Merril Hoge

Inspirational Speaker | #FindAWay | Former @NFL Athlete & @ESPN Analyst | Author | Cancer Survivor | Most important title: Dad

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

17 years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. On that day, chemo and dying consumed me, but I quickly found hope in those who had survived, and I continue to fight for those who did not!

Feb 14th has helped me embrace life every day, not just the good days. #FindAWay every day!

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day yesterday, I wanted to share a piece of my story.

When my doctor called, he told me I had a tumor the size of a football.

After 22 years of football, injuries, and setbacks, I was used to hearing solutions. There was always a plan.

But this time was different.

For the first time in my life, I heard the words: "I can't guarantee this is going to work."

That moment taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: sometimes life takes the playbook away. There are no guarantees, no clear answers, and no certainty about what's ahead.

In those moments, you don't rely on certainty—you rely on belief. Belief in yourself, belief in the people around you, and belief that somehow, some way, you'll Find A Way.

I'm grateful to be here today and forever thankful for the doctors, researchers, caregivers, family, and friends who make survivorship possible.

To anyone facing a battle of their own: keep fighting. Your story isn't finished yet.

#NationalCancerSurvivorsDay #FindAWay #CancerSurvivor #Resilience #Hope

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Throwback with two legends—Ben Roethlisberger and Jim Kelly.

Both accomplished in their own incredible way, but even better people and great friends.

One of the greatest gifts the game gave us was the relationships.

We’ve all learned so much through football, adversity, leadership, and life, and what’s special is that we continue learning from each other even today.

That’s what real growth is about. Great people, great conversations, and lessons that never stop.

#findawayeveryday #friendship #lifelessons

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

The wiser I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how much I still have to learn.

Real growth begins the moment you stop acting like you have all the answers.

The strongest leaders stay curious, stay humble, and continue learning from everyone around them.

That mindset is what keeps you evolving.

#findawayeveryday #humility #wiser

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Whether I’m speaking to executives, sales teams, entrepreneurs, or emerging leaders, my goal is always the same:

To challenge people to think bigger about what’s possible for themselves, their teams, and their future. 💡

If people leave talking about me, I didn’t do my job.

If they leave thinking differently about what they’re capable of, then the message landed.

That’s what Find A Way is all about.

#findawayeveryday #biggerpicture #challengeyourself

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Pain is inevitable. At some point in life, you’re going to experience disappointment, loss, adversity, or have someone do something that hurts you.

That part is unavoidable.

What is optional is the suffering.

When we dwell on the pain, replay it, and allow it to define us, we stay stuck in it. But when we take ownership of our response, learn from it, and move forward, we take back control.

The strongest people I know aren't the ones who have avoided pain—they're the ones who refused to live there.

You can't always control what happens to you, but you can control what happens next.

Find A Way.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

I’ve always believed in trying things you know nothing about, and that mindset led me to one of the coolest sports experiences I’ve ever had.

Thanks to my friend Jason Ritchey, I had the opportunity to attend the Indy 500. I’ve never been a huge racing fan, but wow…what an event.

Over 350,000 people, unbelievable energy, incredible history, the sound of the cars, the intensity of pit row...it was nonstop entertainment from start to finish.

The pageantry and tradition behind it all was something I’ll never forget.

You could feel the passion and professionalism behind every detail.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is realizing that a powerful message connects across every industry.

From beauty brands to construction companies, insurance firms to tech organizations, the common thread is always the same:

People want leadership that feels human.
People want inspiration that feels real.
People want to believe more is possible.

No matter the industry, growth, resilience, and purpose will always matter. 🙏

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

In 1989, I walked into the WDVE studios for the very first time as a guest while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What’s incredible is that all these years later—through my time in Chicago, 21 years at ESPN, and still today, I’ve remained part of the DVE family. In fact, I’m honored to be the longest-running guest in DVE history.

That’s something I’ll never take for granted.

So getting the opportunity to come back and share Find A Way with what I truly believe is one of the best sales teams in the business made the experience even more special.

That room was filled with tough, talented, driven people who take pride in their craft and push every day to be the best at what they do.

To be able to share ideas, tools, and perspective that can hopefully help them on their journey was incredibly rewarding. 🙌

#findawayeveryday #DVE #sportsmemories #PittsburghSteelers

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

What an honor it was spending time with the team at Cedar One Group. 🙌

From the moment I walked in, you could feel the energy, the positivity, and the culture they’ve built. It was a fun, engaged audience and an even better group of people.

I’m always grateful for the opportunity to share the Find A Way message, but what makes experiences like this special is the people and conversations along the way.

Thank you to the entire Cedar One Group team for the hospitality, the laughs, and such a memorable experience.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Today we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend—it’s a reminder that freedom is never free.
This flashback from my time spent with our troops brought back a lot of gratitude and perspective.

Being around the men and women who serve this country always leaves an impact on you. Their sacrifice, commitment, and selflessness are something we should never take for granted.

To all who served, and especially to those who gave everything for this country, thank you. Your courage and legacy will never be forgotten. 🇺🇸

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

I was fortunate enough to head back to the Jerome Bettis Blue & Gold Classic and play Sebonack Golf Club again—and wow, what an incredible few days.

This event always brings unbelievable energy.

From reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, sharing laughs, and competing on such a special course, it’s truly one of those events you look forward to all year long.

And beyond all the fun, what makes it even more special is the impact.

Already looking forward to the next one.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

I’ve been fortunate to do this for a long time and meet people from all walks of life, hear incredible stories, and share moments I never could’ve imagined.

But what never gets old is realizing how genuine and impactful people truly are.

Hearing your memories from my time in the NFL, the moments or experiences that stayed with you, and the ways our stories somehow connect...it means more to me than you know.

Had such a blast meeting these two.

Thank you for the laughs, the conversation, and for making me smile.

And I’ll never forget how cool those shirts were.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

The people who change their lives aren’t the luckiest.

They’re the ones willing to fight for it.

That’s what Find A Way means to me.

Ownership. Accountability. Action.

And refusing to let adversity make your decisions for you.

#findawayeveryday #accountability #fightforit

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

When improper concussion care forced me into early retirement from the NFL in 1994, research on football-related head injuries was still in its early stages—far from the focus it is today.

At the time, the game was shaped by a “tough it out” culture, and little was understood about the long-term effects of concussions.

Sharing my story through Brainwashed has been an honor and a responsibility. Traveling and speaking about my experience has allowed me to help bring awareness to something that was too often overlooked for too long.

It’s important that people understand what was missed, what we’ve learned, and why continued education and awareness around brain injuries in sport matters now more than ever.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

You know what winners do?

They look in the mirror.

They self-evaluate.

They make corrections.

They create a plan—then they take action.

Winners don’t waste time making excuses.

They find solutions.

That’s how growth happens.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Throwing it back because apparently I’ve been feeling country lately 🤠

Must be something about getting older and appreciating the simple things. 🛻

#findaway #backtoyourroots #yeehaw #countrylife

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

What a special day spent with the team at AVYXA Pharma.

Their mission of redefining the value of care is truly making an impact...helping patients in rural communities gain access to quality care closer to home, while also supporting physicians as they guide patients through some of life’s most challenging moments after a cancer diagnosis.

Being around people so committed to improving lives was incredibly inspiring.

A sincere thank you to everyone at AVYXA Pharma for the opportunity and hospitality. Special thanks to Kerry Bradley and Raju Mantena as well.

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

You’ll hear it all—“it can’t be done,” “it’s too hard,” “it’s impossible.”

But understand this: those words reflect their limitations, not yours.

Your path is yours to define.

Your effort, your mindset, your belief…that’s what determines what’s possible.

Don’t inherit limits. Create your own standard.

#findawayeveryday

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

At this point in my life, my work has become deeply rooted in giving back.

Whether it’s sharing my football story and the lessons it taught me, opening up about battling cancer, speaking on the impact of improper care that ultimately ended my NFL career, or focusing on brain injury awareness and research...my purpose has remained the same: to use my experiences to help others.

A big part of that comes from my experiences and relationships throughout my time in the NFL...people, moments, and lessons that shaped not just my career, but my perspective on life.

Through my “Find a Way” message, I’ve been fortunate to connect with people in meaningful ways and remind them that adversity can still lead to growth, awareness, and change.

There is so much good still to be done in this world.

If sharing my experience helps even one person see things differently, make a better decision, or feel a little less alone in their struggle, then it was all worth it.

#findawayeveryday

[Merril Hoge @merrilhoge]

Reward yourself for trying—and then try again.

Progress isn’t built on perfection.

It’s built on the courage to start, the discipline to keep going, and the resilience to show up again after it doesn’t go your way.

Celebrate the effort. Learn from the outcome. Repeat.

That’s how momentum is created.

Keep going. 👊

#findawayeveryday #selfworth #determination