The inspirational Montee Ball is a former professional Footballer, who played running back in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. He published his moving memoir, Nowhere to Run, an open and honest account of his struggle with addiction in 2021.
Born in Kansas, and raised in Missouri, Ball began his love for Football at High School, where he played for the Timberland Wolves and was recognised by Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Faces in the Crowd” section. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2009-2012. During his time there he broke many NCAA records, and was named 2x All-American, 2x Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, 2x First-team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and a 3x Big Ten Champion. He also won the Doak Walker Award, the Archie Griffin Award, and the Jim Brown Award twice. And on January 1, 2013, he became the first player in Rose Bowl Game history to score a touchdown in three straight years.
Ball’s professional career kicked-off in 2013 when he was drafted in the second round, 58th overall, by the Denver Broncos. Injury hampered his time there and in September 2015 he was waived. He signed with the New England Patriots practice squad in December 2015, but was released in February 2016 following a domestic violence arrest. He had been struggling with alcoholism throughout his playing days and his spiralling addiction and depression eventually derailed his football career. But he turned his life around and is now an Outreach Specialist for Wisconsin Voices of Recovery.
Ball regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, posting pictures and videos about his day-to-day life. He is available for that personalised shout-out via the Cameo platform, and has an official website, monteeball.com.