Former NFL player Jared Veldheer joins ‘Next Level Chef’ as a home chef. Explore his football career and how he shifted his focus from football to cooking.
Jared Veldheer (Image Via Getty)
Jared Veldheer (Image Via Getty)
Next Level Chef welcomed 24 contestants who were divided into three categories.
Pro Chefs
Social media chefs
Home chefs
This week 8 home chefs made their way to the kitchen to compete and move ahead in the competition.
Out of these chefs, fans noticed a known face from the world of the NFL.
Jared Valdeer, a retired NFL player, competed as one of the home chefs on the show.
To know more about who Jared Veldheer is, keep on reading.
Next Level Chef: More about home chef Jared Valdheer
Jared Veldheer is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Born on June 14, 1987, Jared was not the first in his family to play in the NFL. His father was a cousin of the NFL player Kevin Haverdink.
Jared started playing football in his school years, where he was named “Most Valuable Lineman.” He attended Hillsdale College and became co-captain of the Hillsdale Chargers football team in 2008.
The Oakland Raiders drafted him in 2010, and he served as an offensive tackle. Veldeer signed a three-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals worth 35 million dollars in March 2014,
He entered into a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2019, but Jared declared his departure from the NFL shortly after.
He revealed the reason for his abrupt retirement, saying (via NBC Sports Boston):
“It was easy (decision) because of knowing what my body was telling me, but it was hard because I was leaving a very good situation being with the Patriots. (Belichick) understood, and everyone in the NFL building understands that the sport can do a number on your body and different guys have different timelines on how long they can make it through."
After his retirement, he remained active in the NFL by being a free agent till 2021. Jared Veldheer is married and has two children, Eva and Edwin.
After retiring from the NFL, Jared found a new love and interest, which was cooking, and took charge of lunch at St. Paul the Apostle School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jared talked about his stint as a “lunch lady” and remarked (via ESPN):
“I've always liked cooking. I wasn't sure if I wanted to, you know, be the school lunch lady, but anyway, gave it some thought and I was like, I'm kind of looking for something to do with my time. It's not a bad gig time-commitment wise. I'm around my kids. So I just kind of went for it.”
His school menus were a rage, and the parents were constantly asking if the school would offer “take outs.”
Jared stressed the importance of eating healthy food.
He stated (via Today):
“I realized there’s foods that I need to incorporate more to have longevity on the field to have my body feel good from week to week. When you’re basically getting in a car wreck each Sunday, you have to be really smart and calculated about it and teach yourself to like new things and think outside of the box."
Jared is active on social media, and his Instagram boasts 148K followers.
He often shares tips for young football players about the sport on Instagram.
Apart from this, Valdeer also launched his personal website, which:
“Reaches young athletes and their parents seeking real training and nutrition, offensive linemen who want to dominate physically and mentally, NFL fans who follow the game, foodie athletes who care about flavor and performance, and families looking for budget-friendly, high-protein meals that fuel long-term health.”
Stay tuned for more such updates.
TOPICS: Next Level Chef, Jared Veldeer, Next Level Chef Week 3