With the NFL Draft just hours away, JOOLA is making a headline of its own, welcoming former NFL standout Eric Decker to the team. A third-round pick (87th overall) out of the University of Minnesota in the 2010 NFL Draft, Decker built an impressive career defined by consistency, competitiveness, and a team-first mentality. From a small-town upbringing in Central Minnesota to sharing the field with legends like Peyton Manning, his journey has always been rooted in resilience and steady progress.

Now, that same mindset is fueling his next chapter in pickleball. Decker’s transition from professional football to the court reflects the same drive that carried him through every stage of his athletic career: showing up, putting in the work, and getting better each day. As he joins Team JOOLA, he brings not only elite athleticism, but a deep appreciation for competition, community, and the relationships that define the game. Let’s get to know JOOLA’s latest signing, Eric Decker:

JOOLA Blog (JB): Tell me about your transition away from professional football.

Eric Decker (ED): “My journey kind of ended abruptly because I was halfway in, halfway out… I had injuries, and it mentally and emotionally wore me out. After that first year, it was tough, I had this void of like, okay, who am I? What am I supposed to do? All I knew was football… I didn’t have that structure anymore. I went through a couple hard years of figuring out what my legacy was going to be from here on out. Pickleball gave me that competitive spirit that I was missing… but also the workout and the endorphins after playing. You have to take the super athlete out of you sometimes and just be a little more patient. My first thought is I’m going to impose my will on you, but that doesn’t last long. It’s the challenge of trying to get every ball, understanding strategy, and winning those long points.”

JB: What sparked your initial interest in pickleball?

ED: “Well, I got a soft introduction in like 2012, 2013. My godmother, my aunt, is an avid pickleball player… she sent me some paddles for my birthday and I was like, what are these things? Played in 2014, 15 for the first time, and I was like, wow, that's a lot of fun… was getting beat by people a lot older than me, so it was a little shock to the ego. But didn’t really get back on the court for a while until COVID. I retired, and as all professional athletes, I feel like we go through this lull of like, all right, what’s next? And I found myself outside on the court and just really loved it because it gave me that competitive spirit that I was missing… and the camaraderie with others. Pickleball has been tremendous… it’s filled the void of the competitive spirit that I was missing from football, and really the locker room as well.”

JB: What are your pickleball goals?

ED: “2024 is like, all right, you know what? I want to try to get better. And over the last probably six, seven months, I’ve been playing a lot every week. I’m trying to play four times a week, at least three if not four times… do some drill work too because I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better doing drill work. And my goal is to be really good. I’m a grinder, so I love grinding things out… trying to get every ball, trying to understand different strategies. The two days have given me a million things to work on… I just want to sit here and rep every little thing we’ve talked about.”

On the Health Benefits of Pickleball Participation: “You can play for an hour, get a good workout, and move on with your day. It’s active, it’s fun, and it’s not as hard to pick up as some other sports. It gives you a community instantly, if you want to be active and social, it gives you everything. I look forward to it… I go to bed knowing I’ve got something to play for the next day. I just love being competitive, and that’s what pickleball has given me. It’s gotten me excited to go play for two or three hours and just grind.”

SHOP THE JOOLA PERSEUS PRO V

JB: What made you choose JOOLA?

ED: “I’ve been playing with a mix of paddles from 2021… and then just really got comfortable with the paddle and loved it. That’s what kind of jump-started our relationship and is why we’re sitting here today. I think the biggest difference… it just felt good in my hand. I feel like it’s related to golf, you’ve got to look down and feel confident. Once I was using the JOOLA Perseus Pro V paddle, it felt like I had that comfort of having control, which gave me more confidence. And that, to me, is a big part of sports, is confidence. You want to look down, like what you see in your hand, but also feel confident in what it gives you.”

JB: How competitive are you when you play pickleball?

ED: “Honestly, I’ll talk crap to everybody. If you’re going to take it, you’ve got to give it. That’s what’s funny about pickleball, it’s an intimate game, and everyone is competitive, so you get fired up. My most embarrassing moment? I lost to my wife and her friend… they won’t let it down.”

As Decker continues to immerse himself in the sport, it’s clear that his competitive edge, discipline, and appreciation for the process have found a natural home in pickleball. His journey, from the NFL to the court, reflects not just a change in sport, but a renewed sense of purpose driven by growth, community, and the pursuit of getting better every day. With JOOLA by his side, Decker is embracing the challenge ahead, bringing the same intensity and passion that defined his football career into this next chapter, and he’s just getting started.