Call Panther’s center “Chef Jeff.” Carolina has more than a standout at center , but a guy that can throw down in the kitchen. The MBA graduates specialties include some mean eggplant, squash and beef dishes. Watch out.
In addition to Beyers winning with cooking skills, he played on a winning Trojans the National Championship team. At University of Southern California Beyers played under Pete Carroll. During his time at USC, Beyers unfortunately was injured at a critical time. Despite the setback Jeff got two years of additional eligibility by staying at USC and enrolling in the Marshall School of Business for his MBA. His journey lead him to be an undrafted rookie in 2010 picked up by Carroll to play for the Seahawks and later went on to play for the Broncos and Panthers.
Pro Player Insider’s, Theresa Villano, was able to join Beyers at the Annual Taste of NFL, where Villano found out that the smart “Chef Jeff” understands food and charitable efforts.
Pro Player Insiders: Why are you here today, Jeff?
Jeff Beyers: I’m here today to support a great cause. People go to bed hungry every day in America and all over the world. This event specifically is for helping families that are struggling with hunger in America and it’s a wonderful event. We’re celebrating with food, wine, great people, great atmosphere, and it’s truly an honor to represent the Panthers and be here. I’m very blessed to be here and spread the good word.
PPI: Who are the chefs next to us? Give them a shout out. What restaurant are they from?
J.B.: We have Bill Schutz from Bonterra Dining and Wine Room. They do an excellent job. We have an Asian beef salad topped with baby greens served with a Malbec wine from Argentina. The wine is grown at high elevation as a thicker skin grape which means it has a very robust flavor, great aroma, and goes down very smooth, a little dry. It’s excellent.
PPI: It sounds like you’re a foodie. What can you throw down in your kitchen?
J.B.: Oh man, I do love to cook. I’ve been called “Chef Jeff “before. I had some eggplant this summer that I grew in my garden. I made some mean eggplant dishes. I like cooking with squash and beef.
PPI: If you could pick one person in this world to cook for you and it was your last meal, who would it be to cook it for you and what would that meal be?
J.B.: Last meal, I would have to say my wife. I love to spend time with her and if it was my last meal, who better to spend time with than my wife. Anything. I would eat anything she makes.
PPI: Let’s go back to football, Jeff. There’s a lot of young guys in the league that are doing so well. Who is a young guy on your team that has really turned it up?
J.B.: Luke Kuechly. Everybody knows him. Amazing human being. Great, very humble, gives back, great role model, but a very great football player. He has a very bright future and is very young. If there were more guys like that in the world, the world would be a better place. Luke Kuechly is a young guy who’s doing great things in this league and is going to continue to.
–By Theresa Villano and Jennifer Korszun
Interview By Theresa Villano, follow @Theresa_ppi
