SilentPunt Podcast 219 / July 30, 2026
At 157 pounds, JJ Birden was never supposed to last nine seasons in the NFL. In this conversation, the former Kansas City Chiefs receiver explains how he turned speed, preparation, and a stubborn desire to prove everybody wrong into a career that included catching passes from Joe Montana.
Birden also opens up about his less-documented years after football: business successes and failures, the coffee shop he owned despite not liking coffee, and the life-changing decision he and his wife made to raise five nieces and nephews alongside their three children. Those experiences helped shape his new book, Beat the Coverage: Six Strategic Steps to Win in Business and Life, a practical framework for recognizing opportunities, preparing with purpose, and performing under pressure.
📚 Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:55 First pass from Joe Montana
3:51 From a 133-Pound Track Recruit to Oregon Football
5:51 Putting in the Reps for Life After the NFL
10:15 Coffee, a Search Engine, and Learning Business on the Fly
13:02 How JJ and Raina Went from Three Children to Eight
16:11 Know the Field—and Draw Up the Game Plan
19:36 Evolving as a Receiver and Catching His First TD from Montana
22:03 Why Beat the Coverage Is Different from His First Book
24:54 Playing to Your Strengths and Covering Weak Spots
27:21 SilentPunt Lightning Round
31:14 Joe Montana’s Endorsement
34:02 Where to Find JJ and Beat the Coverage
