A Lineman’s Take on Leadership
Leadership writer Adam Mendler sits down with Robert Gallery for a wide-ranging interview that traces the path from Iowa farm kid recruited as an “athlete” to College Football Hall of Famer and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick — and into the post-career mental health journey that has shaped his second act.
What Linemen Know
Robert frames offensive line play as a leadership classroom: protect others without seeking recognition, show up when you’re hurting, and accept that “you can’t do it alone.” He credits Iowa coaches Kirk Ferentz and Chris Doyle with modeling vulnerability-based leadership and treating athletes as people first.
From the Edge to a Mission
After years of unsuccessful conventional treatment, ibogaine therapy in Mexico — undertaken with veteran Marcus Luttrell — proved transformative. That experience inspired Robert to co-found Athletes for Care, which has helped secure $50 million in Texas research funding.
Three Tips for Builders
Robert offers entrepreneurs three pieces of advice:
- Build solutions for problems you’ve experienced firsthand.
- Don’t wait for systemic change — start the work.
- Measure success in lives helped, not attention earned.
He encourages others to be a “lighthouse” — to share authentic stories of struggle and recovery so that fewer people have to navigate that darkness alone.
“Ignore the critics who wouldn’t merit a dinner invitation.” — Robert Gallery
Read the full Adam Mendler interview →
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