Daniel Rodriguez
After surviving the bloodiest clash in Afghanistan, Daniel left the military and walked on the Clemson football special teams
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- After surviving the bloodiest battle of the war in Afghanistan and being awarded the Purple Heart and bronze star medal for valor, Daniel left the army and walked onto the University of Clemson Football team.
- Earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery
- Honored with the Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award, the 2014 Armed Forces Merit Award and the American Hero Award by the Walter Camp foundation
- His incredible story was chronicled in the autobiography, Rise, which was released Fall 2014
- Signed by the St. Louis Rams in 2015
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Daniel Rodriguez has had an incredible journey. After surviving the bloodiest clash of the war in Afghanistan, he left the military and walked on the Clemson football special teams in order to fulfill a promise to a friend who died on the battlefield.
Rodriguez’s father passed away four days after his high school graduation. He sought out the military and spent 15 months in Iraq before heading to Afghanistan, where he found himself in the bloodiest battle of the war. As more than 300 Tailban assaulted his combat outpost, it was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. During the 18-hour, point-blank battle, eight U.S. soldiers were killed, including Rodriguez’s close friend, Pfc. Kevin Thompson. The two had bonded over making plans for what they would do after they got out of the military. Six months later, Rodriguez returned home, only to battle the psychological effects of war. After earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery, suicidal thoughts and heavy drinking became the new normal. Spurred by the desire to make his friend’s death meaningful, Rodriguez decided to make a change. He enrolled in community college, raised his grades, and vowed to make good on the promise he had made to Thompson – to get his education and play college football.
Rodriguez committed to getting back in shape. He quit drinking and worked out more than six hours a day. Despite the training, he battled other stereotypes – he was older now than the typical college freshman and weighed less than 200 pounds. But Rodriguez didn’t give up. With an utter devotion to accomplishing his goal, he found a friend with filmmaking experience and the two shot a unique recruitment video.
Never asking for a handout, only a chance, he reminds audiences what it means to take control and work to succeed with determination. Rodriguez shares the story of how he came back from the edge of war in order to honor his friend’s life and create a new one for himself. His accomplishments resonate with anyone who has ever fought for what they wanted.
Rodriguez currently resides in South Carolina.
Daniel Rodriguez shares the unforgettable story of how he survived one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan and lived to pursue his dream of playing college football. Never asking for a handout, only a chance, he reminds audiences what it means to take control and work to succeed. With grit, determination, and the power of social media, he inspires audiences to tap into their potential and work to make their lives meaningful. An emotionally-moving storyteller, he shares how he found his way out of darkness and accomplished his unlikely dream, coming back from the edge of war in order to honor his friend’s life and create a new one for himself. This powerful keynote resonates with anyone who has ever fought for what they wanted.
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