You won’t find Damiere Byrd hustling on the field in NFL games anymore, but you will find the 32-year-old in the field — canvassing, selling, and even helping install roofs.

After a nearly decade-long career, including setting a franchise record for the Carolina Panthers with a 103-yard kickoff return, Byrd is hustling as the owner of Bumble Roofing of Charlotte, part of the Bumble Roofing franchise.

“It’s a good industry to be in, there’s a lot of opportunity, there’s a lot of growth in there, especially when you’re starting a business,” he said.

Byrd retired in 2024, having played for the Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. He also played college football at the University of South Carolina.

“It was 10 years, I had a few injuries that started plaguing me toward the end of my career,” he said. “We kind of get to a certain age and we know that it’s coming soon, but you’re never really ready for it.”

Given that many athletes retire before they feel ready, Byrd said forming a plan ahead of time made the transition easier. Having been in the Charlotte area since 2015, where he met his wife and started a family, it became the natural choice to settle in the city. It’s also where he played with the Carolina Panthers from 2015 to 2018 and again in 2023.

He said his retirement plan always included the idea of going into franchising, but at the time, his only exposure was to casual dining and fast-food businesses. A consultant introduced him to the home services industry, which worked perfectly since Bumble Roofing — established in 2019 in Los Angeles — was looking to break into the Charlotte market.

His location became the first franchise of Bumble Roofing to open in North Carolina.

“Our market is such a good market to be in. There’s a lot of competition. There’s a lot of big roofing companies here in Charlotte and there’s a lot of really small mom-and-pop companies that do really good work,” he said. “It’s finding our lane and our niche somewhere in the middle.”

Learning the Trade

Photo courtesy of Bumble Roofing of Charlotte

Coming in with no construction or roofing background, Byrd was candid when asked what surprised him about the roofing industry.

“Honestly? Everything,” he said with a laugh. “Everything was completely new, and just walking into it, I just had an open mind about everything. I’m still learning — we’re several months in and I’m still learning at every consultation, and every roof is different, and every problem is not the same.”

This isn’t to say Byrd is coming into it without any skills. On its surface, running touchdowns and catching passes may not have much in common with slinging shingles, but he said that the problem-solving skills acquired in the NFL have helped him in his new venture.

“The hustle is the biggest one, where it’s trying to bring in leads and drum up business,” he said. “The real problems start when you overlook and don’t pay attention to the small details, and that’s the biggest thing in football.

“The small details turn into huge problems, and in roofing, the small details turn into water leaking into the interior of the home, and that’s even worse. The attention to detail is the biggest thing that crosses over.”

The grit and determination expected of NFL athletes also lend themselves to the daily grind that roofing contractors face, from driving to job sites to making appointments and completing jobs quickly and efficiently.

“It’s understanding every day is not the same and there will be some bumps in the road,” he said. “It’s being flexible and being able to adapt on the fly.”

Photo courtesy of Bumble Roofing of Charlotte

Bumble Roofing of Charlotte is currently made up of Byrd and a salesperson, while subcontractors are brought in to complete the work. Along with owning the business, Byrd is involved with daily operations and heads into the field to help with inspections and installations.

“I get feedback a lot, and even prior to getting into the industry, everybody kind of feels like roofers are selling them a new roof when they don't need it,” he said. “For us, we're just there to help them. We present them with options, we present them with what their issues are and what we can see can be the issue, and we always let them make the call.”

As of now, Bumble Roofing of Charlotte primarily deals in reroofing, but Byrd plans on expanding into new construction as the business establishes itself in the market. He said the Bumble Roofing franchise has helped with marketing materials and advice on canvassing, giving him a jumpstart as a first-time business owner.

His NFL background may give him an edge in that, too. He said that over the past two months, customers have slowly recognized who he is, which is a good problem, as it means branding and name recognition strategies are paying off.

“In the beginning, I was able to fly under the radar pretty well, but the leads that are coming in now? Most of them know already,” he said. “It helps break down that barrier of walking into somebody’s home.”