Joshua Kelley, 28, is transitioning from his NFL career to filmmaking after four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and stints with the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans. He totaled 1,148 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the NFL. Kelley began writing and directing during downtime, realizing his passion had shifted while on team plane rides.

He has self-financed two short films this summer, including "No Chaser," which premiered on YouTube on Aug. 29 and stars former Chargers teammate Keelan Doss. Kelley cites his childhood in Lancaster, California, spent watching superhero films and anime like "Naruto," "Dragon Ball Z," and "One Piece," as foundational to his creative development. He describes filmmaking as a way to redefine his identity after football, aiming to inspire other athletes to pursue new paths.

Kelley, who jokes about keeping the door open for an NFL return, now balances filmmaking with family life alongside his wife Mikaela and sons Elijah and Caleb. He hopes his journey shows athletes that life after sports can be purposeful and creative.