#151 - James Develin: Never Give Up - Undrafted to 3x Super Bowl Champion

Built Not Born

From Undrafted to 3x Super Bowl Champion: James Develin - Never Give Up

Episode Description

Former New England Patriots fullback James Develin shares his remarkable journey from being an undrafted defensive lineman out of Brown University to winning three Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady under Bill Belichick. In this deeply personal conversation, James reveals what it takes to succeed at the highest level of professional football and the valuable life lessons he learned from two NFL legends.

Episode Highlights

Early Years & College Journey

• Growing up in southeastern Pennsylvania
• Playing football at Boyertown High School
• Decision to attend Brown University
• Balancing mechanical engineering studies with football
• Transition from defensive line to fullback

Professional Football Journey

• Going undrafted in the NFL
• Playing arena football for Oklahoma City Yard Dogs
• Time with the UFL's Florida Tuskers
• Practice squad experience with Cincinnati Bengals
• Breaking through with the New England Patriots

Patriots Dynasty Years

• Learning from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
• Super Bowl XLIX victory (Patriots vs. Seahawks)
• Historic Super Bowl LI comeback (28-3 vs. Falcons)
• Super Bowl LII against hometown Philadelphia Eagles
• Playing alongside NFL legends (T.O., Chad Ochocinco)

Key Lessons from NFL Legends

Tom Brady's Influence:

• Consistency in preparation
• Putting team before self
• Importance of treating everyone with respect
• Professional longevity through self-care

Bill Belichick's Leadership:

• Attention to detail
• Understanding history
• Strategic preparation
• Identifying key priorities

Life After Football

• Transitioning from NFL to entrepreneurship
• Founding Solberry (smoothie and açai bowl business)
• Locations in Brigantine and Ocean City, NJ
• Balancing business with family life

Notable Quotes

"Nothing beats hard work. I found my niche in the NFL doing the jobs that nobody else wanted to do." - Jimmy Develin

Bill Belichick on Develin's retirement:

"James Develin may be unsung in terms of publicity and fame, but to his coaches and teammates, he is one of the most appreciated and respected players we ever had."

Key Takeaways

1. Consistency and hard work trump natural talent
2. Being comfortable with discomfort leads to growth
3. Family should always come first
4. Never quit on your dreams
5. Details matter in both sports and business

About Jimmy Develin

• 3x Super Bowl Champion
• 8 seasons with New England Patriots (2012-2019)
• Brown University graduate (Mechanical Engineering)
• Current entrepreneur and owner of Solberry

Connect with Jimmy Develin:

• IG: @JDevelin
• Visit Solberry in Brigantine and Ocean City, NJ

Keywords and Tags

#NFLJourney #Patriots #SuperBowl #TomBrady #BillBelichick #NeverGiveUp #FootballLife #NFL #EntrepreneurLife #PatriotsDynasty #SuperBowlChampion #NFLSuccess #FootballStory #BusinessSuccess #BuiltNotBorn #JoeCiccarone #jamesdevelin #jimmydevelin #podcast #philly #Eagles

Listen to full episode for more insights on leadership, perseverance, and success both on and off the field.