8/12/25: Tom Brady Goes Deep on His Football Journey, Trinity Rodman's Path to the NWSL, Mini Mics with NFL Teams

👏 Tom Brady Goes Deep on his Football Journey, Youth Sports, Competitiveness, Fox, More

Greg Olsen Sits Down for Exclusive Interview With Tom Brady

A lot has been written about the relationship between Greg Olsen and Tom Brady, especially after Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox. But despite speculation of a rivalry or animosity between the two former NFL stars, there is none. The former players-turned-broadcasters have a lot of mutual respect for one another, a strong friendship and a shared love of competition and youth sports.

Brady recently sat down with Olsen to kick off the new season of the Youth Inc. Podcast, talking about everything from Brady’s journey from freshman football (he was the backup) to seven-time Super Bowl champion, to a shared love of competition, to, yes, their thoughts about the narrative surrounding their relationship and what happened at Fox.

Brady’s story is one of determination, hard work and perseverance. He never was the most talented player, but he willed himself into the greatest quarterback of all-time. 

“I was the fourth quarterback on the depth chart when I started at the Patriots,” Brady said. “When I did get a chance to play as I starter, I really valued where I was at because it was hard for me. Every step along the way was a challenge to get from one year to the next.

“I always said, ‘Well, if they put you on the field, Tommy, they’re never going to take you off.’

Check out the full episode on our YouTube page and do us a solid and subscribe. 

💡Trinity Rodman, Teammates are a Reminder to Parents that the Journey Isn’t a Straight Line 

Success is not a Straight Line

A year ago, Trinity Rodman, Malloy Swanson and Sophia Wilson were on top of the world. They didn’t just win Olympic gold for the U.S. in 2024, they owned the tournament, scoring 10 of the team’s 12 goals and igniting a wave of hope that U.S. women’s soccer was back with a vengeance. Fast forward 12 months and only one of them is still playing – barely.

Swanson and Wilson are both out of action, expecting their first children. And Rodman, just played her first game in four months and has said that her back may never feel 100%. This injury isn’t something she’s healed from. It’s something she’s learning to manage and she hadn’t played since April. In just one year, the fiercest front line in the world was pulled apart—not by an opponent, but by life. Injury. Pregnancy. The body saying “not right now.” The mental toll of being great, young, and human all at once.

It’s something youth sports parents and young athletes need to understand—not just in theory, but deep in their bones. Because we still think of sports as a ladder. You climb. You move up. You hit milestones. You progress. But the truth is, it’s not a straight line. It’s not even a path. It’s a living, breathing, unpredictable thing. And it doesn’t come with guarantees.

🤣 Mini Mics with NFL Teams

An NFL Preseason Tradition Returns

NFL Preseason is here and so are the beloved mini mics! Once again, social media teams across the league are leaning into this viral trend, catching fans’ attention with hilarious and candid Q&As during practice. Equipped with tiny microphones and fun questions, these teams are giving us a glimpse into their players’ personalities off the field.

Youth Inc. senior digital editor Ellie Kriebel compiled some standout moments from around the league. 

YOUTH INC. RECOMMENDS

Letter from the Editor: Welcome to Youth Inc., a Comprehensive Platform Dedicated to Youth Sports

B.J. Schecter

Jen Pawol’s Historic Climb to the Majors

Ellie Kriebel

My 13-year-old Chose Not to Play School Soccer–and her Reason Surprised Me

 Leah Jantzen

WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER

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Consecutive shutout innings Johnstown (PA) pitcher Reagan Bills threw to lead her team to the Little League Softball World Series title.

"The great teammate is the guy that, when you’re not doing well, and you’re struggling, and things aren’t going great, you’re able to see the bigger picture. You put others first.” 

 - Jeff Francoeur in an interview with The Athletic