Meet Jerod Mayo, the businessman.

The former Patriots linebacker quickly changed career paths after retiring this offseason. Mayo is already well-adjusted to the corporate world, mixing his passion for business and health care by working in financial services for health company Optum.

After thinking about retiring for a while, the 30-year-old is at peace with the decision, though he didn’t rule out a return to the NFL in some other capacity.

“It’s a blessing,” Mayo said. “Honestly, I feel great where I am. Being in this position is a good feeling. I lost a few pounds. I feel good. I don’t know how else to say it. I feel good with where I am in life.”

Mayo also continued his partnership with Boston Medical Center by participating in the Charity Champions League, a two-week digital voting competition that began today and will ultimately pay the celebrity winner’s foundation a prize of $250,000. Mayo is backing BMC against 10 others, including Cal Ripken Jr. and Usain Bolt, and his campaign can be supported at development.BMC.org.

“We have a strong team, and we should honestly win this thing,” Mayo said.

But to progress with these endeavors, Mayo had to put the NFL in his past. The ultimate reason for retirement centered on a family that includes a wife and three children. Mayo, who finished his final three seasons on injured reserve, cherished the additional time with his family in 2013 when he tore his pectoral muscle and in 2014 when he tore his patellar tendon.

Coach Bill Belichick had an offer on the table for Mayo, but the eight-year veteran and seven-time captain was ready for a challenge that wasn’t so time consuming.

“There’s no doubt that I could have played, but I would never play for anyone else,” Mayo said. “That’s the reality of the situation. The only team I would ever want to play for is the New England Patriots. It’s not like you wake up one day like, ‘All right, I’m done playing football.’ You think about it for a while. You talk to your family. You talk to people you respect. I had a great run playing for the Patriots, and I’ll always be a part of their organization. Those guys know I’ll always be one phone call away, and I’ll always be up here in Massachusetts. I still feel as though I’m part of the team.

“But as far as being able to go out there every day and put in that grind, be away from my family for an extended period of time, that takes a toll on you. People don’t realize. They think we just go out there and play football on Sunday. You’re at the office 12 hours a day or 10 hours a day, so you miss a lot of things. I have a 5-, 4- and 1-year-old. There comes a point where I need to spend some time with my family and watch them grow. They’ve been so supportive of me over these last eight years, and it’s time for me to be supportive of them. That pretty much was the deciding factor. It was tough, though.”

Mayo admits he misses the game, the camaraderie that comes from the uphill runs at the conclusion of summer practices. That’s why he won’t rule out a return to the NFL in a coaching capacity.

“Maybe down the road,” he said. “I love the game, I do. I love football. I love the X’s and O’s of the game. I love putting in the time and just breaking down players and breaking down schemes. That’s something that has always piqued my interest, from a young child, so who knows what God has in store for me down the line.”

But now, Mayo is happy at Optum, where he’s got his own office and talks health care more than football.

And his greatest challenges these days are recovering from a recent root canal, as opposed to prepping for the run-heavy offenses of the AFC East.

“I’m working a lot,” Mayo said. “I’m enjoying it. Obviously, I’m not out there running wind sprints. It’s a mental grind. I’m enjoying it, enjoying getting to know other people, meeting my coworkers. It’s a great organization. I like to look at Optum as a top-class organization like the Patriots.”