In the game of football, much like the game of life, rare is the path to success that follows a straight line. This truism is especially true for inaugural U.S. National Football Team member, A.J. Tarpley. Most recently a middle linebacker for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) Tarpley began his career at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota.

His speed and uncanny tackling prowess attracted the attention of the coaching staff at Stanford University where he became a standout on the Cardinal defense for four seasons. He earned All-Pac-12 honors as a senior before finding his way into the NFL. He went undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills in 2015.

It is at this point that Tarpley's story starts to break from that straight-line path. After starting out on the Bills practice squad, he made his debut in December of the 2015-16 season and recorded one sack and two interceptions for Buffalo. His future appeared to be bright – and then he retired. Concerned about his health, Tarpley gave up on his football dreams and embarked on a career on Wall Street.

Tarpley's love for football was too strong, and he agreed to be a member of the fledgling AAF during its inaugural season. He recently took some time to reflect on representing his country at the first International Bowl and his passion for football.

EM: A.J., you grew up in Minnesota, which is an area of the country that loves its football. When did you first start playing, and do you remember why you started playing initially?

AJT: I started playing in third grade. I always loved football. I have a brother who is a year older than me, so I followed him. I wanted to do whatever he did. My Dad also played football in college, as well. So it was just something that I was already interested in.

EM: At what point did you fall in love with the sport? I know you already had that nice 'base' of having football in your family, but what made you yourself love football?

AJT: I would say I loved it the entire time. I'm one of the rare guys that played middle linebacker from third grade up until now every single year. Most guys they played different positions and whatever. I was the opposite. I was always middle linebacker.

I loved just being out there with the team. You have 11 guys all with different stories all working towards a common goal. It was that atmosphere, that team game, that physical game that I loved. Sometimes you had to be a finesse player depending on your game.  All of that together is what I love about football.

EM: It's been talked about a lot, your decision to step away from football at such a young age. Without belaboring it too much, how difficult was that decision for you to make?

AJT: It was very hard. It was something that I thought was the right thing to do at the time. You train your whole life to make it to the NFL and to walk away from that was a tough one to make. I just thought it was right for me at the time.

EM: Gotcha. So, conversely, can you talk about what went into making the decision to come back with the AAF?

AJT: I told myself when I stepped away that if I still had the desire to play a year or two later than I would think about giving [football] another shot. My love for the game never left me and I still woke up wanting to play.

I worked out every day trying to keep my baseline of my performance level up. I wish there was some unique story about God coming down from the heavens to come back, but it was just me wanting to come back and play the game that I loved. And now, here we are.

EM: What has your experience been like so far with the new San Diego Fleet?

AJT: It's been fun getting back on the field and playing football again. It's been awesome. It's kind of cool because there's every story imaginable with these AAF teams. You have guys just out of college and 30-year-old players. Guys from all over the country and from different backgrounds. Getting to know these guys has been the best part.

EM: Let's talk about playing for Team USA. Do you remember how the opportunity to play on that first team came about?

AJT: I was very late in the process; I think it was late December when I got a call. They told me about the game and asked me if I wanted to play. I know I was one of the last guys invited. I headed out soon after.

EM: What sticks in your memory about that week of practice for you?

AJT: It's similar to my team right now. It was different guys from different backgrounds, and I got to see what they all did well. You also got to see what you did well, what your strengths and weaknesses are. Coming from high school, you have guys from all over the country playing every level and it was cool to get that gauge to see where you are. It gives you a little head start heading into college.

EM: Did being around that collection of talent push you to take your game to another level? Did they push you to see how good you could be?

AJT: Yeah it did. It was definitely fun to see and looking back, you see guys that are still playing like Mike Hull. Great players like Tyrann Mathieu that are still playing. It was cool to see different guys, different games, and seeing how they did what they did.

EM: What did putting on the red, white, and blue of the Team USA uniform on like for you?

AJT: It was cool. To represent your country in a team sport, which in football is something you never get to do since there is no Olympics as far as football goes. It was awesome to get to say you played for your country at one point in your life.

EM: Last thing for you, A.J. What would you say was your favorite part about the whole Team USA experience?

AJT: For me, it was kind of what I mentioned before. Getting the chance to see players and meet players that you normally would not see. Coming from Minnesota, there's probably three or four real good football schools there. They don't have 100 guys going to Division I schools every year. Seeing that level of play that's out there and what you expect yourself to be at was just cool.