Rob Konrad, the last member of the Syracuse Orange football program to don the university’s legendary jersey number 44, enjoyed a standout career that positioned the fullback to be selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Konrad hit the ground running, catching a touchdown pass from Dan Marino in his very first professional game, and went on to play six seasons in Miami, starting 57 games, and blocking for Ricky Williams during his dominant 2002-03 run. Since hanging up his cleats, Konrad has enjoyed a successful career in the finance industry, however a 2015 boating mishap left him fighting for his life in the Atlantic Ocean in an extraordinary act of survival that he has not spoken about publicly in years.
Joining OJ and Seth in The Fish Tank, Rob discusses his hometown of Danvers, Massachusetts and its connection to the Salem witch trials (3:56) and fondly reflects upon his relationship with Syracuse’s storied 44, as well as his bond with the legends, like Jim Brown, who wore the number before him (6:14). Rob looks back at his 1999 draft class for which he was one of three ball carriers selected (14:40), reveals how nervous he was starting his first NFL game on Monday Night Football at Mile High Stadium against the Denver Broncos (23:10), and shares how Ricky Williams’ arrival in South Florida resulted in him becoming a better football player (27:43). Konrad goes on to explain how the diminishing role of the NFL fullback coupled with the sacrifices required by the position compelled him to take significant steps towards his post playing career (32:50), and then provides a detailed account of the 16-hour, death-defying swim for his life (41:28), before wrapping up the episode with The Fish Tank Two-Minute Drill (1:05:10). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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