When Jessica Gray finished her panel at the 2025 Player Development Summit, she turned to me and said, “We need this in Detroit.” That single moment sparked the movement that led to the 2026 Player Development Summit being hosted in the Motor City.

In this episode, Keionna Banks sat down with Jessica Gray, the Senior Director of Player Engagement for the Detroit Lions, to unpack what it truly means to develop humans first. Jessica shares her leadership philosophy built on empathy, accountability, and authenticity. She opens up about the boundaries that protect her energy, the lessons that shaped her approach, and how she continues to build programs that transform lives beyond the field.

From the Lions’ Rookie Readiness Program to her candle business that fills her creative cup, Jessica’s story is proof that purpose and balance can coexist in leadership. She reminds us that you don’t need to be perfect to have impact, you just need to be present, intentional, and honest with yourself.

If you’re passionate about player development, leadership, or building systems that care for the person behind the athlete, this conversation will inspire you to think beyond the title, beyond the moment, and beyond the field.

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/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program