Mick Unplugged
Mo Massaquoi: Football, Transition, and Building Relentless Personal Growth
Thu, 05 Jun 2025
Mohamed “Mo” Massaquoi is a former NFL wide receiver best known for his time with the Cleveland Browns and a standout collegiate career at the University of Georgia. After a life-changing ATV accident in 2017 that resulted in the loss of his left hand, Mo’s story became one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. With a master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology from UGA and executive development at Harvard Business School, Mo now leads as a consultant and coach, helping individuals and organizations navigate transition, and unlock their highest potential. His journey is a testament to the power of perspective, community, and relentless personal growth. Key Takeaways: Resilience Through Adversity: Mo’s journey illustrates how adversity, like his 2017 accident, can lead to profound self-discovery and transformation when faced with courage and a strong support system. Purpose Built on Service: Mo’s “because” is rooted in helping others through transition—recognizing that everyone faces challenges and that real strength is found in community, self-exploration, and service to others. Leadership Isn’t Lonely—It’s Collaborative: Mo emphasizes that leadership becomes isolating only when you refuse to let others in. The right team and open communication are essential to thriving as a leader or in any major life change. Sound Bites: “There is no individual hero… There’s a ton of people that are putting inputs in to kind of help you.” “Go within yourself—things that people are interested in may be the key to unlocking their gift.” “Leadership isn’t lonely, it’s isolated, because there’s a ton of people going through the same thing… you’re just not allowing other people to help.” Quote by Mick: “The game of sport is a business. And so now you go from being a player to having to think like a business person because you become a business yourself at that point in time as well.” Connect & Discover Mo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironmassaquoi/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedmassaquoi/ Website: https://www.thevessol.com/ Website: Players for Good FOLLOW MICK ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mickunplugged LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapter 1: What was Mo Massaquoi's journey after his accident?
You know, I lost my hand, but I gained a new perspective of who I was as an individual. Things that were dormant or things that I took for granted, I started to learn. And that came from just going within myself and the things that people are interested in. That may be the key to unlocking their gift.
welcome to mick unplugged the number one podcast for self-improvement leadership and relentless growth no fluff no filters just hard-hitting truths unstoppable strategies and the mindset shifts that separate the best from the rest ready to break limits let's go
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mic Unplugged. And today, we might as well call this the University of Georgia Showdown. From former NFL stardom as a Cleveland Brown route receiver to founding a consultancy whose mission is guiding leaders through transformative change, he embodies resilience and leadership.
After a life-altering 2017 accident resulting in the loss of his left hand, he emerged stronger, earning a master's in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Georgia and completing Harvard Business School's program for leadership development. Please join me in welcoming Independence High School's own University of Georgia, one of my favorite all-time receivers.
We're talking to none other than Muhammad Moe Massaquah. Muhammad, how are you doing today, brother?
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Chapter 2: How did Mo transition from football to consulting?
I'm doing great, brother. How you doing today, man? I need to take you everywhere for introductions.
Mo, you know, I was telling you offline, man. So I've got an uncle shout out to my uncle, Tron Jackson, former University of Georgia running back, been a bulldog my entire life. My entire family on my mom's side are nothing but bulldogs, man. And so being able to see you play in person like probably 15 times Just the athlete. I'm not going to say that you were because you're still an athlete.
The athlete that you are, man, the things that you were able to do were pretty much unmatched, man. So just thank you for taking time with us today, bro.
Well, I'm going to say this. You come from good pedigree that all your family's Georgia fans, you were raised right.
I was raised right. And I'm going to say I did go to the University of North Carolina. So I personally am a Tar Heel.
I'm a Tar Heel as well. There we go. Yes. Carolina, being from Charlotte, Carolina was one of my favorite schools growing up. I still perform and everything. And so that's my second home too.
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Chapter 3: What lessons did Mo learn from his time at Independence High School?
Yeah. So you understand it there, man. Like very few people can be UNC basketball fans and Georgia football fans. Like there's almost nothing like it, right?
I'm a lifer. And I was tracking the – the March Madness and I was seeing Duke and all their talent and I was like, no, I just can't take it. So I wish all those young men all the best of luck at the NBA level, but I did not want them to come home with it.
Yeah, I tell people all the time, Duke doesn't breed NBA players, but we'll move on from that one. We'll move on from that one. So, man, again, honored to be here with you, brother. I want to go back, not to the very beginning, but I want to go back to Independence High School, man. Like, a lot of folks don't understand. You hear all the big schools from Texas and California and Florida saying,
I'm telling you, in the Carolinas, there's nothing like Independence football. Like, you talk about Friday Night Lights. Like, Independence is that. A ton of stars, and you are definitely one of them, man. So what was it like for you Friday nights at Independence High School, bro?
See, people don't understand because we... have all the legacy basketball, whether it's Duke or Carolina, Wake Forest, NC State. There's a ton of good basketball talent. And people think that North Carolina is a basketball state. And largely it is. But there's a lot of football talent that come through there. The Jordan Davises of the world, the Hakeem Nicks, the Ty Gurley.
And, you know, the list continues to go on. And so being able to go to a school like Independence and largely being able to play for an individual like Tommy Knotts, our head coach, who's I think he's on 16, 17 state championships. During my run, it was 109 games in a row, seven straight. And the fact that like losing wasn't an option. It was we're going to set a goal.
We're going to go hunt it down. The fact that we're going to work together as a team, there's no individuals that are bigger than the team. The fact that, you know, how disciplined we are or how hard we work, all those things, you know, I think was the undercurrent of allowing us to really thrive.
And Friday nights were exciting because you knew going out there, you're going to put yourself in a chance to win and have a lot of fun in the process.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I love it. And so then the decision to go to the University of Georgia, I always love people explaining their decisions to go to different schools, whether they were athletes or not, because it's personal for everyone, man. And so this is pre-NIL, right?
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Chapter 4: What made Mo choose the University of Georgia?
And everybody that I talked to says the closest thing to John Elway's fastball is a Matthew Stafford fastball. What was it like being ready to catch those bullets sometimes from Matthew?
I mean, the first year that he was there, it was different. You know, it's something that, you know, he probably could have played pitcher in the MLB if he wanted to, but it's such a live arm. But I think one of the things that he's been able to do is also put touch and precision and timing.
And so it's a combination of not just having a big arm, but also being able to throw the pass that is needed. You know, you see him throwing no look in the Super Bowl. You see him fitted in different areas with his arm angles. And so once you get used to that, it's something that is a gift because you're always open and he trusts you to make a play for him. You just got to be ready, right?
Exactly. Exactly. That's what's up. That's what's up. So you end up going second round to Cleveland. And so you're the first person I've asked this, and I want you to be honest, Mo. I know you're going to be honest. When you heard you were getting drafted, super excited, right? When it was Cleveland, did you go, oh, man, I got to go up there? Yeah. You know what's interesting?
This is just me and you. No, I'll give you an honest answer. So I'm from Carolina, and we didn't get a lot of Cleveland media. And so I wasn't actually familiar with them. And Cleveland... had gone maybe they finished like nine and six, maybe a year or two before.
And so they had a complicated background, but they looked like they were up on up and then they took a dip and then they brought a new head coach in. And so I had no knowledge of what it would be going in. And then you get the culture shock. I remember flying from Georgia to Cleveland. I left Georgia in shorts because it was 80 degrees. I landed in Cleveland. It's like 40.
I was like, whoa, I've never seen anything like this in May. Yeah. And it was complicated because there was so much change taking place where we didn't know, but the team in the background was being put up for sale. We had a new head coach. We had multiple position changes. We had multiple player changes. And so I would say it was just almost like a case study of change, of change.
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Chapter 5: How did Coach Rick impact Mo's life and career?
What to do, what not to do, how to set up structure, how to set up stability. And we never really got that while in Cleveland. And I think we're still trying to figure that out as an organization 15 years later.
So, well, you're one of the brightest people that I know. and being a psychology major, having a master's in psychology, I want to take a step back now because I hear a lot of folks talk about this. You go from high school and college where Most everybody, maybe not everybody, but most everybody you're with loves the sport. Right. Like they eat, sleep and breathe the sport.
And then you go professional. Right. And you're in a locker room with people that for some of them, it's a job. It's a clock in, clock out. The love, the passion isn't there with everyone. So for you looking back, and again, you're one of the few people I can ask this because I want you to take your psychology hat now, right? So now looking back, was that something you anticipated, expected?
And then is there anything you would do differently to deal with that situation now?
It's a complicated question because some people are really talented and but don't love it and can still be great players. Some people's motivation are to change the trajectory of their family. Some people just love to compete, whether it's basketball, football, accounting, engineering, they wanna compete, that's just how they're wired. And so you just see a different flavor of it.
The other side of that though, depending on the system that you're in,
can change your love of the game you know if you're losing you know it's not a place that you want to be it kind of wears on you if you um don't necessarily have trust in your coaching or if you don't have um trust that you're going to be there like all these other factors if you don't think that you're being compensated fairly can change this the purity of the game that we played you know on the street or you know sideline tackle when a car is coming by you got to press timeout um
And so all those things like really complicated. And if you're in a organization that is a little more volatile and doesn't have that trajectory where you think you're going to win, the love of the game can change a little bit. And so it's a little complicated.
No, I get that, man. I get that. I appreciate the honesty, too, because I talk to a lot of former athletes or, you know, retired athletes, I'll say not former athletes. And they always tell me one of the biggest shocks that they walk into a locker room is just, you know, everybody doesn't love it the same way. And at some point that that becomes everyone else, too. Right.
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Chapter 6: What was the experience of being drafted by the Cleveland Browns?
And you have an accident where your tool and your craft, part of it's taken away. And for a lot of people that aren't mentally tough, It's devastating. Not saying that it wasn't devastating for a moment for you, but knowing the resiliency that you have and, and the inspiration that you are like, we don't have to go through the moment of losing of the accident. Right.
But, but, but the grit, the resiliency, that switch that said, I'm not going to feel sorry for myself because I have a bigger purpose, man. Like, what was that like for you? Like, like walk us through that because that's why I'm so inspired by you. Like, yeah, all the sports accolades. Awesome.
But this is why I love Mo Massaquah because you literally were like, Hey man, like I can be down or I can become the person that I really am, but I was supposed to be. And I think you use that as that platform for that.
Yeah, I'll attack that in multiple ways. You know, One, you want to have a decent base before you face adversity. Having the way that I grew up, the resiliency through football, like I almost built muscle memory so that if it was something that shocked the system, whether I knew it or not, I had a reference point that I could get through it.
And so I'd encourage people to put themselves in uncomfortable situations before they need it, because then they have a reference that I'll get through this. The other part is to give grace because there are times where you don't know if you're gonna get through it. And so in my case, people see me now, but they don't see the anxiety attacks. They don't see the depression.
They don't see the crying. They don't see the despair. They don't see all the things behind the scenes that you have to work through And as you're working through them, they're not an isolated journey where it's just me going through it. You know, just having a rock solid support system where, you know, your wife is checking on you and making sure they're good.
If she catches you crying at night where you are unshaven and don't have a haircut and you got a friend that sends a barber to the house that says, clean yourself up. The ability to have someone like prop you up and say, hey, you need to start working out. You need to start doing this. You need to start doing that.
And so there is no individual hero, even though you may see like the character of a person that that looks like they've emerged through something. But there's a ton of people that are putting inputs in to kind of help you. And then over time, you're making progress. What you can't do is get so like sedimentary in whatever the despair is.
that you don't allow people to add momentum because I'm eight years removed now. And so I'd technically be in the same position eight years later if I didn't allow people to push me for it. But now you almost get a little wind behind your sail and then you can start to kind of pick up the pace on your journey as well.
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Chapter 7: What challenges did Mo face in the NFL environment?
Well, it's interesting because it's one and the same. A lot of leaders think that they have to do everything by themselves. You often hear leaders say like leadership is lonely and it's not lonely. It's isolated because there's a ton of people going through the same thing that you're going through. You're just not allowing other people to kind of. help what you're trying to accomplish.
I knew that I did not want to be in that position. I knew I had a greater purpose. And so the vision for what you're moving towards, if you don't have a vision and people can't buy into it, if you're not continuing to iterate along the way, I couldn't tell you eight years ago that we'd be on this conversation, but it's an iterative process to where you know where you're trying to go.
And along the way, you're learning different things and you're gaining different insights and you're developing yourself. And eventually you get to either the target that you thought or a better destination that you couldn't have foreseen prior to. And so a lot of times I'm helping leaders understand what is our mission? What is the vision that we have?
How do we work really good as a cohesive team, but then as an individual from a role clarity standpoint, how do you give people an opportunity to do what they do at a high level and the individual and the collection? They're working together to achieve something. And I'm an athlete. I'm a competitor. And so we're trying to perform. We're trying to put points on the board.
And if you're not trying to do that, then you're going to get passed up regardless if it's an opportunity or a challenge. And so that attitude of like, we're out here to compete. You know, you want to be the best podcast in the world, not just in this discipline, but like in general, I want to be the best in the world.
When that's your target, it continues to inspire you to go figure out new ways to improve, new ways to make tweaks, new ways to assess yourself, new ways to be honest of what your weaknesses and deficiencies are. You need to hire for it, improve it, work harder at it, something of the sort.
Yeah, man. Like I want to unpack one of the things that you said, because people do say, you know, leadership is lonely or it's lonely at the top. And I tell people this because I do leadership development as well. There are times where you're going to be surrounded by a lot of people. and you're gonna feel lonely. That just means you're not surrounded by the right people anymore, right?
Like when you outgrow the surroundings, you do feel lonely. That just means now you need to look for those new surroundings. You need to look for those new mentors, those new coaches, maybe that new challenge to push you. And so I love that you said that because I totally agree, man. Like leadership isn't meant to be lonely.
1000%.
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Chapter 8: How did the 2017 accident change Mo's perspective?
Oh, then you're in. You are totally in. You're totally in. All right, I'm going to end this with a hot five for Mo. You ready? Go ahead. All right, hot five. First one. Give me your favorite teammate of all time. Oh, we can't do that.
We can't do that. Listen, you have a very popular podcast. This isn't something... All right, we'll keep it that way.
All right. We'll pretend you said Matthew Snapper. How about that? Yeah. No, all right. So the one DB you hate it going against.
Oh, man, that is... You know, it's honest, it's the Georgia guys, because the Georgia guys talk so much trash, whether it's, you know, your Prince Millers, your Asher Allens, your Brandon Boykins, your Tim Jennings, your Demario Minners, rest in peace, Paul Oliver. But I mean, those battles are, you love them so much because you're actually spending real time with these guys all the time.
It's not like, you know, high school or college, like you're living with these guys, you've seen them all the time. And it's just tension and trash talk. But I love all those guys, but hate all of them as well.
All right. Number three, your favorite UGA memory.
The obvious is beating Florida. Unfortunately, we were one in three against Florida when I was there. And the ability to look over at the other side and see a little pain in Gator Nation was probably the most fun. There it is. Down in Jacksonville.
There it is. Your favorite NFL memory? Wow. Wow.
Now, I would say beating the Steelers because we didn't have a lot of success. But interestingly enough, it's just being there. You know, you're there with you get a chance to just watch individuals do their craft at the highest level. And while you're playing, you're also a spectator. because you're seeing just the most amazing thing from names that you know, names that you don't even know.
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