From Record-Breaking Running Back to Rock Bottom — Montee Ball’s Comeback

On this week’s episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with former NFL running back Montee Ball, whose journey from childhood Broncos fan to 2nd-round draft pick for the Denver Broncos reads like a dream—until it didn’t. Montee shares the surreal moment he was drafted, including the text he received from Peyton Manning, and how playing alongside legends like Manning and Tom Brady was both inspiring and overwhelming.

At the height of his career—during his best year on the field—Montee was living his worst year off of it. He opens up about addiction, the pressure to perform, and the moments he declined calls from NFL teams to keep drinking and partying. He reflects on losing everything and the painful realization that his addiction had begun to push away the people who cared about him most.

Montee revisits the expectations he set for himself—believing he’d “run off into the sunset with a gold jacket”—and the spiritual shift that redirected his path toward helping others. Richard highlights Montee’s rare athletic ability with the unforgettable line: “You’re the most impressive athlete I’ve ever met. EVER.”

Now nine years into recovery, Montee says it’s been “better than any touchdown I’ve ever scored.” He talks about choosing sobriety, why making it to ten years becomes a life-changing milestone, and reflects on his NCAA all-time touchdown record. Today, he lives by a core belief: when you show up with the heart of a servant, committed to lifting others out of addiction, there’s no limit to the impact you can make.

The episode dives into letting go of the past, the transformative moment Montee learned he was going to be a father after being released from jail, and the profound truth he discovered: you don’t know real love until you have a child. With purpose, humility, and renewed clarity, Montee shares why his mission is far from over: “I’m ready to continue helping more people. I’m not done yet, Richard.”