Fri Nov 08 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## NFL Center Connor McGovern: From Potato Empire Heir to Pro Footballer

**Fargo, North Dakota** – Connor McGovern, a seasoned NFL center currently with the New Orleans Saints, comes from an unlikely background: he’s the heir to a potato empire. His family, the Offutts, own R.D. Offutt, the largest commercial potato producer in the country, supplying McDonald’s and other major food chains with their iconic fries.

McGovern’s decision to pursue football over the family business, while seemingly obvious for a potential multi-millionaire athlete, was actually a difficult one. As he prepared for the 2016 NFL draft, his grandfather, Ron Offutt, known as the “Sultan of Spuds,” confronted him with the reality of his choice: “You realize that you’re walking away from more money [in] the family business in comparison to going to the NFL.”

Despite the potential for immense wealth in the potato industry, McGovern chose to pursue his passion for football. While he acknowledges the challenges of sustaining a career in the NFL, he’s proud of the family business and his own accomplishments.

McGovern’s journey has been marked by both successes and injuries, forcing him to question his future in the sport. While he considered retirement, he ultimately returned to the Saints, putting his entrance into the family business on hold.

When he does eventually join the family business, McGovern is clear that he won’t be handed a position. “There’s no nepotism in the family,” he says. “I don’t get to just walk in and have a role. Just like you have to earn your spot in the NFL … everything has got to be earned.”

McGovern’s story is one of balancing passion and responsibility, a testament to the hard work and dedication required to excel in both professional sports and family-run empires. It highlights the unique situation of an athlete who could have chosen an easy life but instead carved his own path in a challenging yet rewarding career.

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