Merril Hoge

Merril Hoge is a former NFL player, ESPN analyst, best-selling author, and speaker whose Find A Way philosophy has guided him from a childhood dream of professional football through major personal and professional challenges. After playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, Hoge built a broadcasting career with ESPN and later returned to the Steelers organization to evaluate players for its scouting and pro evaluation departments.

His experiences in football, broadcasting, cancer treatment, open heart surgery, and recovery from serious head trauma shape his message about personal integrity, resilience, leadership, and ownership. Hoge challenges audiences to examine whether they are doing their part, control how they respond to difficult circumstances, and get more from their abilities.

Merril Hoge is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Merril Hoge’s fees.

Want to book Merril Hoge for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Merril Hoge for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.

The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field. So whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.

Career in Football

Merril Hoge was eight years old when he first saw football on television and decided he wanted to play in the NFL. Growing up in a small town in Idaho, he knew the goal would require more than ambition. He adopted three words that would continue to guide his life: Find A Way.

As a four year starter in college football, Hoge set 44 school and conference records and two NCAA football records. In 1987, he turned his childhood goal into reality when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him.

Hoge played for the Steelers through 1993, leading the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five years. He became one of only two Steelers players, along with Franco Harris, to rush for at least 100 yards in back-to-back playoff games. He was named the Steelers Iron Man of the Year in both 1989 and 1990 and was named to the All-Madden team in 1989.

He joined the Chicago Bears in 1994, but his playing career ended after serious head trauma. At the time of his retirement, Hoge had played in 122 consecutive NFL games.

In 1996, Hoge began an over 20-year on-air career with ESPN. He made appearances across many of ESPN’s premier shows including NFL Live, SportsCenter, NFL Matchup, Sunday NFL Countdown, and more. He later helped build the Your Call Football league as a head coach and director. In 2022, he returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, studying coaching tape and evaluating players transitioning to the NFL for the team’s scouting and pro evaluation departments.

Finding A Way Through Adversity

The philosophy that helped Hoge reach the NFL became even more important when football was no longer the challenge in front of him. Following his head injuries, Hoge experienced memory loss and other effects severe enough that he had to learn how to read again.

In 2003, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. During treatment, his nine year old daughter Kori reminded him of the words that had shaped his life: “Dad, find a way.” Hoge underwent chemotherapy and was declared cancer free later that year.

Today, he speaks about personal integrity, self-reflection, resilience, leadership, communication, and taking ownership of one’s direction. His approach asks people to consider a direct question: “Are you doing your part?” For Hoge, that question is a way to move beyond excuses and focus on the actions within an individual’s control.

“Find A Way” has also become part of Hoge’s work as a parent, coach, and author. His first book, Find a Way: Three Words That Changed My Life, was released in 2010 and shares the philosophy he has relied on throughout his life.

Hoge has also devoted decades to supporting children and families through The Highmark Caring Place, serving as chairman of its board for nearly 30 years and helping raise funds for the organization through an annual golf outing for more than 25 years.

Across football, broadcasting, health challenges, family, and speaking, Find A Way remains Hoge’s central message: take ownership, examine what you can control, and keep working toward the life and results you want.

To hire Merril Hoge for an event, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with the proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. Merril Hoge is available for corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, private events, workshops, fireside chats and virtual programs.

After receiving your request, a Mollie Plotkin Group booking agent will review Merril Hoge’s availability, discuss the event details and get back to you within 48 hours with next steps for securing Merril Hoge for your program.

The cost to book Merril Hoge depends on the event date, location, format, audience size and scope of the appearance. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings and virtual programs.

For the most accurate Merril Hoge booking fee, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with your event details. Our team will help confirm availability, pricing and the best format for your event.

Find A Way

Everyone is striving for success, but when dealing with deadlines, challenges, goals and competition, people point fingers, cast blame and make excuses for their circumstances. However, when we challenge people to do their part, success becomes the standard, not just words.

Merril Hoge has learned a lot about success from his NFL playing days, his ESPN career, and even his time spent laying in intensive care, going through deep depression, learning how to read again, battling cancer, and facing open heart surgery.

All these successes have helped him challenge people and companies alike to self-reflect and ask themselves, “Am I doing my part?” And if I’m not, how do I “Find A Way?”

This keynote is customized for each audience Merril speaks with, but here are some general takeaways that we build upon during our pre-event call.

Key Takeaways

• Challenge people to open up and self reflect as a means to grow and evolve.
• Help people learn how to control their mind instead of their mind controlling them.
• Build a life of resilience, not a life of regret.
• Inspire people to take ownership of their direction in business and life.
• Learn to be uncommon every day