Craig Terrill played 7 seasons as a defensive tackle in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks from 2004-2010.

He was selected in the 6th round by Seattle (189th overall) and was part of four NFC West division championships (2004-2007) and a member of the 2005 Seahawks team that won the NFC and made it all the way to Super Bowl XL.

Dubbed “Dr. Love” for her work on marriage and relationships, Dr. Rachel Terrill is passionate about making marriages work.
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When Rachel’s husband was drafted to Seattle in 2004, Rachel launched what has become a thirteen year journey of investigating love and marriage in the NFL. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from The University of South Florida. Her research interests include relational communication – what makes people fall in love and what makes people stay in love.

Rachel teaches at Purdue University and Northwest University, writes for the National Football League’s Player Engagement website, and serves as a family advisor for the NFL Players Study at Harvard University.

Rachel and Craig are the parents of three daughters.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Craig and Rachel about their journey to the NFL, what it was like to find out your life was changing the instant you are drafted into the NFL, the myth on relationships in sports, and how the glorious life in the NFL isn’t so glorious.

This is EPISODE 39 of the Sports Spectrum Podcast

TIMELINE:

3:20 – When Craig and Rachel met in college.

4:50 – When they started dating.

6:30 – Where Craig’s faith journey began.

8:40 – Being drafted by Seattle

12:45 – The exploration of love and the NFL

15:30 – The sacrifice NFL wives make for their husbands in the league.

17:20 – The NFL life isn’t very glamourous.

20:35 – On being cut by the Seahawks.

21:50 – Plugging into a church community during your playing days.

25:04 – What God is teaching them right now.

Rachel Terrill jumping into the arms of her husband Craig after the Seahawks beat the Bears to win the NFC Championship in 2005. (Photo Courtesy: Rachel Terrill)

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“The NFL takes over your life. Pro sports is year round and is a very visible and busy life.” – Craig

“They can cut you at any point, you have zero guarantees, and you have to plan your life around that.” – Craig

“You don’t look ahead on the calendar.” – Rachel

“Your life has been planned for you since back to high school, college, and your professional career by your football organization. Everything is structured out for your life. When you get cut, that is completely gone.” – Craig

“Grace, patience, and forgiveness. Being a stay-at-home Dad with our 3 girls, it’s clear what God is teaching me.” – Craig

“It’s hard to compete with NFL level success.” – Rachel

You can follow Craig and Rachel on twitter — Craig – @TerrillMusic, Rachel – @DrRachel143.