Merril Hoge’s “Find a Way”: Fear Is Temporary But Regret Is Forever
Former NFL player and ESPN commentator Merril Hoge delivered an inspiring and memorable message about perseverance, resilience, and self-determination to open the Annual Meeting speaker series. The speech, titled Find a Way, echoed the philosophy that has guided Hoge through a lifetime of challenges—from making it to the NFL despite long odds to overcoming career-ending concussions, battling cancer, and enduring open-heart surgery.
“Find a way. Those three words changed my life,” Hoge told the audience. “They were supposed to help me achieve a dream, but they ended up helping me fight to live.”
Overcoming the Odds in the NFL
Hoge’s journey to the NFL was anything but easy. Growing up in Idaho, he dreamed of playing professional football despite being told the odds were stacked against him.
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A 10th-round draft pick out of Idaho State in 1987, Hoge defied expectations by becoming a key player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his second season, he led the team in rushing and receptions, proving that persistence and dedication could beat the odds.
But Hoge’s football career came to an abrupt end due to improper care following repeated concussions. After sustaining a serious head injury, he was mismanaged by team doctors, leading to memory loss, severe depression, and ultimately the loss of his NFL career at age 30.
“I had to learn how to read again,” Hoge
recalled. “I lost my sense of purpose. I was at
rock bottom, with no hope.”
Battling Cancer with a Champion’s Mentality
Just as he was rebuilding his life after football, Hoge faced another life-altering challenge: cancer. Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2003, he endured grueling chemotherapy treatments, but once again, he found a way to push through.
“The doctor told me, ‘I can’t guarantee this treatment is going to work,’” Hoge said. “I remember sitting there, hearing those words, feeling paralyzed by fear. But I decided right then—I wasn’t just going to survive, I was going to attack.”
Hoge approached chemotherapy like an NFL training camp. He kept a routine, stayed active, and hydrated obsessively—drinking two gallons of water a day to flush toxins from his body. His disciplined approach paid off; he completed treatment in just over seven months and was declared cancer-free.
“I didn’t know what I was up against until I walked into that treatment room for the first time,” Hoge said. “But I made the choice to take action. Action is what moves us forward.”
Advocating for Brain Health and Athletic Safety
Having experienced firsthand the conse- quences of improper concussion management, Hoge became a passionate advocate for brain health and sports safety. He co-authored
Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football, where he challenges misinformation about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its impact on athletes.
He currently sits on the board of the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research and continues to push for better player safety protocols. “It’s about protecting athletes, not scaring them away from the game,” Hoge explained. “Education, proper coaching, and improved equipment have made football safer than ever before.”
Lessons for Life and Business
Hoge’s message extends beyond sports. His Find a Way philosophy is a universal call to action, applicable to business, personal development, and overcoming life’s inevitable hardships. He emphasized two key traits that successful people share: integrity and self-evaluation.
“We will all be exposed for our integrity at some point,” Hoge stated. “It’s better to be exposed for having it than not having it.”
He also encouraged the audience to develop a habit of self-reflection. “Ask yourself—are you doing your part? Are you taking ownership of your journey? If not, then what do you need to change?”
The Power of the Mind
Throughout his speech, one of the most memorable in the history of WPA, Hoge reiterated that mindset is the most powerful tool we have. “Do you control your mind, or does your mind control you?” he asked the audience. “Fear is temporary, but regret is forever.”
As he concluded, Hoge left the audience with a challenge: to take control of their future, set clear goals, and commit to action. “Every day, when your feet hit the ground, remember—you’re in charge. You decide how you’re going to attack the day.”
Merril Hoge’s life is proof that the human spirit is capable of incredible resilience. From the NFL field to the chemotherapy chair, from the ESPN desk to the operating table, he has found a way—every single time. And through his words and example, he continues to inspire others to do the same.
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