We sat down with Dr. Melissa Weinsz right after her session at the 2025 Player Development Zone in Kansas City. As the Director of Player Engagement for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dr. Weinsz is not only a local leader but also one of only a handful of women in the NFL to hold this role.
In our conversation, Dr. Weinsz opens up about her journey from Ohio to Florida, LSU, and now Kansas City. She shares how she has helped reshape programs, guided NIL strategy when it was brand new, and restructured athlete development initiatives.
Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
Why being a woman in this space is a superpower
How Dr. Weinsz finds balance and wellness through community, CrossFit, and faith
The importance of trust, confidentiality, and “being quick to love but slow to share”
Why player engagement requires both nurturing instincts and strong professional presence
What Beyond the Field means to her personally and why she believes it is the premier platform for this work
Dr. Weinsz reminds us that leadership is not always about being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it is the quiet strength and authenticity that changes lives.
If you are a current or aspiring player development professional, or simply someone navigating leadership in challenging spaces, this episode will leave you with practical wisdom and renewed encouragement.
📌 Be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who would be inspired by Dr. Weinsz’s journey.
#PlayerDevelopment #BeyondTheField #Chiefs #NFL #Leadership
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The Player Development Guide → https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8
Player Development Accelerator Assessment → https://edward-jones-po11g9mt.scoreapp.com
Is Your Program Player Development READY? → https://edward-jones-0amn1dyi.scoreapp.com
Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram
100 Tips of Player Development → https://beyond-the-field-player-development.kit.com/09c6129dc1
Player Development 101 → https://beyond-the-field-player-development.kit.com/pd101
🎙 About Ed Jones II:
Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit
Follow Ed:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/
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