Page 22 - midJersey Business - May 2015

“You just don’t forget about football. You just have to

offset that and ind something that makes you feel just

as good getting out of bed in the morning and going to

work. This is a career for me.”

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essie Armstead’s post-NFL career lies in the

face of one of the saddest sports clichés: that
once players hang up their cleats and the

crowds stop roaring for them, they lose their
way and fall on hard times inancially.

The former linebacker, who went to ive University of Miami
Pro Bowls with the New York Giants, opened product Jessie Armstead was
a ive-time Pro Bowl selection
Hamilton Honda in 2009. The car dealer-
at linebacker while he was
ship, which sells about 5,000 units annually, became one
a member of the New York
Giants from 1993-2001. In 176
of the top 10 Honda retailers in the country within a year
NFL games, Armstead racked
of opening and has earned a slew of honors, including the up 747 tackles and 40 sacks.

President’s Award (twice), Honda’s most prestigious recog-
How was the transition to a
nition. Based on this success, Armstead opened Englewood post-playing life for you?
Cliffs Cadillac in 2012—along with another former Giant,

Antonio Pierce.
You can say, “I’m prepared,” but you’re
Armstead isn’t a igurehead owner either. He attended l
never fully prepared. Your jokes aren’t
National Automobile Dealers Association classes for a as funny as they used to be. You don’t

year to learn the fundamentals, and he can be found at one have 75,000 people hollering for you
of his two dealerships almost every day.
anymore. You don’t have the locker

“You just don’t forget about football,” admits the 44-year- room. You miss all that, and I’d be wrong
old father of two, who lives in Hamilton. “You just have to
if I said I didn’t. What helped me is
offset that and ind something that makes you feel just as that the New York Giants hired me as
good getting out of bed in the morning and going to work.
a consultant and mentor. I can still be
This is a career for me.”
involved with the team and talk to the

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midJersey