Fall used to signify the kickoff of football season for Drew Bledsoe, but the autumnal weather in retirement carries a new meaning for the former Patriots quarterback.
Trading in throwing touchdowns for crushing grapes, the 45-year-old is now an avid winemaker. A year after his final NFL game, Bledsoe officially launched Doubleback Winery — a family business in his hometown of Walla Walla, Washington.
Bledsoe told Boston.com he first started thinking about entrepreneurship seven or eight years into his career, once he started to recognize “football wasn’t going to last forever.” To prepare for the inevitable end of his childhood dream, the four-time Pro Bowler said he took a hard look at what he could learn from players who had seamlessly transitioned out of the NFL and other leagues.