From Gridiron to Silver Screen

Nnamdi Asomugha can’t help but light up when asked about the similarities between filmmaking and being an athlete.

The writer and director of The Knife, which premiered at the Tribeca film festival earlier this summer to impressive reviews, has just been asked about the similarities between filmmaking and being an athlete.

“It’s so deep. There are so many ways I can go with that question,” Asomugha tells the Guardian. “It really all depends on which career you’re talking about. Is it acting? Directing? Producing? They all have things that carry over from football. But they’re so different.”

Asomugha is uniquely placed to broach this topic. As an NFL cornerback, he thrived for the Oakland Raiders, who picked him in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft, before he went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers over his 11-year career. He was voted All-Pro on four occasions, played in the Pro Bowl three times, and is widely regarded as one of the best shutdown corners of the last 25 years.

Since the end of his football career, Asomugha has pivoted to Hollywood. But this isn’t the usual story of an athlete utilizing their immense strength in action roles – see Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, or Carl Weathers – or popping up in comedies to show their lighter side. Asomugha has appeared in, produced, and now written and directed hard-hitting, socially-conscious dramas about the lives of Black Americans.

He was an executive producer on Harriet and Nanny, an actor and producer on Crown Heights and Sylvie’s Love, and a producer on The Banker. The Knife marks Asomugha’s debut as a writer and director, and in just 82 minutes, he expertly crafts a story of family turmoil, police brutality, and racial bias.

Asomugha also stars in The Knife as Chris, the husband to Alex (Aja Naomi King) and father to Ryley (Aiden Gabrielle Price) and Kendra (Amari Alexis Price), whose lives are upended when a stranger suddenly appears in their house in the middle of the night. The family soon have to contend with the consequences of their choices, when Officer Padilla (Manny Jacinto) and Detective Carlsen (Melissa Leo) arrive on the scene and ask increasingly probing and intrusive questions over the incident.

Initially written by Mark Duplass, Asomugha was approached about acting in The Knife. Once he agreed to join the project, he was given free rein to change anything that wasn’t working for him about the script, to “take off with it” and make it his.

What gave Asomugha hope was that he had already made it in an unlikely profession. He’d also previously appeared in commercials as a football player, during which directors and actors would repeatedly tell him, “You’re really good at this.” So Asomugha gave himself six months to see if he actually enjoyed it.

Born in Louisiana to Nigerian parents, Asomugha moved to Los Angeles when he was three years old. He was then raised in Lawndale, on the edge of Inglewood and Hawthorne. Rather than growing up with a camera in his hand from a young age like a Steven Spielberg or JJ Abrams, Asomugha would “go outside and pretend” to be his favorite sports heroes. Mainly, Magic Johnson. “Sports was always the love of my life before anything else.”

But when Asomugha retired from the NFL, he wasn’t originally sure what his next career would be. He tried an internship at a private equity firm, he worked to get his salesperson and broker’s licenses, he even ventured into broadcasting briefly. “But nothing was moving me,” Asomugha says. “I remember someone asking me, ‘What is it that you like? What do you love?’ He immediately thought of movies. “It just got me on the track of, ‘Well, I can try acting.’ I knew it was crazy and against the odds.”

Asomugha initially struggled to land any roles because of his past as a football player. “I’d ask to audition for even the smallest role in something that was quality and I’d be turned away. I wouldn’t even get the audition. But I believed I could do it.” So he decided to create his own work and turned to producing to find roles that he wanted to inhabit. “That has since turned into I want to tell stories that aren’t out there.”

Taking the initiative is exactly how Asomugha became the director of The Knife, too.

At first his manager suggested that he direct the film. Then his producing partner. “I just kept hearing it. So when it came up in conversation, it just felt like if I didn’t direct it wasn’t going to get made.” Unlike most filmmakers, Asomugha had never dreamed or desired to step behind the camera. But he knew that by stepping up, they could make the film for a certain amount of money and move forward rather than waiting for a studio or production company’s approval.

As someone who has produced several movies, he also felt well-placed to direct. “I had an understanding of shots and lenses. There was a lot I didn’t know. Like talking to the actors. But I learned through fire. I’ve had examples of that in my life, especially through football. I know that’s where I do my best and learn the most.”

Having been the captain on every sporting team that he’s ever been on, Asomugha felt at home calling the shots. “You’re the leader. I learned in football how to lead. I was able to convert that into how I lead as a director and as a producer. It’s a lot of the same things from football. We are one unit. We’re only as good as our weakest link. Then acting is about reacting. That’s everything that playing defense is about. You’re learning body language. Responding in the moment.”

Ultimately, Asomugha is shocked by just how transferable his sporting mentality and skills have been to movies. “I found many ways to convert the skills I used in my football position into acting and directing. It’s crazy. I never would have thought they’d intertwine so much.”

But while Asomugha is hopeful there will be many more opportunities to utilize these talents, he still doesn’t have a set plan for his second career. Instead, he’s willing to stumble in whatever direction his gut-feelings take him. “Acting will always lead the way. I definitely want to direct again. I’ve now fallen in love with it. But, you know, I stumbled into football. I wanted to play for the Lakers. Now I feel like I stumbled into movies. None of this was the path. I’m just going to allow myself to go where I’m called next.”

Conclusion:

Nnamdi Asomugha’s journey from the NFL to Hollywood is a testament to his determination and adaptability. From football to filmmaking, he has demonstrated his ability to learn and grow, and to bring his unique perspective and skills to a new industry. As he continues to navigate the ups and downs of his second career, he remains committed to telling stories that matter and to using his platform to make a positive impact.

FAQs:

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in filmmaking after retiring from the NFL?

A: I never thought I’d be able to do it, but I gave myself six months to see if I actually enjoyed it. And I did.

Q: How did your experience playing football help you in your career as a filmmaker?

A: Football taught me how to lead, how to be a captain, and how to learn from my mistakes. Those skills have been invaluable in my career as a filmmaker.

Q: What’s next for you in your career?

A: I’m open to whatever opportunities come my way. I’ve learned to trust my gut and follow my heart. And I’m excited to see where that takes me.