Ryan Kalil picked up my phone call at 9:01 p.m. on Saturday, after the second time he’s ever experienced the first day of work.



He was exhausted. He was in New York with his wife, Natalie, and their four young children. He had taken his physical; was given the second NFL playbook he’s ever owned, toured new facilities, shook unfamiliar hands.



Three days ago, Kalil, 34, signed a one-year, $8.4 million deal with the Jets to be their mercenary center and mentor to second-year quarterback Sam Darnold.



Four months ago, Kalil was jogging on the beach in Southern California, his childhood home, where he had moved after the Carolina Panthers’ 2018 season. He had changed his phone number back to a So-Cal area code. His plan was to run Mortal Media, the production company he co-founded with NBA star Blake Griffin, full-time. He and Natalie had just pushed forward plans for the Kalil Family foundation, partnering with a company that prints 3D houses to...