Former Denver Broncos Captain and All-Pro Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg rose from being a college walk-on and a 12th-round draft pick to a pro career that included six Pro Bowl and three Super Bowl appearances. Considered the NFL’s most versatile player, Karl played all seven defensive front positions. Bronco coaches wanted him at the point of attack and would move him throughout the game. There were many games where Mecklenburg played all seven positions in the course of a single game.
In 2001, Karl was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Karl is a member of the National Speakers Association. He enjoys speaking to various groups, and his story is humorous and inspirational. The lessons life in the NFL taught him about teamwork, courage, dedication, desire, honesty and forgiveness, and goal setting are his “Six Keys to Success.”
As a highly regarded speaker, Karl tailors his presentations to the group’s needs while teaching and inspiring his audience. His legendary NFL career draws many attendees to events, and the content and delivery of his presentation send his audience home with a renewed commitment to their goals.
Since retiring from pro football in 1995, Karl has divided his time between motivational speaking and his ongoing charity commitments. Karl and his wife Kathi have three children. The Mecklenburgs still live in Littleton, Colorado. Mecklenburg has used his special brand of motivation as an assistant football coach at Kent Denver High School. He has hosted a radio program, done television sideline reporting and studio work, and written columns for the Denver Post. In addition, Karl has had numerous magazine articles published. In 1987, he coauthored Meck For The Defense, published by McGraw-Hill.
Karl’s latest book, Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families, has been awarded the Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient and the 2010 Mensa Sharp Writ Book Awards: Best Book for Young Adults. For more information about this book, click on the tab “Karl’s Book” above, or go to www.studentathlete.us
The Mecklenburgs have had a strong commitment to many Colorado charities through the years, which they continue to uphold. Karl and Kathi formed the Karl Mecklenburg REACH Foundation in 2006 to further impact the youth of Colorado. REACH stands for rewarding experiences for all children. The REACH for a Book program incentivizes Denver Public Schools elementary school students to read. National statistics show that 90% of high school dropouts can’t read. DPS has a graduation rate of 49%. We will change these numbers by challenging elementary school students and rewarding them for reading 100 minutes a week.
These lessons were learned in the crucible of NFL competition and apply to any team or individual looking to accomplish their mission. Teamwork – with leadership being the ultimate expression of teamwork; Courage – the courage to try new things and the courage to be decisive; Dedication – hard work, constant learning, and refusing to quit; Desire the dream, the passion, the mission; Honesty & Forgiveness – with yourself in self-evaluation and with others; and Goalsetting – the reasonable short term specific steps to success. Universal and unchanging, these key lessons will inspire and motivate your team to accomplish their goals.
We can all recognize teamwork or the lack of teamwork in a sports competition. How do less talented teams beat a roster full of superstars? Teams with leaders throughout the organization win. Karl teaches leaders to utilize the C’s of leadership. Clarity and Consistency of the following three team focuses: Cornerstones – the team’s purpose, Commitment – to the team’s mission, and Connection – with the individuals on the team. Great teams use the strengths of the individual to help the team win, and the strengths of the team to cover for the weaknesses of the individual. Story based and full of humor, Karl’s presentation brings a team together in times of change, and fights complacency in times of success.
Mecklenburg’s life is a testimony to this truth. Karl’s journey through junior varsity football, losing a partial scholarship at his first college, walking on at the University of Minnesota, and coming to the Broncos as the 310th pick of the draft were all obstacles. He achieved his dream by becoming the most versatile player in the NFL and a team captain. Karl’s twelve year NFL career included six Pro Bowl and three Super Bowl appearances. Story-based and full of humor this motivational presentation will inspire and motivate your team to peak performance.
Playing linebacker in the NFL is not a safe job, but it is a job that requires passion and commitment to preparation. Karl’s presentation drives home the value of daily preparation that breeds decisiveness in the split second safety decisions that your people need to make. Safety is a team mindset, a team passion, in much the same way that winning is. NFL players are constantly coached and corrected. When mistakes are made, they need to be amended quickly or the team will lose. If sloppy safety behavior is left uncorrected on your field, injury, death and/or litigation can be the result. Appropriate leadership and oversight are required for teams to make and maintain changes in safety procedures. Karl’s presentation covers the value of coaching and oversight in becoming the best and safest your team can be. Story-based and humorous, Karl’s speech will help your team take a big step forward and reinforce your commitment to safety.
A culture of honesty allows your team to adjust to change, to retain customers and employees, and to deal with failures and successes. Karl’s 10 minute story based TED talk is entertaining and thought-provoking.
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