Jake Ryan is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Green Bay Packers alongside Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, and Julius Peppers. Drafted in 2016 out of Michigan, Jake spent six years in the league across the Packers, Jaguars, and Ravens before two ACL tears and a back injury forced him to walk away from the game. In the years that followed, Jake co-founded Huega House — a San Diego-based lifestyle apparel and hat brand built around the Danish concept of "hygge," meaning to cherish the little things. Since launching in 2022, Huega House has become a case study in organic influencer marketing, landing on athletes like Aaron Rodgers, Shohei Ohtani, Josh Allen, Aaron Judge, Shane Gillis, and Jared Goff. In this conversation, we talk about what it was really like playing in the NFL — the locker room culture, what made Lambeau Field special, and what it's like playing with Aaron Rodgers. We also cover Jake's two ACL tears, how photography became his outlet during injuries, the identity shift that came with leaving the league, and the origin story of Huega House. We get into the influencer marketing strategy that put the brand on the map, the co-founder dynamic with Jonathan Ruley, the pivot to activewear, and Jake's biggest entrepreneurial lessons so far.

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Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

02:53 - Jake Ryan: NFL Linebacker, Photographer & Huega House Co-Founder

06:10 - Aaron Rodgers Wears Huega House at a Knicks Game

08:23 - Playing With Aaron Rodgers & Clay Matthews

09:58 - Best & Worst Parts of the NFL

13:43 - The Day Jake Got Drafted: Green Bay Packers Call

18:49 - Rookie Year, Burnout & Life in Green Bay

21:39 - Leaving the NFL: Injuries, Surgeries & Knowing When to Walk Away

24:13 - Identity After Football, Photography & Moving to San Diego

31:49 - Founding Huega House: The Idea, the Hat & the Co-Founder Story

36:00 - Influencer Marketing Strategy: Aaron Rodgers, Shane Gillis & Seeding Athletes

43:02 - Huega House Business: Investment, Profitability & Partnership Dynamics

46:14 - Biggest Challenge, AI, What's Next & Entrepreneurial Life Hack

Follow Jake Ryan:
Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake_ryan47/
Huega House IG: https://www.instagram.com/huegahouse/
Huega House Website: https://huegahouse.com/

Follow Chris Nichols:
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Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtforlegacypodcast

Website: https://builtforlegacy.buzzsprout.com

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Contact: chris@nicholsanddimez.com