Former Penn State linebacker Landon Tengwall retired from football in the prime of his career. But he will never regret it

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Every day, Landon Tengwall woke up and checked himself Penn StateTeam Works app and see your daily schedule. Training, exercises, meals, breaks – it was all there.

After yet another strong season, Tengwall, a linebacker for the Nittany Lions football team, was expected to be a first-round NFL draft pick.

But in a moment it was gone.

Early in Penn State’s 2023 preseason camp, Tengwall suffered a concussion. It was an injury that coach James Franklin initially called “bumps and bruises,” prompting an investigation. A few weeks later, Tengwall decided to retire from football for health reasons.

“The most important and best advice I have ever received is to play football before it takes advantage of you,” Tengwall told The Inquirer. “I felt like I was starting to get to the point where if I came back, maybe it would use me more than just retiring from football.”

Tengwall adapted to life after football thanks to a podcast he hosted Beyond the Wall. He says the journey was useful but not easy.

Making a change

Tengwall’s grandfather, David Tengwall, played football at Tennessee from 1966 to 1968. In the aftermath, the elder Tengwall underwent several surgeries and kept Tengwall’s father, Chris, from playing. Landon saw how the game impacted his grandfather and many others. Young Tengwall had been dealing with multiple concussions and didn’t want to fall victim either.

“I’ve seen what it’s like when you’re 40 or 50 years old and you have a traumatic brain injury, brain damage,” Tengwall said. “I have seen former players talking to walls. I played in the NFL for a year, but it was much more important for me in the future to be a good husband, a good father, a good businessman and just be who I am and have energy.

Additionally, Tengwall began to suffer from injuries. In addition to the concussion, he suffered a torn labrum five games into his redshirt freshman season and missed the rest of the year.

Even after his retirement, football was still Tengwall’s life. Football was everything to him, but he had to change. Then Tengwall remembered something his father had reminded him of.

“I’ll tell you one thing: All you talked about was what you were going to do when you finished playing football and you had money and you could take on this business venture,” Tengwall recalled. “He said, ‘That’s funny, I never thought about it, (but) you never really talked much about being in the NFL.’

Life after football

As Tengwall watched the NFL draft season miss him, it was a challenge for him.

“I haven’t really practiced in a while, I will say that. And everyone who knows me loves to exercise,” Tengwall said. “People said I was taking steroids.”

Tengwall graduated from Good Counsel High School in Olneyat Maryland, as a four-star recruit at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, he was listed as the No. 1 player in Maryland.

As Penn State finished the 2023 season with a 10-3 record and an appearance in the Peach Bowl, Tengwall, a broadcast journalism major, began a new life as a non-athlete. He used his experience to secure radio appearances and eventually a regular appearance on the Fox television station serving State College, building his brand.

Tengwall’s mother, Nicole Busse, knew he was capable of such a career when he spent his senior year in school.

“I remember telling him, ‘Landon, you have the best personality. I can perfectly see you on TV as a sports broadcaster,” Busse said. “It was just my mom’s instinct telling me, ‘I’ve actually seen her do this and be really successful at it.’

Now his podcast has over 2,000 subscribers on YouTube. He participated in film sessions, squats and even eating contests with the Eagles Super Bowl champion and former Nittany Lions defenseman Stefen Wisniewski.

A new niche

These new endeavors allow Tengwall to learn more about Penn State football history and talk about athletes in a new light.

He recently started a GoFundMe for kicker Ryan Barker, who scored the game-winning field goal in Penn State’s 33-30 overtime win over Southern Cal on Oct. 12.

Tengwall will graduate in December and has prepared for his next decisive step. He thrived on his connections, which he credits in part to Franklin and Penn State for their preparation and support, and even continues to honor his scholarship and stay in touch.

Franklin acknowledged Tengwall’s ability to connect with players, but didn’t take credit for it, saying he saw Tengwall was destined for success.

“He seems to be carving out a nice little niche for himself,” Franklin said. “We are not the least bit surprised. I think he has a very, very bright future ahead of him.”