Facing the Blitz 2013
In football, if you are handling the ball, you can expect a blitz: a fast-paced, intense attack from the other team. Jeff Kemp, former NFL quarterback, draws parallels from the blitz in football, to the blitzes faced in life. He says to expect blitzes to come, so that when they come, you know how to plant your feet on something solid.
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Jeff Kemp
Jeff Kemp is a champion for strengthening relationships and teams. He’s dedicated to building benevolent men, fathering and marriages.
After graduating from Dartmouth College, Jeff joined the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent. He and his dad, the late Vice-Presidential candidate and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp, became the first of only six sets of NFL father-son quarterbacks. Growing up, Jeff was surrounded by football, politics and national leaders. In his 11 years in the NFL, Jeff quarterbacked for the Rams, Forty-Niners, Seahawks and Eagles. He earned his MBA in the off-seasons, coached his sons’ youth teams and campaigned for his dad’s presidential nomination.
Jeff’s football career was a rollercoaster, travelling from fourth string to first string, from the bench to the playoffs and from winning to getting traded. He’s beaten the blitz on Monday Night Football and been cut midseason as a starting QB. He worked intently to help his teams and teammates on and off the field. Those highs, lows and epic team experiences set the stage for a career of serving others, building teamwork and helping people overcome adversity.
Jeff loved being a football player but learned his identity was elsewhere. He left the NFL with his identity grounded in Christ. He then founded and led an organization in Seattle, Stronger Families, to improve the lives of children by strengthening marriages and families.
From 2012 to 2017, Jeff served as a Vice President and Catalyst for Helping Others at FamilyLife. He is a Fatherhood Ambassador for The Fatherhood CoMission.
Jeff sweet spot is casting vision… to groups like the Billy Graham Crusade, governor’s prayer breakfasts, as well as businesses and men’s conferences. He’s presented to over 1,300 audiences in faith, business and sports settings.
His mission with MenHuddle.com equips men in the Way of Jesus and teamwork of deep friendship. At JeffKempTeam he soul coaches CEOs and trains in LIFT Leadership to build teams. In 2015 he released Facing the Blitz- Three Strategies for Turning Trials into Triumphs.
Early in his NFL career, Jeff married Stacy. Their great joy is family - four married sons and six grandchildren. They enjoy mentoring young couples, playing tennis, skiing and speaking for FamilyLife Weekend to Remember marriage getaways.