JJ Birden

JJ Birden spent his life proving that size does not determine success.

Too small for a major Division I football scholarship, Birden walked on at the University of Oregon, earned a starting role, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1988. What followed was a nine-year NFL career — the longest on record for any player weighing under 160 pounds in the last 35+ years. He played for the Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, and other organizations, competing every season against defenders who had every physical advantage over him.

What he lacked in size, he made up for in preparation, precision, and an ability to find the opening when none seemed to exist.

After football, Birden took those same principles into the business world — building a career as a keynote speaker, performance coach, and leadership consultant. He now works with Fortune 500 companies, sales organizations, and executive teams, helping high performers identify the "coverage" in their professional lives and build the mindset and systems to beat it. His clients include organizations across the pharmaceutical, technology, and financial services industries.

He lives in the Pacific Northwest and speaks nationally through his Beat the Coverage keynote and leadership programs.