“ Ben Johns would have been a great quarterback .
Two years ago , a friend introduced University of Florida Gator great , and Heisman Trophy winner , Danny Wuerffel to pickleball . He just recently won gold at the 5.0 level ( 35 +) in mixed doubles and bronze at men ’ s 5.0 ( 35 +). No lessons . He just started playing , and views the strategy to be a lot like chess . “ Every level has a new iteration — now there are levels 5.0 and beyond ,” he explains .
Not only did Wuerffel win the Heisman Trophy , he also won the Draddy Trophy ( now known as the Campbell Trophy ) for the nation ’ s top football scholar-athlete . Wuerffel , a former NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints , Green Bay Packers , Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins , says , “ Pickleball might be my favorite sport that I have ever played . There has never been a sport so easy and also challenging .” Wuerffel had missed the intensity of pro football , the challenge , and the competitive spirit he built his life around .
Recently , Pickle and Social , a Competitive Social Ventures ( CSV ) brand , announced Danny Wuerffel as its latest brand ambassador . “ Pickleball is a fantastic game that has all the elements of a great sport including competitiveness , strategy , teamwork and most importantly , community ,” says Wuerffel . “ My values align with CSV ’ s philanthropic arm , CSV Cares , and I look forward to making an impact through Pickle and Social .”
CSV Cares works to give back to the communities in which it operates through donations , sponsorships and programs such as Give Back Wednesdays , which allow value-aligned nonprofits to host an event at a CSV venue and receive 10 percent of the proceeds . CSV Cares accepts nonprofit organizations with a focus on public education , the military , health and wellness , sports , animals and disaster relief .
Wuerffel has been guided by his family , who taught him about life , and the people at the University of Florida who invested in him . His father is a Lutheran pastor . Both former NFL and Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and former Gators coach Steve Spurrier ’ s fathers were pastors as well . Wuerffel says , “ You would think they ’ d be out there recruiting more pastor ’ s kids .”
Left to right : Pickleball Coach to the Stars Matt Manasse , former NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints Drew Brees , pickleball pro Kyle Yates , and Danny Wuerffel .
“ Ben Johns would have been a great quarterback .
His faith drives him to excellence , and led him from pro football into a mission to help others . In 2005 , he formally joined Desire Street Ministries to help the people of New Orleans recover from the devastating hurricane . Subsequently , he established the Wuerffel Foundation to raise money to help at-risk youth . Both organizations have evolved and he remains part of their leadership teams today .
Wuerffel believes that participation in sports makes people better teammates and teaches how to deal with adversity .
He adds , “ Pickleball gives another platform , another opportunity to counteract the loneliness and depression present in today ’ s society . I cannot express how much pickleball has meant to me . My family taught me how to be an unassuming winner , to be gracious , and to win with class . Pickleball has exploded and is a gift to the world . It is an opportunity for connection and community .”
Wuerffel ’ s mother plays pickleball , as does his 19-yearold son as part of the University of Florida club team — and is “ very good ” according to Wuerffel .
Now the quarterback in him shows up ! Wuerffel begins strategizing about pickleball . He handles pressure by going back to his faith . He can hyper-focus . He wants to develop multiple plays that all look the same . “ Ben Johns would have been a great quarterback ,” he notes .
“ You can develop plays where both players set up for a middle dink and one hits it at the last minute . You can have set plays , shifters , formation changes , personnel changes , motions …” he continues , just as he arrives at the Atlanta Pickleball Center ready to play .
Danny Wuerffel turns 50 this year and moves into the Senior Pro category . He is one more example of a top athlete turning to professional pickleball . He may recite the Serenity Prayer off the court , but on the court it ’ s all about the pursuit of excellence . •
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Alice Tym , also a “ Gator Great ,” is in the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame for starting the women ’ s tennis team and playing # 1 for four years .
MARCH / APRIL 2024 | MAGAZINE 35