Catching Up With Former Player Rep: Keith Sims

What inspired you to become a Player Representative?

When I first started in the league, I didn’t know how useful a Player Rep was. As I gained stature as a player on my team, things got crazy. When I first came to the NFL, there was no salary cap. So, when the salary cap came into existence, there were new things and information that needed to be disseminated to all players. At the time I ran, I didn’t feel like we had great representation I wanted to know everything that we had negotiated with the owners, know all our rights, benefits, everything. I took pride in getting that information and disseminating it to my teammates. 

What lessons and experiences did you take away from being a Player Rep?

I’ll give you an example to start with. When I went to my first rep meeting in Hawaii, I took copious notes, came back, and I literally had a 10-page notebook full of notes. I typed all of them up and put them in every single player's locker. It was surprising to me how many players never even opened it, never even looked for the information. I think that was probably the most shocking thing I experienced. Throughout the years and history of the NFLPA, players sacrificed, went on strike, sacrificed money, and some of them careers for that purpose. A lot of players take it for granted that all the players in the past have sacrificed to get us to where we were at that point. I don't know how it is now, but we're talking about the 90s. One of the greatest things that they did for us as new Player Reps was when they brought us to DC and they taught us about the past. They taught us about the strikes, they preached past, present, future, and we were standing on the shoulders of every player that came before us. I took that mantra to heart.

Why do you think more players should be involved or active with the NFLPA?

I think it's crucial, especially as a former player now dealing with the aches, pains, and challenges of life after football. Every player should understand that the rights they currently enjoy, like the ability to get a second medical opinion, which didn’t exist when I entered the league in 1990, are the result of hard-fought battles. Things like a salary cap, benefits, 401(k)s, and continued education weren’t always available. Players today benefit from the grit and fight of those who came before them. If more players understood that history, I believe they’d be more inclined to get involved. There's a lot to gain from being active with the NFLPA.

What is one piece of advice you would give to those transitioning out of the NFL?

Start thinking about life after football at the end of your second year in the league. You'll have far more years off the field than on it. Most of us don't get to choose how we leave the game, whether it's through injury or being released. I played 11 years and had just signed a new 3-year contract when I got hurt. I had a plan to play 15 years, but even with planning, I could have done better if I had planned earlier on. It's essential to take advantage of every opportunity the league offers while you're still playing. Being an NFL player gives you access that you won't have when you're not in the league. Use the access and relationships you have now, because they won’t be there forever. Leverage your status to set yourself up for success after football.

What are you doing now in your career?

Post-football life has been diverse for me. I left the game due to a major injury that caused a partial disability, so I couldn’t jump straight into the working world. I invested in a business and became a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee. We grew that to 15 stores and $15 million in revenue over a decade. After that, I did part-time broadcasting work for the Miami Dolphins on game days, which I enjoyed. Due to my injuries, full-time work isn’t really an option for me. I’ve always worked part-time for them.

Then I got remarried, and my wife and I have three boys together, along with my two older kids from a previous marriage. She was passionate about homeschooling, and we homeschooled our boys until about two years ago. To make traveling easier on me, we bought an RV and spent about seven years traveling the country, hitting every science museum from Miami to Maine. It became such a unique experience that we started a blog and social media presence called Soulful RV Family. We became influencers in the RV world, even getting sponsored by Camping World for the last 2.5 to 3 years.

About two years ago, my oldest son, KJ, who is 15 now, said he wanted to play football. I helped coach his 7th-grade team, and when it was time for high school, we found a new AI-focused high school near our home. Concerned about the coaching that he would get at this school, my wife and sister asked me, “Why don’t you coach?” So, I reached out via Twitter to the head coach, introduced myself, and offered to volunteer. He recognized me from my time with the Dolphins, and after a meeting where I explained my physical limitations, he welcomed me to the staff. I’m now entering my fourth year coaching high school football and my second as varsity offensive line coach. My son is now a junior and plays defensive end. It’s been a tremendous blessing to be part of his journey and to work under Coach Tony Lotte, who took over after our first coach left. My other two boys, Jason and Justin, are now at that school too, and my wife even works there as a media clerk in the library so she can be close to them. It’s been an incredible opportunity.

How have the lessons you learned playing football applied to your post-playing career?

One of the biggest takeaways from being a former professional athlete is the value of competitiveness, teamwork, and shared goals. In the real world, it's rare to find people willing to sacrifice for the team like we did in football. I miss that. As an offensive line coach, I get to instill that mindset in the next generation. These kids are different from how we grew up. Technology is everywhere. I love tech, but we were outside playing sports, making mistakes, learning through experience. COVID disrupted a lot of that for today's kids. Some have never played a sport or even worked out before. We try to teach them that greatness doesn’t happen overnight. A lot of them want immediate results but don’t understand the grind, the commitment, or the time it takes. And sometimes parents don’t either. Because of my background, the kids respect what I say. I always tell them, "Keep grinding." Without good grades, you won’t make it to the next level. It's about balance. Now entering my fourth year at this school, I’ll get to see our first football class become seniors. Watching their growth mentally, physically, and emotionally has been amazing. I'm honored to be part of it and to give back to the game that I love so much.

What does the NFLPA fraternity mean to you?

If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be brotherhood. It’s incredibly special to make it to the NFL. The NFLPA represents a fraternity of elite athletes who understand the grind, the sacrifice that former and current players make, and the history of the game. Not a lot of people get to experience that. Only those within this circle truly have what it takes to reach and play at this level. I’m proud to be an NFL alum, but I’m even more honored to be a former Player Rep and a member of the NFLPA. It's a true privilege to be part of that brotherhood.