Sean Clifford is still chasing his NFL dreams, but the former Penn State quarterback is building way beyond the field.

Clifford, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, recently discussed his core values, new podcast, and where he’s headed while reflecting on lessons he learned during his six years at Penn State.

During his time in Happy Valley, Clifford said four core values never left his side: a positive attitude, work ethic, competition, and sacrifice. Those principles continue to guide him both on and off the field, and he believes focusing on what is within his control gives him the best chance to succeed.

“Positive attitude, great work ethic, compete in everything you do, must be willing to sacrifice,” said Clifford. “If you wake up every single day with those four on your mind because they’re the ones that you can control, you can really do anything”

Bringing The Locker Room To The Podcast

Clifford and his brother, Liam, have wanted to start a podcast since Sean Clifford’s fourth year at Penn State, when Liam Clifford was a freshman.

The idea finally became a reality as both brothers became increasingly involved in the sports business world.

Their podcast, named “Playbooks & Portfolios,” aims to provide an athlete-centered perspective on the sports industry.

“We wanted a platform to kind of decentralize that, be able to showcase the conversations in the locker room about sports business that people probably don’t hear about,” said Sean Clifford.

The podcast is designed to feel like an authentic locker room conversation, with topics ranging from sports business to artificial intelligence, current events, and more.

“It’s as if you were sitting inside the locker room talking sports business with a bunch of players. That’s what we want the podcast to be ultimately,” said Sean Clifford.

Sean Clifford said the podcast also gives him and Liam Clifford a way to share conversations and thoughts about their own knowledge and ideas they encounter through their work in the sports business world.

As the podcast continues to grow, the brothers plan to bring more guests onto the show.

Sean Clifford said the goal is to explore more than just football and to give listeners a look at business, health, wellness, and other areas surrounding professional sports from the perspective of the athletes involved.

Building Clifford Capital

Sean Clifford’s business interests extend well beyond the podcast. He and Liam founded Clifford Capital, which is a parent company for future investments, with the New Era Fund serving as its first fund.

The fund focuses on sports investments, including areas such as human health, performance, and overall wellness. Sean Clifford said his entrepreneurial work also gives him an opportunity to develop skills that translate to football.

He views business meetings and entrepreneurial experiences as strong ways to develop leadership and communication skills, which he believes can make him a stronger quarterback, while also allowing him to build something beyond his playing career.

“I think that we’re reinventing the wheel of what it means to be an athlete in business,” said Sean Clifford. “And I’m excited to continue to do that.”

With football still being his main priority, Sean Clifford plans to continue building his business alongside his NFL career and sees the two as opportunities to grow in different ways.

Still Chasing The NFL

Despite his growing business interests, Sean Clifford still prioritizes football. He plans to continue pursuing an NFL career and growing as a player on the field.

Two major goals remain on his list: becoming a starter in NFL games and winning a Super Bowl. For now, Cincinnati has given him the opportunity to keep pursuing those goals while staying close to his family.

“I love playing football. I love the game. I love being in the locker room. I love playing on Sundays, and I know I want to do that for as long as I possibly can,” said Sean Clifford.

After spending roughly a decade away from home, Sean Clifford said being near his parents and family has been one of the best parts of living in Cincinnati, especially following the birth of his newborn.

He is also enjoying the opportunity to learn from the experienced quarterbacks around him, which he said has made his time with the Bengals especially valuable.

“It’s an incredible quarterback room between Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco, and Josh Johnson,” said Sean Clifford. “It’s a room of experience, and I learn something new every single day walking into it.”

Looking back at his time at Penn State, Sean Clifford said he wishes he had been more open publicly. His advice to his younger self is simple: share more.

Now, Sean Clifford is doing exactly that through football, business, investing, and a podcast that gives him another platform to tell his story.