Finding purpose and a sense of fulfillment after retiring from a career as a professional athlete can be a challenging task. The structured life and intense competitiveness that come with playing sports at the highest level often make it difficult for former athletes to recreate the same excitement in their post-playing days. However, center Ryan Jensen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was already prepared for life after football before officially walking away.
Jensen recently partnered with his former college rival and NFL offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey to form GILK, a luxury home company based in Tampa. Their company primarily focuses on building homes in the Tampa/St. Petersburg and Denver areas. While Gilkey serves as the founder and CEO of GILK, Jensen holds the position of co-owner and partner.
Having experienced the challenges of transitioning into life after a professional football career himself, Gilkey understands the struggles that post-playing days present. He expressed, 'I've worked with a lot of guys that transition, and walked with a lot of guys as they've kind of navigated the existential shift of their life. Ryan and I share the same desire. We really, really believe in using our gift sets and our skills to shepherd and lead people.'
Apart from constructing luxury homes, GILK also dedicates a portion of their mission to non-profit organizations. This aspect of their work holds special significance for both Gilkey and Jensen. GILK collaborates closely with Abe Brown Ministries' Transitional Living Program, which assists formerly incarcerated individuals in reintegrating into society by providing employment opportunities as they adjust to their new circumstances.
Speaking about their purpose-driven approach, Gilkey added, 'I think that we find a lot of joy in the fact that we're empowering people and in the way in which we're able to use the uniqueness of who we are, and our gifts and in education and in the design world and in the construction, to foster some of these really complex project opportunities while also facilitating opportunities for, again, super vulnerable people.'
Jensen, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in 2013, has a longstanding connection with Gilkey as they were both rivals in Division II college football. Despite their initial competitiveness, they eventually developed a close friendship as they both strived to overcome the odds and make it to the NFL from smaller colleges. Their bond deepened over time, and Gilkey even provided advice to Jensen when he purchased land in Colorado in 2021, which marked the beginning of Jensen's journey into the design-build and acquisition side of the business.
Reflecting on this transition, Jensen shared, 'That was kind of like the jumpstart for me into the whole design-build, acquisition side of business. A year ago, year and a half ago, we really sat down and started talking about becoming partners. And for me, it was exciting. Especially with me really jumping into that next phase of life. Next chapter.'
While Jensen faced a challenging end to his career, spending his final season on injured reserve due to a knee injury, he returned for the playoffs in 2022 before the Buccaneers were eliminated by the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC Wild Card game. Some of the significant highlights of Jensen's career include winning the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020 and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
Now, Jensen looks forward to GILK filling the void left by football. He was drawn to the custom home business because of the competitiveness and the opportunity to work as a team and connect with people on a personal level. Jensen and Gilkey both come from small schools and understand the importance of having others support their success. As they embark on this new chapter, they hope to extend a helping hand to others and bring them along on their journey.
Jensen expressed his excitement for the future, saying, 'Garrett and I both came from really small schools and always had people helping us be successful. So now for us to kind of return that favor and bring people along with us is something that's really, really hit home for me and made me excited for this next chapter.'
In Jensen's partnership with Gilkey and their commitment to empowering others, they have found a new sense of purpose and fulfillment beyond the football field. As they build luxury homes and support charitable causes, their competitive drive and desire to lead continue to shine.
