Photo Credit: Scottsdale Event Photography
1:1 with Nick Lowery
Hi, I’m Zaza, and I got to interview Nick Lowery. Nick played 18 seasons in the NFL as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. Nick invited me to his Scottsdale house which had sports stuff everywhere… so cool! He’s lived in Arizona for more than 30 years, and had some awesome stories to share.
ZA: What does it really feel like to be a kicker under pressure?
NL: “It’s snapped back in 1.27 seconds, spun in two-tenths of a second, and you have about one-tenth of a second to see it and kick it through. You’ve got 11 people, each paid millions, trying to block you from 21 feet away. It’s not just accuracy; it’s managing fear, focus, and the moment.”
ZA: How do you stay calm when everything’s on the line?
NL: “As a kicker in the NFL, you’re naked emotionally. You’re alone in front of 80,000 people, and the ball is either going through or it isn’t. You have to manage yourself. Preparation takes over. That’s when discipline wins.”
ZA: Tell me about your new book: Naked and Alone with 80,000 People.
NL: “My book is all about how rejections and failures and missed field goals teach us to be better. I played 18 years and set the record for most accuracy. In two years, with dedication and focus, unbelievable things can be achieved. It’s about those moments when everything is on you; total vulnerability. It’s not just a sports book; it’s stories, lessons, and reflections about life, purpose, and what happens when you fail and rise again. The title is really about being seen, being tested, and finding your strength in the middle of it all.”
ZA: You actually knew Muhammad Ali?!
NL: “I was the only non-family member at his 74th and final birthday party. I even drove Muhammad to the NBA All-Star Game in 2009. He loved Butterfinger candy bars.”
ZA: What goes through your mind when you run onto the field?
NL: “Honestly? One voice in my head would be going, ‘What are you doing? This is the scariest thing ever!’ And then another voice would take over and say, ‘Just stick with your discipline.’ That’s what great athletes do… they quiet the noise and trust their preparation.”
ZA: What is one of your favorite football memories?
NL: “My first game with the Chiefs; I hit a 50-yarder and later a 57-yarder, both in the same game. Then hitting the overtime game-winner against the Steelers with Joe Montana… looking up to see 80,000 people all in red. I’ll never forget that.”
ZA: Tell us about your Thanksgiving event, Champions for the Homeless.
NL: “We serve, on average, 1,000 homeless brothers and sisters at St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Phoenix, especially for Thanksgiving. We give out socks, shirts, gift cards, flowers, and haircuts. We let them know they’re seen and not forgotten.”
ZA: What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
NL: “It’s not the brightness of the spotlight on you; it’s the intensity of the light within you. It means it’s not about how famous you are; it’s about what kind of person you are when no one’s watching.”
nicklowery.com
About Sports with Zaza
With purity, curiosity, and fearless questions, Zaza lives for interviewing pros and sharing the action from courtside clips to the sidelines. Follow his IG @sportswithzaza
