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“Going against Ceedee and GP is prepping me for what I need to be at my best." Caleb Downs
On the road, hitting all the Training Camps and had to make it to Oxnard to check out the rookie sensation- Caleb Downs who joins us for a conversation during his first NFL training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, stepping into the league as a first-round pick with expectations already sky-high.
Caleb opens up about making the transition from college football to the NFL, the pressure that comes with being a highly touted first-rounder, and what it means to now wear the Cowboys star. He talks about going against elite teammates like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens every day at practice, learning what separates NFL players, and the intensity of competing against the best in the world. He opens up on his immediate bond with Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker and what he sees in his new coach that can take the defense to the next level.
The conversation also goes back to his championship-winning college career, his time playing for Nick Saban, and the lessons he took from one of football's greatest coaches. Caleb reflects on playing alongside stars like Jeremiah Smith, the competitive mindset that helped him win at the college level, and how those experiences prepared him for Sundays in the NFL. He shares how the upsets and losses are just as important as the wins in maintaining a championship mindset. Caleb tells the guys that since he was young, he's studied some of the greatest athletes from Kobe Bryant to Tom Brady to Michael Jordan not because of their skill set but because of their habits and uses his findings in his everyday life.
Caleb also gets personal about family, the pride of following those who came before him, and what it means to have a brother already playing in the NFL while continuing a football legacy of his own.
From winning in college to earning his place in Dallas, Caleb Downs gives The Pivot an inside look at the mindset, expectations and family foundation behind one of football's rising young stars.
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"Caleb Downs Dallas Cowboys newest star on his first NFL Training Camp, facing Ceedee & George Pickens, high expectations, bond with Christian Parker, Nick Saban influence, psychology of sports, how his college wins and losses prep a championship mindset" is an episode of Pivot Podcast. Runtime 51 min. Published August 21, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.