One of only a handful of three-time guests on the show, Professor Nic Gill returns for another insightful conversation. After more than two decades with the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team, guiding one of the most successful teams in world sport through over 240 Test matches and more than 200 victories, Nic is embarking on his next chapter in elite performance:moving to the United States as Vice President of Health and Performance for the Baltimore Ravens NFL Team.

From his first appearance in 2021, "Rugby Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NZ All Blacks," through the follow-up episode, "A Week in the Life of an All Blacks Rugby Player," Nic is back to discuss his latest and perhaps greatest challenge yet. Having spent a career at the pinnacle of rugby performance, he now steps into the world of American football, embracing the uncertainty, excitement, and opportunity that come with leading performance in one of the NFL's premier organizations.

At his core, Nic operates on a simple but powerful philosophy: performance is built on trust, relationships, and doing the basics exceptionally well. He rejects over-complication, emphasising that motivation isn’t created by coaches—it already exists within athletes, driven by identity, purpose, and environment.

Whether pushing himself through extreme challenges like 24-hour Wattbike records for charity, Ironman races or guiding elite players, he consistently chooses discomfort, using challenge as fuel for growth and purpose.

That mindset underpins both his coaching and his life decisions. Leaving the All Blacks after two decades wasn’t driven by necessity, but by a deliberate move toward uncertainty and challenge. For Nic, growth lives on the edge of discomfort—where fear and excitement coexist.

His move to the NFL represents more than a career shift; it’s a continuation of a philosophy he has lived for years: walk toward the pressure, simplify the process, and help people perform when it matters most.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Gilly is one of the most humble, authentic, and driven men I’ve ever had on the show, and I’m proud to call him a friend. Every time we sit down, I walk away having learned something. From the All Blacks to the Baltimore Ravens, this is a conversation about challenge, leadership, family, and having the courage to step into the unknown. AND hopefully a Super Bowl Win!!

Another super-powerful episode—sit back and enjoy.

🔗 Connect with Gilly at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rugbyready/

Website links:https://linktr.ee/rugbyready

I am Damian Porter , Former NZ Special Forces Operator, Subject Matter Expert from www.hownottodieguy.com and www.saferthanyouarenow.com

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