional athlete or FBI agent. And so I
was able to accomplish that. So I feel like younger
me would be proud to say that, you know, you've
accomplished playing in the NFL, playing for three teams, and
(36:36):
then younger me would be even more proud that, you know,
now I'm providing those opportunities that younger me didn't have.
So now, you know, a younger me that might not
have two hundred bucks to you know, get into a
program for sports. You know, now, kids that you know,
younger me, I can pay twenty five bucks and get
(36:59):
into this program and play sports. And so that's what
I would say, you know, and just that perseverance, everything
that went through you know, people telling me that I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Good enough, wasn't going to make it.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
You know, younger me would be proud to say, you know,
that's me, you know what I mean, Like, you know,
I persevered through so much. I have seen so much,
you know, dealing with Trump and all of that, and
and so being able to still be successful through all
of that.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
You know, I feel like I would be proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Yeah, that is quite the journey from from West Baltimore
to Shippensburg University, to to to being a correctional officer,
then to the NFL, then to working for one of
the largest financial uh businesses agencies in the country. I mean,
(37:54):
that is that is that is quite quite quite quite
quite quite the story. And there's a bunch of other
stuff filled in the middle in between all of that. Brother, Again,
I appreciate you coming up on the morning experience and
just telling your story. So my final question here for
that person that is listening to this right now, and
(38:19):
if they are on the brink of a decision, you know,
should they should they do this business idea? You know,
should they go back to school, should they pursue.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
That NFL dream? You know what would you tell that
person right now, don't live with regret. So you know
what what that means is make sure that.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
You put forth all the effort that you have towards
whatever goals and dreams that you have for yourself.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
You don't want to live in in the form of
regret where you know.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh, I wish I could have, should have, would have
you know all of that, you know, and you didn't
actually do anything to actually accomplish it, right, you know,
And you never know if you don't try. And so
you know, if you put your best foot forward and
try and always say like, I never had a Plan B.
It was always Plan A, you know, and when people
(39:17):
start to have plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan
D and all of that, then you know, it's like
your focus is kind of skewed away from that actual goal.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
That you're trying to accomplish.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
And so, you know, just be focused on your goal,
stick to it be to determine. Know that failure does
not mean that that's the last straw. You know, failure
actually creates better us, you know, better people, right, and
so you know, the more you fail, just realize that
(39:49):
that's just you know, that's just your path that you're
building and your testimony, and so you know, God is
so good man. You know He's able to bless and
and provide, and so if we do the work, you know,
we will you know, get the opportunities. And so, uh,
that's what I would say.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
My grandmother would say, baby, you gotta fail forward, you
gotta fail forward.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, nobody, there's absolutely nobody that's been successful that has
not failed. You know when you talk about Jordan and
Oprah and all of these folks, you know, Jordan got
cut from his team and you know Oprah started off
in the weather and.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
All of that.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
You know, like, so, I mean it's absolute. Tyler Perry
was sleeping in the car. It was homeless, something crazy,
you know. So you know, all of these folks that
are successful, they failed, They failed and failed multiple times
before they actually got that breakthrough. But they never gave up.
And that's the thing that separates them. They never gave up.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Absolutely, I have folks again that is Joe Gamble, educator, philanthropists,
community champion and and Shippensburg University graduate, former NFL player
and just all around good brother. Again, I want to
thank you for coming up on the Morning Experience. And
just telling us you your story and inspiring the audience.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Again, good brother, thank you, thanks for having me. Oh yeah,
it was my pleasure. Folks.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
I hope you were able to pick up what Joel
was putting down. And if you happen to miss this interview,
or if you want to go back and listen to
the whole interview, just know that this interview turns itself
into a podcast at ten oh five,
Good morning. You're listening to the Morning Experience. I am
Marquise Lupton. Folks, thank you for joining us on this Thursday.
And you know what that means. It is our news
and Maker Thursday where we talk to ordinary people doing
extraordinary things. And today is serving up something just like that.
Today we have from the streets of West Baltimore to
(00:23):
the bright lights of the NFL. Today we're talking great discipline,
community and what it means to turn ambition into purpose.
Our guest is the name you should know. And if
you don't, don't worry. By the end of this conversation
you'll be inspired enough to do a workout or at
least rethink finishing that second doughnut. Folks, today we're talking
(00:45):
with Joe Gamble, who is a proud graduate of Carver
Vocational Technical High School, a standout at Shippensburg University where
he majored in criminal justice and just casually became an
all conference tight end, leading the team in receiving yards
and receptions as a sophomore. And if that wasn't enough,
you fulfill the dream you ever do stepping on to
(01:07):
the field in the NFL suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles,
Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans. But Joel's story doesn't end
with football. His life's mission has evolved into serving, building, mentoring,
and leading, proving that true greatness isn't defined by a
jersey number, but the impact you leave long after the
(01:28):
stadium lights go out. Joe Gamble, educator, philanthropists, community champion.
Welcome to the morning experience. Good brother, how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
What's going on? Brothers? Long time? No sea shipping? Third? Yes, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
Super excited to be on. Man.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I appreciate you reaching out, you know and looking forward
to the conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And that intro, Man, that intro was fire. They're like, oh,
shut Shannon charge.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Hey man, I'm just I'm just telling the truth.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Y'all.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Provide me with the resume and I just put the
words together.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
You guys make it easy for me.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So let's started off here and growing up in West Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
What first sparked your love for football? Man? Well, you
know what didn't?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
So you know, of course, you know everybody's seen the
Wire and you know heard of Baltimore and all of
that type of stuff. I grew up in it, you know,
so I didn't need to watch the HBO series The
Wire to actually know what was going on in West Baltimore.
You know, it was right outside of my doorway.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And honestly, you know, one of the things that got
me really interested in football is just like my life
experiences at a young age, being able to actually you know,
just like take out my frustrations, anger, and you know,
everything on the football field. You know, that's that drew
(03:09):
me to the game. I'm like, man, I can legally,
you know, take somebody's head off here for me, you know, like, oh,
this is my sport right here.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Of course, it took some time to get get used
to running smack into somebody, you know, because that's not
a natural thing to do. But you know, yeah, man,
you know, my life experiences kind of shaped that. You know,
what I went through. Parents got divorced when I was
ten years old, so that really kind of feeled you know,
(03:41):
great parents, you.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Know, morals, values, all of that instilled in me.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
But then, of course now mom and dad are separated,
and so you know, that created a lot of anger, resentment,
and just like fuel in me.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
And you know, one thing I wish I could bottle
up up you know, ambition, drive, perseverance, dedication, all of that,
because I'm not sure you know where people get it from,
but you know, their life experiences that kind of you know,
I guess you know, light your path up. And you know,
that was one of one of those things that you know,
(04:19):
like I was like, hey, I need to have an outlet,
and sports was always my outlet for you know, I
didn't fight in school and nothing like that. You know,
sports was always my outlet to get that anger and
frustration out that I was, you know, living in the
hood that I was. You know, I was seeing you know,
seeing things that I you know, just the trauma and
(04:40):
all of that that comes with limit in the inner city,
you know, and not having a whole bunch uh you know,
having to ask my parents for a pair of sneakers
and and and sometimes you know, not being able to
get it and seeing you know, other guys get and
then selling drugs and all of that is you know,
(05:02):
it's just one of those things that you know, when
I was growing up, it's like you play sports or
you know, you on the streets one or the other,
and so you know, at the time, of course the
guys on the streets looked out for those that were
playing sports because they're like, yo, like you, you about
to make it out. You you know you're doing the
right thing, you know, so they would look out for
(05:24):
you at the time. But you know, I would say
just that my life experiences kind of shape me being
interested in the game, and then I just became a
student of the game from that point on.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Now, you were also a standout at Carver Votec. So
what were some of your biggest lessons from there and
what lessons stayed with you?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Man?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So, my my junior year was wonderful. I stepped in
on the varsity field. I was playing wide receiver and
a little bit of time as well. And you know,
I got nominated for the one of the top twenty
two juniors in merit in the state of Maryland, and
(06:10):
so got a chance to get honored with the Baltimore Ravens.
Jonathan Ogden at the time was like a rookie on
the Baltimore Ravens squad. He's a Hall of Famer, right,
And so I got a started jacket Ravens started jacket.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
The Ravens had just came to Baltimore. You know, Memorial Stadium.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
All of that weren't at MNC Banks Stadium yet, and
so you know, I got honored through that honor and
it kind of carried on into my senior year where
now and I'm you know, one of the superstar well
actually these started the team and and so you know,
it was it was definitely a learning experience because my
(06:52):
senior year we went totally defeated. I got injured after
three or four games games I played, and then the
rest of the season I set out and you know,
I had a knee injury, and you know, I was
the only one to score touchdowns on the team, you know,
(07:13):
literally only one to score touchdowns on the team when
I got hurt that fourth game. We didn't score after that. Yeah,
it was it was crazy. And so that kind of
that you know that that you know, showed some of
that determination or or that grit that you speak of,
because you know, it takes a lot to go through
(07:33):
a totally defeated season, you know, and and be you know,
just sitting in that uncomfortab ability of you know, knowing
that you're you know consistently illusing, You're not able to
to keep up with the other teams. But you know,
of course, you know, colleges came knocking. Uh, they were
(07:54):
always they were looking at me in my junior year.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Then of course, with the injury, you know, opportunities got
a little thinner, and I went on a couple of
different college visits and Shippensburg was won.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
But but you know, high school to college was quite
the transition.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I was a superstar and in high school went to
all of the all star games. So I came back.
I ended up playing three or four games my senior year.
Still ended up making all of the all star teams
through city and the county.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Uh, and played in.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
The Parkway Classic, which is like the DC versus Maryland,
DC versus Baltimore football game. So like players like Josh
Cribs and the Browns and you know, others that come
from d C. Brian Lefwich, you know, came from d
C as well. So a lot of players that made
(08:49):
it to the NFL played in that game. And so
you know, I had an opportunity to play in that
and be one of two receivers to get to catch passes.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
In the game. Uh. And we actually won that year
against DC.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And then you know, coach Nixon from Shippensburg, who was
a running backs coach at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
He was recruiting me. He actually recruited.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
John Coon and Ron Johnson, a whole bunch of guys
that actually went to the NFL bring grimes and so
you know, he came and you know, came knocking, and
you know, we got a chance to visit Shippensburg. It
was far enough away from Baltimore because you know, that
was one of the things like I was, I was
(09:32):
so you.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Know, ready to get out of the city man.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
And and experience something completely different.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
And so I was like, I want to go to
a school.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Out of out of state, got to be out of state,
you know, and got a chance to visit, and it
was just great, you know, great experience, you know, completely
different from the inner city.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Of course, definitely is quite the cultural shock and transition.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
But you know, I feel like my piece is found
in nature and you know, like in rural, rural areas
where you know, it's just like nice, peaceful and quiet,
even though Shippensburg isn't that type of town, but you know,
it was just a nice different pace from from Baltimore,
from you know, me seeing people friends of mine getting
(10:21):
shot and killed and things like that. You know, so
that transition was was quite the transition. I'll get into,
you know, to that. But yeah, going from high school
to college, man, who you know, it was crazy. We
didn't have all the resources at our high school, you know,
as far as like a weight rum and you know,
(10:41):
and gym and trainers. Nowadays, the kids got everything right,
you know, so everybody's bigger, faster, stronger. But but yeah,
it was quite the transition, man.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I tell a story about when when I got into
a Shippensburg's weight room facility and we were all doing
like our our our I guess, our testing, our conditioning
testing and max max lifting testing. Man, I got under
one thirty five and I barely could lift that thing.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Like I lifted it like four or five times, and
I was like, that's it. That's my max.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Right there, you know, And I'm watching everybody else bounce
around to twenty five, and I'm like, man, like this
is this is tough, you know, because I was six.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Of course, that's great size for a receiver.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
And in high school and all of that, but coming
into college, you know, being recruited for tight end now
I got to bulk up, put on some weight, you know,
all of those things to be able to play at
a high level.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
So it was quite the transition.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Now, now that was that was your your freshman year.
Now take us through be becoming an all conference tight end.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
What did that grind look like? Man? So it's start
started off with me gaining weight.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So every year, honestly, man, I put on like ten pounds,
you know, and to keep it a buck like, you know,
I was in Baltimore, Man, I was eating pop tarts
and you know, and you know, bowls of cereal. I
wasn't really eating meals like that. Maybe some hot dogs,
you know. We you know, we were struggling. And I
(12:22):
got to the college campus, of course, and now you
know I got access to go and get me some
some omelets and you know, get me a nice course
meal every you know, every uh, you know, every day, and.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So uh it was, it was it was great.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
You know, I was able to put on some weight
from from my freshman year to my sophomore year.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I red shirted my first year at Shippensburg.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
A lot of the freshmen that came in that freshman class,
a lot of us red shirted, so like on Coon,
you know, Brink came in a little later, but pretty
much all of us that you know graduated together, we
red shirted that year. So by the time two thousand
and four rolled around, I mean, it was all seniors
(13:11):
on that squad that you know made it to the
Division two playoffs. But but the year that I was
all conference tight end. Man. You know, it just I
would say it just it took a lot of hard work, right,
you know, it was quite a transition going from high
school to college, having to put on the weight, having
to get stronger, learn the pace of the game, learn
(13:35):
the plays and everything. And it just speaks to you know,
kind of like that focus and determination that you speak of,
where you know, you you gotta have something inside you
just says, you know, what I can do this. I'm
gonna try my best, and you know my best is
going to be good enough and it's actually going to
be great, you know. And so that's something I you know,
(13:57):
continue to describe to be the best that I could be,
and you know, try to get better each and every
time I step on the field, even outside of the field,
you know, learning game, learning defenses, learning the offense. You know,
being a student of the game. Back then, social media
wasn't really a thing, you know, right, So I remember
(14:21):
always watching like highlight clips and in film of wire
of receivers at that time. So I would watch guys
like Peter Wark. I would watch guys you know, you know,
older than me that were running routes and being able
to turn guys around, and that was you know, like
(14:42):
my thing. I will watch how guy how receivers ran routes,
and I would just you know, implement that and how
I actually did things. So that translated to you know,
me being able to to shake defenders and you know
and get open when you know other guys couldn't. And
so that's you know, really how I you know, became
(15:05):
that that you know, all conference tight end is you know,
being able to catch the ball and it didn't drop
you know, much of anything unless it was in practice,
you know, and it was very rare in practice that
you know, I dropped anything either, because it was just like,
you know, I want to you know, I want to
be great at what I do, and what I do
(15:25):
is catching the ball at a high level, you know,
you know, having a huge catch radius and being somebody
that the quarterback can trust in. And so I didn't
drop much anything my entire career as Ship, you know,
and and I prided myself on that. And you know,
in my sophomore year, I led the team and receptions
(15:48):
and reception yards at the tight end position, and I
was actually sharing the position with another tight end, Brian Sequel,
and we ran we ran a lot of double tight
end sets, so it was both of us out there
on the field at the same time. And you know,
I still was able to delete the team and receptions
(16:11):
and yards that year.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So it was, you know, it was it was wonderful. Man.
You know, we we can you know, we were a.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Winning team when I was there at Ship, and you know,
so it was a great experience.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Now now you had this amazing transition as well, from
from when you went from Shippensburg University to the NFL.
Can you tell us about that transition and what that
looked like.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Man. So I didn't get drafted, of course, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
So my junior year, uh, you know ESPN you know,
websites were saying that I was you know, it was
a possibility I could get drafted sixth and seventh round,
you know, from out of division to school and you
know ESPN predicted, you know, like some of the Division
two prospects that the NFL was looking at.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
You know, I didn't get drafted at all on that day.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I remember, I you know, graduated with my criminal justice degree,
and I remember I was still you know, coaching at Shippensburg.
The year after I graduated, I decided to coach stay close,
you know, stay close to ship. And I was also
working as a correctional officer and coaching at the same time.
And so I remember being on the security unit and
(17:32):
I'm listening to.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
You know, the draft and like waiting, you know, hoping
that I.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Get a phone call, all of those types of things,
and it just didn't happen. And so, you know, I
was disappointing, of course, and I was like, all right, well,
you know, maybe I get a phone call the next day.
And the day after that, no phone call came, and
so you know, of course, you know, I was just like, man,
you know, I still I feel like I can you know,
(17:58):
I feel like I can do this thing. I feel
like I could make it. And so I went to
coach Rocky Reese, you know, rest his soul, uh and
you know, at the time he was he was the
head coach at Shippensburg, and so I went to him
and I said, Coach, I still got something left in
the tank.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
At that time, I'm coaching the tight ends and I'm
seeing guys run routes.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I'm trying to teach them, you know, things that I.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Did with ease on the football field, and then you know,
I'm seeing them kind of struggle to go through the motions,
and I'm like, man, you know, if I know I can,
I know I can make it.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And so Rocky rees he he actually had.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Some connections with arena football, and so so he called.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Up a coach.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You know, I got an opportunity to go down, worked
out and actually made the team for the Tennessee Valley Vipers.
And if you know anything about arena football, there's not
a tight end position on the field, so you either
have to play for or you got to play a
wide receiver. Right, So I played full back for the
(19:06):
Tennessee Valley Vipers, and I also played defense also, and
then I got traded to the Oklahoma City yard Dogs
and finished up the season there.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Came back to Baltimore and.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Was like, you know what I you know, I wasn't
really feeling arena football. I met a trainer of mine,
Troy Jones, who you know, trains a lot of NFL
and professional athletes, and just started to kind of home
in on revamping my body. That's one of the things.
Like I graduated Shippensburg, I was probably around two forty
(19:43):
or so, but by the time I got to the NFL,
I was too fifty. But my body looked completely different
from you know, college.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And so that's just a testament.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
To you know, the training, uh, the you know, the
the the type of eating uh and regiments that I
went through and put myself through during that time.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
And then Troy, Troy's training.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Of you know, just is you know, teaching me how
to be explosive and you know, just getting stronger and faster.
And so that was you know, that was a blessing,
you know, being able to meet Troy and and be
able to rebap my body. And then there was an
opportunity that came about where was arena football team again
(20:31):
in DC? And I was like, all right, it's close
to Baltimore, you know, not too far. I'll try it out.
I'll play a couple you know, play play for a
season or two, right, and got a chance to play.
Only played for like maybe three games, but in one
of the games, I had like eleven catches for over
two hundred yards and two touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Yeah, and uh, and so I sent that to the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
And and well actually didn't ended to the Eagles. I
actually took it up there to them. So that's that's
one thing that I tell a lot of people, like,
if you got dreams and aspirations of you know, accomplishing something, you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Gotta go get it.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
You got to be a go getter, Like you got
to stand outside of the facility and be like, yo,
I'm here.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
I'm trying to get our opportunity, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
And that's how it was. I was like, man, I'm
going up to Philly.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
At the time, I think they had their training camp
somewhere else, maybe like in beIN you know, bethle Ham,
PA or something like that. And so I went up
there and gave my film to coach Nixon, who recruited
me out of high school into college and he ended
up coaching for the Eagles during the time that Andy
(21:45):
Reid was there. So I ended up giving my film
to him. I borrowed a friend's car at the time
because I didn't have much money.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
I was training. I stopped working.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I fully, you know, put my all and my focus into,
you know, making sure that I was ready for any opportunities.
And you know, I remember that at the time. He
was like, all right, you know, well we got practice tomorrow.
I'm I try to get you into the practice, not
like practicing with the team, but just like you know,
being able to be on the field and actually actually
(22:17):
watched the practice and everything. And so I remember it
rain all night that day. It rained all night. I
didn't have money for a hotel or anything, so I
slept in the car. I remember it vividly because you know,
of course in the car, I had to roll down
the window a little bit to get some air when
I'm sleeping. And then it started raining, so I'm like, dang,
(22:40):
you know, the rain's coming in. And you know, it
was just a I was pretty much up all night, right,
And so Coach Nixon called me in the morning and
was like, hey, man, you know, because of the weather,
we're going to be they weren't going to be practicing outside.
They were going to be practicing in the bubble and
it was closed to the public. So I was like, dang,
you know, so's you know, there was no opportunity there.
(23:03):
So I went home. You know, I was like, all right, well,
you know they got my film and all man, maybe
you know a week later or so, you know, Coach
Nixon calls me up. Hey, you know player personnel. You know,
they they took a look at your film, and man,
they love it. They want you to come out and
do a workout.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I'm like, oh, here we go. Action.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
We got action. So you know, I ended up going
up to Philly. It was it happened so fast, man,
like you know, it was like on a Tuesday, and
they had us up there on a Thursday or something crazy,
you know where they had us up there, like, you know,
maybe a day or two later.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
And so go up to Philly.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
There's two other tight ends, you know, from larger schools,
you know Division one schools and all, and so we're
battling it out and one tight end drops a pass.
So that pretty much x him out of the equation
because myself and the guy there's another tight end from
b y. You he didn't drop anything. I didn't drop anything.
(24:03):
And so the guy that did drop a pass. It
was like, all right, you know, you don't.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Have a shot.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And they put us through a gauntlet like they you know,
had his catching passes on the sideline. You know, I
was catching one hand passes, you know, like they was,
you know, wanted to see us run routes things like that.
And so they ended up, you know, after the workout,
they ended up signing the guy from BYU. You know,
he was six five, you know, two hundred and fifty
(24:32):
or so pounds, so you know, he was more of
the build that the NFL looks for. Yeah, and so
he ended up getting signed. I went home, you know,
of course I was disappointed. You know, took the time
to you know kind of you know, sit with my
disappointment just that day. And then the next day I
(24:53):
was back at it with my workouts with Troy and
so I would say maybe a couple weeks later, maybe
two weeks or so, maybe even less, you know, the
Eagles player personnel called me, uh and they were like, hey,
what have you been up to. I'm like, man, I
just been working out, you know, getting ready for that opportunity.
(25:16):
And they were like, hey, you know, we're gonna we're
gonna go ahead and bring you in.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We're gonna sign you. And so I was just like
we got action. Like, man, this is a dream come true,
right you know.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Uh, Apparently the tight end that they signed couldn't block
and so you know, they were like, all right, we're
gonna go ahead and release him and bring Joel in
because you know, we had you second on the list.
So they brought me in and I finished up the
season with the Eagles. You know, that was the year
that we went to the playoffs against the Cowboys. But
(25:50):
before even that part, like just the like you talked
about the transition, like you know, finally getting to you know,
the NFL. My first an opportunity of course, like you know,
all my friends from ship, you know, half of half
of them live in Philly, you know. So I'm like,
all right, I'm close to home, got all my people's
(26:13):
you know, you know, close to me. And then this
opportunity I get up to the to the facility Nova
Care Center, and you know, I mean being able to
walk in to the facility and see my name getting
stitched on the back.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Of the jersey.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Oh my gosh, man, there's nothing, nothing ever will compare
to it.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I mean, it's just like one of those.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
You know, like you know, a lot of a lot
of us guys grow up just dreaming of playing professional sports.
And you know, you walk into that locker room and
see your name on you know, on the locker and
you know, NFC Ees, Joel ganb Will, Philadelphia Eagles, all
of that. Now you got your gear and on, and
I'm like, Dan, you know, this is what I dreamed of, right,
(27:03):
And then they take me into the back and equipment
room and now I'm trying on cleats and you know,
like in my gear and all of that, and they
fit me for stuff and you know what face masks
do you want?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Pick?
Speaker 3 (27:16):
You know, take your pick and all of that. I'm like, man,
it's like the creative play on that, right, you know.
And so so after all of that, you know, you know,
signed my contract all of that, and then they walk me.
They're like, all right, well, you know right now where
offenses in film study? So the entire offense was in
(27:38):
you know, like the you know, they're in the training facilities.
We have like classroom spaces, audience you know, like auditorium
spaces all of that where we watch film and have
meetings and all of that type of stuff for the NFL,
and so, you know, they walked me into the auditorium
space where the offenses meeting, and I'm talking about I'm
(28:01):
in the room now with Donovan McNab, Mike Vic, you know,
Lashawn McCoy, Toshawn Jackson, you know, Brian Westbrook, all of
these guys, and I was like, damn, I was just
playing Maden.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
With with you.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
You know, when I was at Cole that ship right yeah,
in two thousand and four, Mike Vick was the man
on you know, he was spamming with him. So you know,
it was just like, man, I'm finally here, you know,
and being able to actually chop it up with those
guys was it was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
And then it was like all right, you know, now
it's time to work, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
And I remember the first time I was on the
field caught the first past that I caught on the
field with the Eagles was from Donovan McNabb and I'm
just like, damn, you know, I was playing the video
game with this guy and now I'm catching passes from him.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
And he's like, all right, rook, I see you out
there for eight. You know, I'm like all right, you know,
like I'm high.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
You know, because it's like, all right, I'm here playing
for Andy Reid. You know how he uses his tight ends, man,
and so you know, it was just like, man, this
is surreal experience and moment. And then of course you know,
and I don't even get into the financial piece, but
you know, it's just just the experience, man, you know
(29:28):
of you know, the love that you get, the you know,
the you know in the city, and you know, just
the experience of you actually going to work doing something
that you love each and every day.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Like I don't think anything that I.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Do will ever compare to you know, just like the
dream job of playing professional sports, doing something you love
every day. And you know, you've grown up playing this game,
so you know it's something that you know always going
to be a part of you.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
So what what are what are you doing right now?
We have about our ten minutes left in our interview,
and I don't want to skip over what you're doing
right now because you're doing some fantastic work right now,
beginning with your foundation.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
I have my j g c YO Community Youth Outreach organization.
It started off with you know, when I came back
retired from football, came back to Baltimore, and you know,
as I mentioned, there weren't a whole lot of resources
or weren't any NFL players or NBA players coming into
the hood actually giving and providing resources, right, Yeah, And
(30:46):
so that's something that I wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
You know, I always wanted to do it.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
You know, I say, when I'm successful, I'm gonna come
back and give back. And so came back, started off
with a football camp, and then you know, I saw
there was a need for just more resources and programming,
and so I was just like, these kids need, you know,
more than just one day of you know, of fun
(31:11):
and activities. And so then I started the Flag Football League,
which is, you know, in conjunction with the NFL, played
sixty flag football and so started that co ed for
elementary school and middle school students. Started my own my
own health and wellness program, uh, trying to curb childhood obesity,
(31:35):
especially in our communities where we don't have access to
to as healthy of foods, you know, possibly and there's
food deserts and things of that nature. So you know,
really teaching people how to take care of their bodies,
how to train, how you know, especially if you're an athlete,
how to eat appro you know, properly and you know healthy.
(31:58):
I had Nutrition has come in and talk to you know,
the students. And then I was, you know, at the time,
I was a teacher. I started when I started my organization,
so I became a children's book author as well. And
so one of the projects that I was working on,
you know, especially starting off in elementary school, I would
(32:18):
see Scholastic, you know, would have the book fairs, and
they're at the book fairs. There weren't a whole lot
of books that represented us, right, you know, of culture,
and so one of the things and I saw how
impactful it was when Black Panther came out and you know,
everybody was just like, man, you know, this was this
(32:39):
was my favorite superhero because it looks like me, right,
you know. And so what myself and another former NFL
player created was a comic book series. And this is
the comic book series right here, you know, entitled The
Justice Duo. So these comics, you know, are superhero comic
books showing representation. They they touch on, you know, various
(33:06):
community issues such as bullying, gentrification in communities, food deserts,
you know, real life situations and scenarios. We you know,
create villains out of the scenarios and then you know,
of course fight crime. But you know, we're actually teaching
the community like, hey, these are things that are happening,
(33:27):
and then we're bringing fun back into you know reading.
You know, kids short attention spans nowadays with all of
the technology, and so you know, of course graphic novels
and comic books are a way that you can really
be instrumental in bringing that literacy piece back to back
to schools. So that's what you know, that's what I
(33:49):
do with my organization, you know, outside of work, my
you know, my day job work for financial institution, the
largest financial institution in the country. I'm in charge of
community and business development in the state of Maryland, and
I teach financial literacy, you know, to our community, you know,
(34:10):
and try to get in front of many as many
people as we can uh to to really teach that
financial education. And not a lot of us had growing up,
and so that you know, of course, I you know,
there was some pitfalls along my financial journey that I
went through, you know, because of the lack of financial education.
And so you know, the more we talk about it,
(34:32):
the more we have conversations about it, the better off
we are, you know, and my pie and.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
The skies, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
For everybody to own a home, for everybody to be
invested in the stock market, for everybody, like you.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Know, to have life insurance.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And I'm not talking about just enough to pay for
funeral costs. I'm talking about life insurance that are set
your family up for you know, generations to come. And
you know, those are the things that I talk about now,
you know, and in order to uplift our community.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
So Joel, to wrap everything up again, I want to
thank you for coming on the morning experience and and
just really giving us all this game.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Brother, I really do appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
What would what would young Joel that's at home in
West Baltimore, what would he think about older Joel?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Now? Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Man, I've always been a fan of success, you know,
even to this day. Like you know, it's funny that
a lot of athletes that make it to professional sports,
we're all a fan of each other. It's always the
folks that ain't athletes is hating on somebody, right, you know,
it's crazy. It's like, yo, you ain't even played out
of high school, you know. But but you know, I've
(35:56):
always been a fan of people's success. So I think,
you know, if and I always wanted to be a
professional athlete, there was between that and you know and
working in the FBI FBI agent.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I put that I have, like.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
You know, if in elementary school we do these like
essays and drawings of what do you want to be
when you grow up? I still have it to this day.
It's a professional athlete or FBI agent. And so I
was able to accomplish that. So I feel like younger
me would be proud to say that, you know, you've
accomplished playing in the NFL, playing for three teams, and
(36:36):
then younger me would be even more proud that, you know,
now I'm providing those opportunities that younger me didn't have.
So now, you know, a younger me that might not
have two hundred bucks to you know, get into a
program for sports. You know, now, kids that you know,
younger me, I can pay twenty five bucks and get
(36:59):
into this program and play sports. And so that's what
I would say, you know, and just that perseverance, everything
that went through you know, people telling me that I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Good enough, wasn't going to make it.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
You know, younger me would be proud to say, you know,
that's me, you know what I mean, Like, you know,
I persevered through so much. I have seen so much,
you know, dealing with Trump and all of that, and
and so being able to still be successful through all
of that.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
You know, I feel like I would be proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Yeah, that is quite the journey from from West Baltimore
to Shippensburg University, to to to being a correctional officer,
then to the NFL, then to working for one of
the largest financial uh businesses agencies in the country. I mean,
(37:54):
that is that is that is quite quite quite quite
quite quite the story. And there's a bunch of other
stuff filled in the middle in between all of that. Brother, Again,
I appreciate you coming up on the morning experience and
just telling your story. So my final question here for
that person that is listening to this right now, and
(38:19):
if they are on the brink of a decision, you know,
should they should they do this business idea? You know,
should they go back to school, should they pursue.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
That NFL dream? You know what would you tell that
person right now, don't live with regret. So you know
what what that means is make sure that.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
You put forth all the effort that you have towards
whatever goals and dreams that you have for yourself.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
You don't want to live in in the form of
regret where you know.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh, I wish I could have, should have, would have
you know all of that, you know, and you didn't
actually do anything to actually accomplish it, right, you know,
And you never know if you don't try. And so
you know, if you put your best foot forward and
try and always say like, I never had a Plan B.
It was always Plan A, you know, and when people
(39:17):
start to have plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan
D and all of that, then you know, it's like
your focus is kind of skewed away from that actual goal.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
That you're trying to accomplish.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
And so, you know, just be focused on your goal,
stick to it be to determine. Know that failure does
not mean that that's the last straw. You know, failure
actually creates better us, you know, better people, right, and
so you know, the more you fail, just realize that
(39:49):
that's just you know, that's just your path that you're
building and your testimony, and so you know, God is
so good man. You know He's able to bless and
and provide, and so if we do the work, you know,
we will you know, get the opportunities. And so, uh,
that's what I would say.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
My grandmother would say, baby, you gotta fail forward, you
gotta fail forward.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, nobody, there's absolutely nobody that's been successful that has
not failed. You know when you talk about Jordan and
Oprah and all of these folks, you know, Jordan got
cut from his team and you know Oprah started off
in the weather and.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
All of that.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
You know, like, so, I mean it's absolute. Tyler Perry
was sleeping in the car. It was homeless, something crazy,
you know. So you know, all of these folks that
are successful, they failed, They failed and failed multiple times
before they actually got that breakthrough. But they never gave up.
And that's the thing that separates them. They never gave up.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Absolutely, I have folks again that is Joe Gamble, educator, philanthropists,
community champion and and Shippensburg University graduate, former NFL player
and just all around good brother. Again, I want to
thank you for coming up on the Morning Experience. And
just telling us you your story and inspiring the audience.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Again, good brother, thank you, thanks for having me. Oh yeah,
it was my pleasure. Folks.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
I hope you were able to pick up what Joel
was putting down. And if you happen to miss this interview,
or if you want to go back and listen to
the whole interview, just know that this interview turns itself
into a podcast at ten oh five,
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