The walk-on who earned his opportunity.
Two seasons at Coffeyville laid the foundation for his move to UNC. He earned all-conference and honorable mention junior-college All-America recognition.
Read the career recordA life built on refusing to stop.
Super Bowl champion. Speaker. Entrepreneur. A story of growth that began long before the biggest stage.
HIS STORYFrom Missouri
From Missouri
to a bigger possibility.
Raised in Missouri, Sly faced setbacks in school and played only one season of high school football. After graduating, he worked at Modine Manufacturing in Jefferson City, making radiator parts for trucks.
He wanted more for his future. He returned to school at Coffeyville Community College, where he walked onto the football program and developed into a college prospect.
A scholarship brought him to the University of North Carolina. He became a first-team All-ACC selection and earned Pro Football Weekly All-America recognition in 2012. He also earned his degree in communications—an accomplishment he has described as a source of great pride.
In 2013, the Denver Broncos selected him 28th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft. He went on to start on Denver’s Super Bowl 50 championship team.
His eight-season NFL career included the Broncos, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Chargers. He returned to Denver in 2020, bringing his professional journey back to the team that drafted him.
Today, Sly’s work reaches beyond professional football. As a speaker and entrepreneur, he brings his experience to conversations with students, leaders, and organizations. As co-founder of Champ Group Consulting, his work centers on leadership, team culture, and the CHAMP framework.
THE MILESTONES
A journey of earned moments.
SUPER BOWL 50 CHAMPIONA champion.
A champion.
Beyond the game.
Sly started on the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 championship team. Today, he draws on that experience to speak about preparation, trust, and the shared responsibility of building a strong team.
Explore his message
COMING FULL CIRCLEOnce a Raven.
Once a Raven.
Always a Raven.
In September 2026, Coffeyville welcomed Sly into its Football Hall of Fame, recognizing the journey of a former walk-on who became an All-American, first-round draft pick, and Super Bowl champion.
Read the college’s announcementBuild the mindset.
Raise the standard.
For your team, your campus, or your next leadership event.
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