NFL Legend Shawn Wooden Brings His Competitive Drive to Finance Industry

Shawn Wooden may have retired from football, but that doesn't mean he's lost his competitive edge. 

A former defensive back for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, Wooden is now a partner at a South Florida financial services firm that manages nearly a billion dollars in wealth management and employer-sponsored retirement plan assets. 

Wooden told High School Football America’s Jeff Fisher in a recent interview that he is still as competitive as he was during his playing days.

"We have about 30 people on the staff and I consider them all my teammates," said Wooden. "We’re in this to win it. We’re in it to do the best for our clients. To me, I want to be the best at what I do."

Wooden graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a computer science degree. He spent eight of his nine NFL seasons in South Florida, and over his career accumulated over 300 tackles, five interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

After retiring in 2005, Wooden challenged himself to learn the ins-and-outs of the financial services industry. He says his football background has helped him tremendously in the world of finance.

In the interview below, Wooden discusses his career, from his days as an All-State running back at Abington High School in suburban Philadelphia to his charitable side with the Miami Dolphins Foundation.

Photo: AP/Allen Kee