Interview with NFL Player Kyler McMichael

 

I recently had the opportunity of messaging recent NFL cornerback Kyler McMichael a few questions after connecting with him on LinkedIn and getting his permission to post the q&a.

My first question was, "I know you play CB, but what does getting tackled by an NFL player feel like in practices?"

His reply, "Getting tackled in the league and just hitting in general is a whole different beast from the collegiate level and obviously highschool level. Everything’s amplified in the sense of speed out of every player on the field and size. Everyone has their “intro the league” hit at some point and it’s definitely one you remember."

Later I asked him how hard it felt getting tackled and if he dealt with any trash talk or abrasive teammates. He said, "Yes it definitely isn’t pleasant haha. And tehres (there's) definitely a lot of trash talking both in a funny/joking manner and then obviously serious manner as well."

My next question: "Who inspired you the most while you were growing up and did that change?" 

His answer: "The person who inspired me throughout my career was always my dad. He’s always been very involved in my career and without him I’d never be where I was at. He kept my head straight and prepared me for each level to be successful."

My third question was, "How did you feel on Mondays compared to game day when you were in the NFL preseason?"

His reply was, "...the further you get into thr season starting from OTA’s to camp to preseaosn (preseason) and eventually the season, you notice the facility as a whole get more and more serious with obviously more on the line as each week progressed. At the end of the day it’s a business that’s driven by performance. Everyone has to be performing at a high level and it requires ultra focus with everything."

I asked, "How was your experience around teammates and opponents? (Like their personalities and team dynamic)."

This is what he told me:

"You meet all kinds of personalities within the lockeroom and it’s truly where I met a lot of my friends to this day. Some of the funniest and entertaining individuals I’ve been around."

Some conclusions I came to from my conversation with him was that he has a good sense of humor, is approachable, and has a history of good rapport with people. Next time you see an NFL player or any major sports league player, don't be intimidated to talk to that athlete!