Ex-NFL Player Kendal Vickers Launches New Real Estate Career

The former defensive tackle is chasing success in a new field after a seven-year NFL career.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Kendal Vickers, a former NFL defensive tackle who played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints, is now embarking on a new career in real estate. Vickers, who grew up working construction jobs with his uncle during the offseason, decided to get his real estate license in 2024 while still playing in the NFL. He officially launched his real estate career in 2025, signing with Compass brokerage. Despite a challenging market, Vickers is applying the same work ethic and mentality that made him successful in football to his new real estate venture.

Why it matters

Vickers' transition from the NFL to real estate highlights the challenges professional athletes face in planning for life after their playing careers end. His story shows how some athletes leverage their skills and connections to find success in new industries. Vickers' experience also provides insights into the real estate market in Florida and Tennessee, where he is now working.

The details

Vickers' introduction to real estate came from working construction jobs with his uncle, a longtime general contractor and developer, during his college summers. This hands-on experience gave Vickers an understanding of the business side of real estate. In his final NFL season with the Saints in 2024, Vickers quietly began taking real estate classes and earned his licenses in Florida and Tennessee. He officially launched his real estate career in 2025, signing with Compass brokerage. Despite a challenging market, particularly in Florida, Vickers has already closed his first two deals - one on the buyer side and one on the seller side. Vickers has also leveraged his NFL background to make new connections in the industry, including partnering with a mortgage broker who is a Raiders fan. In addition to individual transactions, Vickers is now serving as the head of sales for two residential subdivisions being built by his uncle's company in the Knoxville and Nashville areas.

  • In 2024, Vickers began taking real estate classes while still playing in the NFL.
  • Vickers earned his Florida real estate license in June 2025.
  • Vickers earned his Tennessee real estate license a few months after getting his Florida license in 2025.

The players

Kendal Vickers

A former NFL defensive tackle who played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints, and is now embarking on a new career in real estate.

Vickers' uncle

A longtime general contractor and developer who runs the Wright Group in the Knoxville area, and who provided Vickers with hands-on experience in the real estate industry during his college summers.

Vickers' aunt

Helped explain the financial side of the real estate business to Vickers when he was working for his uncle's company.

Marcus Duane Anderson

The founder of MDA Financing, a mortgage broker who is now Vickers' preferred lender after recognizing him at an industry event in Tampa.

Compass

The brokerage that Vickers signed with to launch his real estate career, which he first connected with through the agent who helped him purchase a home in Tampa while he was playing for the Raiders.

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What they’re saying

“I just decided I was going to take the same work ethic and the same mentality that I had in football. I know I'm going to end up reaping the benefits of my work. I just have to control what I can control, and that's myself.”

— Kendal Vickers

“To see the look on their face when they bought their home, when they came in for the walkthrough, seeing their son running in the backyard, the smile on the wife's face. That was the moment where I was like, 'Okay, I see why people do this now.'”

— Kendal Vickers

“He just has a certain level of character that stands out. Being in the mortgage business as long as I have, I know a lot of real estate agents, and not all of them have such a good vision, a good heart.”

— Marcus Duane Anderson, Founder, MDA Financing

What’s next

Vickers plans to continue growing his real estate business in Florida and Tennessee, leveraging his NFL connections and the support of his family's construction company to take on more listings and development projects.

The takeaway

Vickers' transition from the NFL to real estate demonstrates how elite athletes can apply the same drive and work ethic that made them successful in sports to launching new careers. His story provides inspiration for other former pro athletes looking to find fulfillment and financial security in a second act.