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Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez

Keynote Speaker: Military Veteran, Purple Heart & Bronze Star Recipient, NY Times Bestselling Author ("Rise"), Wide Receiver & NFL Draftee

Daniel Rodriguez Biography

Daniel Rodriguez has had an incredible journey. After surviving the bloodiest clash of the war in Afghanistan, he left the military and walked on the Clemson football special teams in order to fulfill a promise to a friend who died on the battlefield.

Rodriguez’s father passed away four days after his high school graduation. He sought out the military and spent 15 months in Iraq before heading to Afghanistan, where he found himself in the bloodiest battle of the war. As more than 300 Tailban assaulted his combat outpost, it was partially overrun and nearly destroyed. During the 18-hour, point-blank battle, eight U.S. soldiers were killed, including Rodriguez’s close friend, Pfc. Kevin Thompson. The two had bonded over making plans for what they would do after they got out of the military. Six months later, Rodriguez returned home, only to battle the psychological effects of war. After earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery, suicidal thoughts and heavy drinking became the new normal. Spurred by the desire to make his friend’s death meaningful, Rodriguez decided to make a change. He enrolled in community college, raised his grades, and vowed to make good on the promise he had made to Thompson – to get his education and play college football.

Rodriguez committed to getting back in shape. He quit drinking and worked out more than six hours a day. Despite the training, he battled other stereotypes – he was older now than the typical college freshman and weighed less than 200 pounds. But Rodriguez didn’t give up. With an utter devotion to accomplishing his goal, he found a friend with filmmaking experience and the two shot a unique recruitment video.

Never asking for a handout, only a chance, he reminds audiences what it means to take control and work to succeed with determination. Rodriguez shares the story of how he came back from the edge of war in order to honor his friend’s life and create a new one for himself. His accomplishments resonate with anyone who has ever fought for what they wanted.

In 2012, Rodriguez was honored with the Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award for his display of courage on and off the field. In 2014, he received the Armed Forces Merit Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America and honoring an individual with a military background that has made an impact in college football. He was also awarded the American Hero Award by the Walter Camp foundation. During his senior season with the Tigers, he published "Rise: A Soldier, A Dream and a Promise Kept, the firsthand account of his journey from Kamdesh to Clemson."

In Spring 2015, Rodriguez was signed by the St. Louis Rams.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Daniel Rodriguez and other top speakers and celebrities.

Daniel Rodriguez Speaking Topics

Determination, Grit, and Perseverance: The Journey from Kamdesh to Clemson

Daniel Rodriguez shares the unforgettable story of how he survived one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan and lived to pursue his dream of playing college football. Never asking for a handout, only a chance, he reminds audiences what it means to take control and work to succeed. With grit, determination, and the power of social media, he inspires audiences to tap into their potential and work to make their lives meaningful. An emotionally-moving storyteller, he shares how he found his way out of darkness and accomplished his unlikely dream, coming back from the edge of war in order to honor his friend’s life and create a new one for himself. This powerful keynote resonates with anyone who has ever fought for what they wanted.

Daniel Rodriguez Videos

Today, I'm Brave Speaker Series III - Daniel Rodriguez
Veteran Daniel Rodriguez inspires Wildcats
Meet 2015 Veteran Leadership Honoree Daniel Rodriguez

How do I book Daniel Rodriguez to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Daniel Rodriguez for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Daniel Rodriguez, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Daniel Rodriguez or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Daniel Rodriguez for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Daniel Rodriguez, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Daniel Rodriguez, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Daniel Rodriguez speak about?

Daniel Rodriguez is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Military, Veteran, Overcoming Adversity, World Affairs, College, Football, Motivational, Sports Motivation and Leadership.

Where does Daniel Rodriguez travel from?

Daniel Rodriguez generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Daniel Rodriguez?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Daniel Rodriguez for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Daniel Rodriguez for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Daniel Rodriguez or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Daniel Rodriguez is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Military, Veteran and Overcoming Adversity. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Daniel Rodriguez generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jason Redman, J.R. Martinez and Melissa Stockwell. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Daniel Rodriguez for an upcoming event.

Daniel Rodriguez Speaking Topics

  • Determination, Grit, and Perseverance: The Journey from Kamdesh to Clemson

    Daniel Rodriguez shares the unforgettable story of how he survived one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan and lived to pursue his dream of playing college football. Never asking for a handout, only a chance, he reminds audiences what it means to take control and work to succeed. With grit, determination, and the power of social media, he inspires audiences to tap into their potential and work to make their lives meaningful. An emotionally-moving storyteller, he shares how he found his way out of darkness and accomplished his unlikely dream, coming back from the edge of war in order to honor his friend’s life and create a new one for himself. This powerful keynote resonates with anyone who has ever fought for what they wanted.

Daniel Rodriguez Videos

Today, I'm Brave Speaker Series III - Daniel Rodriguez
Veteran Daniel Rodriguez inspires Wildcats
Meet 2015 Veteran Leadership Honoree Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez News

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DANIEL RODRIGUEZ

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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.