Only .08% Make the NFL… Here’s What Happens After - ft. Chris Odom

Former NFL defensive end Chris Odom has lived a life that only 0.08% of high school football players ever reach... making it to the National Football League. His story goes far deeper than football. In this episode of The Shellda Podcast, Chris opens up about life beyond the field: the reality of playing in the NFL, the mental battle of tearing his ACL, and how he rebuilt his career across multiple professional leagues. We also dive into the most important part of Chris’s life — being a father. His daughter Cassidy was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and has experienced over 100 bone fractures in her young life. Chris shares how becoming her father changed his mindset forever and gave him a deeper purpose both on and off the field. We also talk about Chris’s unexpected love for paintball, how the sport brought him back during COVID, and what it means to see professional paintball played inside an NFL stadium. This episode is about identity, resilience, family, and what it really means to use your platform for something bigger than sports. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:52 Only 0.08% Make The NFL 02:02 Why Football Isn’t His Entire Identity 03:01 The Reality Behind Being an NFL Player 04:07 Becoming an Advocate for His Daughter’s Condition 06:06 Speaking to Doctors and OI Families 10:53 The ACL Injury That Changed Everything 12:32 The Mental Battle of a 13-Month Rehab 16:01 Growing Up With an NFL Father 18:02 Life After The NFL and Playing in Other Leagues 23:17 How Chris Fell In Love With Paintball 26:23 Building a Paintball Team With Friends 30:12 What Paintball Pros Do Differently 35:34 What Football Taught Him About Paintball 37:27 What Paintball Taught Him About Football 40:03 The Mindset of Elite Athletes 40:34 Paintball Playing Inside an NFL Stadium 43:27 The Viral Airplane Legroom Story 47:43 Balancing Family, Football, and Life 52:42 His Daughter’s Battle With Brittle Bone Disease 56:10 How His Daughter Changed His Mentality 57:21 What He Wants For Her Future 1:03:32 What Chris Odom Wants To Be Known For Sponsor Info: ----- Join this channel to get access to perks and see the podcast early:    / @shellda   Join Shellda's exclusive discord and see the podcast early:   / membership   Shop BFPGear here: https://www.blackfridaypaintball.com Want 10% off on ProDNA gear? https://infamouspaintball.com/SHELLDA... Grab Shellda's Book here: https://a.co/d/bG1hU8e Brands: Reach out to Dan at [email protected] to discuss brand deals and integrations. #podcast #why #vulnerability #nflplayer osteogenesisimperfecta