Jon Dorenbos

Jon Dorenbos is a two-time Pro Bowl NFL long snapper, world-class magician, bestselling author, and one of the most extraordinary storytellers on the motivational speaking circuit. His 14-year NFL career, his third-place finish on America’s Got Talent, and a childhood tragedy that would have broken most people make his story one of the most powerful in the industry.

From Unimaginable Loss to NFL Stardom and Beyond

At age 12, Dorenbos’s father murdered his mother, shattering his childhood and sending him into the foster care system. He found solace in magic and football, two pursuits that saved his life. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, earning two Pro Bowl selections, the Ed Block Courage Award, and the Eagles’ Walter Payton Man of the Year. He holds the record for the most consecutive games played in Eagles franchise history. His NFL career ended when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening aortic aneurysm requiring emergency open-heart surgery.

Life Is Magic

Dorenbos is the author of the bestselling book Life Is Magic and has appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show more than any other guest in the show’s history. He was also a finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions. He now tours with Tony Robbins and speaks to Fortune 500 audiences worldwide. His keynotes weave jaw-dropping magic with deeply moving storytelling to deliver unforgettable presentations on resilience, forgiveness, choosing happiness, overcoming adversity, and the mindset that turns tragedy into triumph.

What does Jon Dorenbos speak about?
Jon Dorenbos speaks on resilience, positivity, and the choice to build an extraordinary life in the face of unimaginable adversity. His keynotes make the case that joy is not something that happens to you — it is something you decide, repeatedly, in the hardest moments.

What is Jon Dorenbos’s background?
Dorenbos played 14 seasons as an NFL long snapper while simultaneously building a career as a world-class magician and America’s Got Talent finalist. He lost his mother to his father’s violence as a child — and chose, beginning at age 13, to build a life defined by gratitude rather than grief.

Who books Jon Dorenbos to speak?
Meeting planners book Jon Dorenbos for leadership, healthcare, and culture-focused events where an emotionally powerful, first-person story of choosing joy over victimhood is the goal.

Life is Magic

Don’t be tricked into thinking Jon’s performance is simply a magic show. Known for his great sense of humor and positive outlook on life, Jon uses his skills as a magician and his incredible life story to inspire audiences around the world. Drawing on his book, Life is Magic, Jon draws a road map for how to shut down your inner self doubt by choosing to find happiness in every situation. His story is poignant and powerful, told by a charismatic and optimistic man who has overcome life-or-death challenges with grace, persistence, a childlike sense of wonder . . . and jaw-dropping card tricks.

An Evening with Jon Dorenbos.

Jon’s inspirational life story of triumph over adversity has been retold on national television in features by NBC, HBO, FOX Sports, ESPN, E! True Hollywood Story: An American Story, ABC, and CBS. Jon tailors his presentations to fit the needs of his audience. He inspires others by sharing his life experiences and NFL stories, relating them to corporate culture. He discusses the importance of discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and the acceptance of failure in achieving a common goal. In his words, “Live in vision not in circumstance.”

As a professional keynote speaker since 2008, Jon has motivated and wowed audiences including AT&T, Nationwide Insurance, Marriott International, Kroger Foods, Boeing, SAP, Black & Decker, Lincoln Financial, Nexxus, MGM Resorts International, Jackson Hewitt, Merrill Lynch, Taco Bell, Pappa John’s, DigiKey, and numerous other Fortune 500 companies.

Live In Vision, Not in Circumstance

Overcoming Life’s Obstacles. When unimaginable tragedy struck Jon Dorenbos’ life at the age of 12, he found solace in sports and pushed through the pain of the past to go on to have a 14-season NFL career. And when his NFL career came to an abrupt end following a life-threatening diagnosis, he went all in on his other passion and became a renowned magician. Dorenbos’ story is one of overcoming every obstacle he has faced and in his inspiring, often tear-jerking talks, he reveals to audiences how they can do the same. In this powerful session, he draws from his own personal journey to demonstrate the power of courage and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as expand on the belief that progress can only be made by moving beyond the challenges of the past and having a forward-looking mindset for a better future.

The Power of Teamwork

Having achieved success at the highest level of professional sports, Jon Dorenbos is uniquely positioned to share insights on the pivotal role teamwork plays in achieving any goal. Drawing from his 14-season career as a long-snapper on teams in the fast-paced, hard-hitting NFL, Dorenbos outlines the core facets that power high-performing teams to make game-changing plays and illustrates the impact each individual has on team success. His action steps for strengthening basic team dynamics, such as communication, and uniting teams around a shared objective can be applied to organizations in any field.

Embracing Change

Change is constant and often uncomfortable. It requires pivoting from what you know and adapting to factors that are often beyond your control to be successful. Letting audiences in on his own life-changing moments, magician and former NFL player Jon Dorenbos leads a mindset-shifting session that encourages audiences to embrace change in their professional and personal lives and make the most of the opportunities it presents to refocus, reinvent, and achieve remarkable goals.