Pivot Podcast

“The league is about getting better, if you don’t, you are out.” -Malik Willis

As NFL training camp officially wraps, now it’s time to see how some of the new faces in new places approach the 2026 season. We had the privilege of sitting with one of the break out stars over the past couple years who is getting his chance to be back leading a team.

Miami’s quarterback, Malik Willis, joins The Pivot for a wide-ranging conversation about the journey that has shaped him both on and off the football field — from growing up with the foundation of good parents, finding his way through college football, and eventually making his way from Tennessee to Green Bay and now Miami.

Willis opens up about the highs, setbacks, lessons, and growth that have come with chasing his dream of becoming an NFL quarterback. He reflects on his college path, the experiences that helped shape his game and his mindset, and the people who kept him grounded along the way.

Now entering a new chapter as the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Willis talks about the expectations that come with getting his opportunity to lead an NFL franchise. He discusses adjusting to a new team, a new city, and a new head coach, while embracing the responsibility and pressure that comes with being the guy under center. His bond with Coach Jeff Hafley has helped him grow into the leader the team needs especially with a young roster, specifically at wide receiver.

But beyond football, the conversation gives a glimpse into the person behind the helmet. Known for his relaxed demeanor and calm presence, Willis talks about staying true to himself while navigating the noise, expectations, and scrutiny that come with playing quarterback at the highest level.

From Tennessee to Green Bay to Miami, Malik Willis’ story is one of perseverance, patience, family, growth, and believing in yourself when the path doesn’t always go according to plan.
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“The entire team is bought in to Ben Johnson’s winning ways.” Coltson Loveland

As we are getting close to wrapping our training camp tour, we caught up with Chicago Bears’ first-round pick who sits with Ryan and Channing for an honest, fun and wide-ranging conversation about his rise from a small-town young buck in Idaho to becoming one of the biggest names in college football at Michigan — and now, one of the NFL’s most intriguing playmakers.

Colston takes us behind the scenes of the journey, the sacrifices and the moments that shaped him along the way. From Idaho hometown hero to winning a National Championship at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh to being selected as a first round draft pick to Chicago Bears. His name is rising quickly to the top of the NFL, he talks about feeding off the energy from Ben Johnson, the dawg mentality of his quarterback Caleb Williams and being apart of a roster determined to win at all costs.

He recounts last season’s comebacks, his career high performance, the heated rivalry between Green Bay, Bears’ playoff run and the expectations the team has instilled on themselves to chase a Lombardi trophy this season.

Colston gives his perspective on Johnson’s offensive mind, his coaching style and why players are excited about what he’s building in Chicago. He talks about Caleb’s unique ability to make plays that seemingly shouldn’t be possible, what it’s like developing chemistry with him and why the Bears’ offense has so much potential.

Chicago and the NFL world has already embraced Colston — and apparently, so have the ladies As he acknowledges the attention that comes with being a young NFL star, his growing fan base and what it’s like adjusting to life in the spotlight while still continuing to prove himself on the field.

To Colston, It's bigger than the draft status, the attention or the hype...It’s about his goals in the NFL, what he wants to accomplish in Chicago and the mindset required to bring championships to the city.
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"Be at your best when your best is needed." Jonathan Taylor

As the Pivot Training Camp tour hits Indianapolis, one of the league's best Running Backs Jonathan Taylor sits with the guys for an in-depth conversation about his football journey—from his early days at Salem High School in New Jersey to his dominant college career at Wisconsin to becoming one of the NFL’s premier running backs with the Indianapolis Colts...JT's transcendent path is one everyone can learn from.

Taylor opens up on making it to the league, the work behind becoming one of the most productive backs in football, and what it means to earn a new deal and continue building his legacy in Indianapolis. JT talks about the legends at his position before him, what it was like having Philip Rivers around and gives an inside-look into this year's roster filled with young proven talent. He also discusses his relationship with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, the Irsay family, and the people inside the organization who have helped shape his career.

He gives his respect to the other top Backs in the league from Bijan to Derrick Henry to Saquon, even revealing what him and Saquon had in common long before their NFL days...Beyond the numbers, Taylor talks about leadership, accountability, handling adversity, and setting the standard for a team that wants to win. He also breaks down what it will take for the Colts to make the playoffs—what needs to come together inside the locker room, the consistency required throughout the season, and the mindset it takes to make a real postseason run.

What does it take to be one of the best? How does he approach the responsibility that comes with being a leader? And what does winning mean to him at this stage of his career?

A candid conversation with one of the NFL’s elite about the journey that got him here—and the mindset, leadership and commitment it will take to get the Colts where they want to go.
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“Going against Ceedee and GP is prepping me for what I need to be at my best." Caleb Downs

On the road, hitting all the Training Camps and had to make it to Oxnard to check out the rookie sensation- Caleb Downs who joins us for a conversation during his first NFL training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, stepping into the league as a first-round pick with expectations already sky-high.

Caleb opens up about making the transition from college football to the NFL, the pressure that comes with being a highly touted first-rounder, and what it means to now wear the Cowboys star. He talks about going against elite teammates like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens every day at practice, learning what separates NFL players, and the intensity of competing against the best in the world. He opens up on his immediate bond with Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker and what he sees in his new coach that can take the defense to the next level.

The conversation also goes back to his championship-winning college career, his time playing for Nick Saban, and the lessons he took from one of football's greatest coaches. Caleb reflects on playing alongside stars like Jeremiah Smith, the competitive mindset that helped him win at the college level, and how those experiences prepared him for Sundays in the NFL. He shares how the upsets and losses are just as important as the wins in maintaining a championship mindset. Caleb tells the guys that since he was young, he's studied some of the greatest athletes from Kobe Bryant to Tom Brady to Michael Jordan not because of their skill set but because of their habits and uses his findings in his everyday life.

Caleb also gets personal about family, the pride of following those who came before him, and what it means to have a brother already playing in the NFL while continuing a football legacy of his own.

From winning in college to earning his place in Dallas, Caleb Downs gives The Pivot an inside look at the mindset, expectations and family foundation behind one of football's rising young stars.
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As our NFL Training Camp tour continues, we stop in H Town to sit with a big part of the league's top tier defense with one of the leaders, Linebacker, Azeez Al-Shaair, who sits with us for an honest conversation about the journey that shaped him—his upbringing, family, faith, and the adversity he had to overcome to reach the NFL and stay in the league.

Azeez opens up about his path to football, the obstacles he faced along the way, being one of eight children raised by a single mother, and the mindset that helped him turn challenges into motivation. He gets candid about his NFL career, his identity and religion, the intensity of playing defense, and the moments that tested him both on and off the field.

The conversation also dives into the controversial hit on Trevor Lawrence, the aftermath and lessons that came from it...he doesn't hold back on the realization of how he quickly became judged by the world for that one moment and how it affected him mentally and on the field. With head coach DeMeco Ryans being one of his early supporters from their time in San Francisco, he shares how Coach was one of the people who helped him through his darkest time and bring him full circle picking him as one of the leaders on the Texans defense, demonstrating what it takes to play with emotion while maintaining discipline and perspective.

This is a conversation about more than football—it’s about faith, resilience, identity, adversity, and the relentless pursuit of becoming the person you’re meant to be.
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