Mike Safo with Todd Marinovich, former NFL quarterback, Author, and Artist


Todd Marinovich – Football, Art, and Redemption
Joined by former NFL quarterback, author, and artist Todd Marinovich. Todd gives me real estate advice about moving to Hawaii, shares his favorite local foods, and confesses his weakness for California’s iconic In-N-Out Burger.
We dive into family life, including a heartwarming (and hilarious) story about his daughter Coco painting his nails—and how his old NFL teammates would get a good laugh out of it. We also reflect on Todd’s last appearance on the show back in 2015, where we talked openly about addiction, the road to recovery, and the incredible progress he’s made since then.
Todd opens up about his new book, "Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction" a raw and powerful look at football, art, and his battle with addiction. He shares what inspired him to write it, how emotionally draining the process was, and the feedback he’s received so far.
We compare his journey with that of fellow athlete and recovery advocate Chris Herren, and discuss pivotal life choices—like why he chose USC over Stanford and what it was really like to be drafted by the Raiders. Todd sets the record straight on a few common misconceptions, including how he became a starting QB after just 10 college games.
He also talks about attending a recent Raiders reunion, how that helped him heal, and tells a hilarious story involving Russell Maryland and his "welcome" to the NFL.
Now more than just a quarterback, Todd proudly identifies as an artist, speaker, and motivator. He also reveals why he hasn’t taken a photo with a celebrity in over 30 years, the one piece of memorabilia he truly treasures, and where fans can grab a copy of his book.
Follow Todd and definitely check out Marinovich: Outside the Lines—a story of resilience, transformation, and finding purpose beyond the game.
Todd's site: https://www.marinovichbook.com/