From NFL Center to Syracuse Project Leader: Mackie McPherson on Identity, Mental Health, and Reinvention On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mackie McPherson, a Syracuse native who played center at CBA and for the Syracuse Orange, served as team captain, and briefly played for the Buffalo Bills. Mackie describes the immense day-to-day NFL pressure and mental health toll, explains the center’s role and on-field communication, and connects sports leadership to teamwork in improv and D&D. He recounts the difficult identity transition after being cut, coaching college football for seven years, and an especially brutal start to 2020 that left him unemployed during COVID, which became a transformative “ego death.” Mackie explains how networking led to a Syracuse University role, progressing to associate director of facility services overseeing multiple departments, and credits his wife, a mental health therapist and former theater stage manager, plus therapy, with helping him build a happier life as he expects a baby boy around Christmas. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:11 Meet Mackie McPherson 00:39 Football Journey Highlights 01:34 NFL Pressure And Mental Health 03:13 What A Center Does 04:03 Reading Defenses In Real Time 06:12 Beyond Football Nerd Culture 06:53 Training Mindset In Improv 08:44 Leadership Lessons From Center 10:55 D&D Improv And Reinvention 12:30 Baby On The Way 13:17 Life After The NFL Transition 15:22 Coaching Years And COVID Reset 17:40 Finding A Career At Syracuse 19:17 Project Management At SU 21:12 Facility Services Leadership 22:47 Therapy And Wife’s Influence 26:17 Redefining Success And Advice 28:50 Beyond Grind Culture 30:12 Reinvest In What Lights You Up 30:33 DND Show And Priorities 31:16 Community Shoutouts And Thanks 32:00 Facing Stage Fear 32:54 Wonderful Wednesdays Origin 34:08 From Football To Spotlight 38:02 Improv Curriculum And Adrenaline 40:09 Humiliation Rituals Build Trust 43:11 Wrap Up And Where To Find