HODINKEE Radio: Episode 50: Donnie Edwards

July 15, 2019

Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review here, and tell us which guests we should have on! There's no reason to mince words here C this is definitely one of the most fun conversations Ive be able to have for HODINKEE Radio. Sit me down with someone whos extremely talented, surprisingly humble, and unrelentingly nerdy about their passions and Im good to go.?All of that perfectly describes this weeks guest, Donnie Edwards. Donnie grew up in San Diego, California, played football at UCLA, and ended up spending 13 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL. He even got to spend five seasons playing for his hometown San Diego Chargers. But beyond being a world-class athlete, hes a serious watch nerd. And I mean really serious.?The dude was deep in the Panerai community going back to the 1990s and can rattle off reference numbers like its nothing. Hes been to the Valle de Joux, and his taste in watches is pretty diverse, including brands from Rolex and Audemars Piguet to Patek Philippe and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Hes also a firm believer in the power of watches to bring people together and to create communities.I could have talked to Donnie for hours, but he had a flight to catch and I didnt want to be responsible for stranding him in a rainy New York City overnight. But dont worry, hell be back on the show soon, no question.We hope you enjoy Episode 50 of HODINKEE Radio. Check out the show notes below and let us know what you think in the comments. Wrist Check Donnie's collection spans many styles and brands, but it all started with Rolex for him. When he got his first NFL contract, purchasing a Rolex was one of the ways he told himself he'd "made it." It's a familiar story, but one that's no less special for it. That first watch was a Rolex Daytona with a Zenith movement inside (no slouch of a first watch, right?) and this new ref. 116500LN Daytona is in some ways a spiritual descendent of that watch. He still has the Zenith Daytona, of course, but this one is getting a lot of wrist time these days. Show Notes 2:30NFL Legends11:45 Donnie As A UCLA Bruin13:45 1996 Draft Class15:00 Donnie Edwards SD Chargers Tribute Video34:20 "Vintage Panerai: The References, 1930s-1940s"40:00 Best Defense Foundation41:00 WWII Battlefield Return With Best Defense Foundation44:45 Donate to Best Defense Foundation