He was the best speaker we've had in recent years!
Merril played in the NFL for 8 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, he was also a football analyst for Espn for 21 years
Hoge is an inspirational speaker, who speaks all over the country, impacting people and companies to grow through self-reflection and taking action to Find Their Way.
He is also on the board of the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research and a member of the NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee
In 2018, Hoge helped launch Your Call Football and is the author of Find a Way: Three Words That Changed My Life and Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football.
Hoge continues to find new ways to make a positive impact with his mind, heart, and energy. Whether that be through his educational work, advocacy, or motivational engagements, he is a force for positive change and inspiration.
He lives in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
Success is something we all strive for. It's about achieving our goals, overcoming obstacles, and rising above the competition. Yet, so often, we see people pointing fingers, casting blame, and making excuses for their circumstances.
At some point, we need to challenge ourselves and others to do their part.
When we do, success becomes more than just empty words; it becomes the standard we hold ourselves to.
Throughout my NFL career, my time at ESPN, my current platform in speaking and in the head and health space, Ive learned invaluable lessons about success. But I've also learned about it in the most unexpected places - laying in an intensive care unit, battling cancer while sitting in a chemotherapy chair, and even going through the depths of depression while learning how to read again. These experiences have taught me resilience, perseverance, and the true meaning of success.
I use these hard-earned lessons to help companies and individuals challenge themselves. I encourage them to dig deep and use personal integrity to self-reflect. It's about asking the tough questions - "Are you doing your part? Is there more you could be doing." This self-check is a powerful tool that pushes us to tap into our innate abilities and reach our fullest potential.
When individuals take ownership of their part and become accountable, they empower themselves. They become more productive, more efficient, and find a sense of peace in their journey towards success. les abut narriessing our God-given talents and pushing beyond what we thought possible.
So, let's challenge ourselves and others to rise above excuses and embrace personal integrity. By doing so, we can unleash our true potential, achieve greater success, and create a more peaceful and productive world.
When Merril Hoge talked about his dream of playing in the NFL, he was constantly told it was impossible and he'd never beat the odds, but he refused to be discouraged. As a twelve-year-old, inspired to overcome the challenges ahead, he wrote, 'Find a Way' and put it on the wall as a constant reminder of his goals. This mantra would become a life-long philosophy that helped him cope with the near loss of his hand as a you boy, the untimely death of his mother, being diagnosed with and defeating cancer, and ultimately achieve his dream of playing in the NFL.
In this Second Edition of Find a Way, Hoge candidly discusses the obstacles he has faced and how he has consistently found a way to move forward. This updated edition includes three new chapters with information on where Hoge is now, and how he continues to 'Find a Way' a decade after the original release.
The outcry surrounding CTE is missing something critical: the science to justify it.
When improper concussion care forced star NFL running back Merril Hoge into early retirement in 1994, research on football-related head injuries wasn't a priority. At the time, football was heavily influenced by a tough guy culture, and little was known about concussions and their potentially dangerous effects.
Then the tragic death of Hoge's ex-teammate Mike Webster in 2002 launched a wave of fear after an autopsy determined he suffered from an obscure brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The media pounced. Concern over player safety soon became a war on football at every level, with one scientist even declaring youth football "child abuse."
In an effort to set the record straight, Hoge and board-certified forensic neuropathologist Dr. Peter Cummings explore the hidden agendas and misinformation fueling the CTE hysteria machine. Armed with extensive research, critical insight, and expert interviews, they address some of the common myths surrounding the disease, examining significant flaws in the often-cited studies and exposing the sensationalistic reporting that dominates today's CTE dialogue.
Compelling, accessible, and ultimately revelatory, Brainwashed exposes the biases and unsubstantiated claims crippling true scientific advancement in the area of CTE research. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of youth sports and the survival of our nation's most beloved game.