Domann uses football to enrich life
As he ponders the Senior Bowl, Domann pauses, transfixed by a moment in his memories. On the first day of the Senior Bowl, his grandfather — who instilled the love of sport in Domann’s father — passed away. His parents told Domann after the first practice.
Even now, he looks back on that moment. But he isn’t sad or distant. Instead, it was a point of resonance for Domann, who made himself a promise.
“I remember making the decision — I’m going to allow his love to live in me.”
Extending that love to the community
Domann makes an impact wherever he can, intent on touching as many people as possible. At Nebraska, he went on hospital visits, volunteered for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and donated to charities. That outward expression of love and community is something that Domann always holds close.
“It just comes from the belief that it’s bigger than me,” he said. “That this game and this platform and my purpose on this Earth is bigger than me. And it’s able to manifest into giving to charities, making kids’ days, because I once was that kid. I was once that kid that looked up to those guys and thought they could do no wrong and thought they were living the life. And now I am becoming one of those men. For me, paying it forward, pouring back is a way to remind myself that I am no different than these people.”
This past season, Domann ran a football camp with teammate Ben Stille. He also started a podcast with Edgewater Insurance and Real Estate, donating $1,000 to 12 different charities. Raising awareness takes effort, but Domann also says the new NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals paved the way for new bounds in community work. He’s thankful for it.
“It’s truly humbling to see an action impact somebody in such a positive way. It’s contagious, and it’ll make you never want to stop.”
JoJo Domann, the knight on the chessboard
Domann aims to constantly impact the community throughout his NFL career and even beyond. But in the meantime, there’s football to play. Domann sees a strong fit for himself at the next level — because he can do anything. Not just special teams, but all over the defensive side of the ball.
“I’m definitely that chess piece. I don’t know if I’m the queen. If anything, I’m the knight. Three squares away, you might not even see me coming. But I’m there. I take pride in that. What I told teams is, I’m ready to come in and compete right away on special teams, on top of being that joker. My mindset is, whatever team takes me, whatever team believes in me, they’re getting everything that I got. And I’m ready to develop into whatever they see me as.”
Domann’s father was an offensive coordinator. His brother plays quarterback. And he himself played on offense in high school. All that experience helps Domann read and recognize offenses where others cannot. But beyond that, Domann says the most important thing on a play is simply trusting your instincts.
“I will tell you, the worst feeling in the world is when you feel it coming, but you don’t trust it. You let your mind get in the way of what your body knows is coming. And you stop yourself. That’s something I did a lot less this past year and something I want to continue to develop. Just feeling it and trusting my instincts so I’m not that step late.”
Domann intent on keeping himself in the play
On and off the field, Domann emphasizes the importance of keeping himself in the play. But physically and mentally, that phrase carries a different meaning for Domann. That’s clear when asking Domann about his goals.
“I need to write myself another five-year letter, just because of how much the last one just hit home for me. My goals are to play football for as long as I can. And when it’s time, it’s time. At the end of the day, I want to be a father, and I want to climb mountains. That’s why I’m so proactive about everything that I do with my body. I want to play this game for a long time, but I’m not going to sacrifice the rest of my life for this. There’s a line.”
As for his NFL future, Domann aims to manifest greatness in the now.
“I’m going to win a Super Bowl. Not because of me, but because that’s what I’m holding to be true. Amongst the circumstances, amongst all the adversity and all of the voices saying ‘No, you can’t, you’re not good enough,’ I know I will. And for that reason alone, it’s going to happen. If it doesn’t, I can respect that. But I’m done taking myself out of the play.
“We all subconsciously do it. So, how can we create these lifestyle systems? How can we shift the story we’re telling ourselves in our head to keep ourselves in the play? By just being present. My goal would be stay present, stay conscious throughout my entire career, and not allow the winning, the money, the platform to change me. I expect those things to develop me more fully into who I’m supposed to be, rather than turn me into something I’m not.”
A life fully consumed by maximizing life
It’s at first hard to grasp the degree of commitment Domann’s placed into becoming the best human he can be. There’s so much time and energy available for consumption in life that it can be easy to let some go to waste. But Domann doesn’t let that happen.
Domann has a strict dietary routine. He goes through mono-milk cleanses, consuming nothing but milk for several days. He takes cold showers, does breathwork, and does yoga. There is also quiet time set aside. Things that seem abstract and distant to other people. But for Domann, it’s all crucial in helping him become his maximum self.
“We are a product of our systems. If your systems are to eat whatever you want, your life and your body will reflect that. I always try to keep that edge mentally. Turn down the noise of everything external and focus on the things that are going to be with me my entire lifetime — my heart and my mind.
“It starts with awareness. Then it takes action. Then it takes consistency. If you combine those three in your personal development, in two years, you’ll be doing things you never imagined. That’s why you see people turn their life around in no time. If you really invest every ounce of energy and focus into loving yourself so you can be better for everything else in life, nothing is impossible.”
On the surface, you could argue these are just words. But Domann is living proof of their merit. Two ACL tears in a seven-month span. Years of long nights and early mornings and hard hits. And here, at the end of it all, Domann stands at the foot of the NFL Draft.
Domann has the green light. And he’s charging ahead to see where it takes him.