Travis Frederick
A cerebral All-Pro center for the Dallas Cowboys whose career was cut short, then reinvented as a gaming entrepreneur.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American football player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
Travis Frederick's football career was a masterclass in intelligent dominance. Drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2013, the Wisconsin product immediately solidified the offensive line, forming the core of the famed 'Great Wall of Dallas.' His play was less about raw power and more about pre-snap diagnosis and technical precision, earning him three consecutive All-Pro selections. At his peak, Frederick's trajectory was halted by a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, in 2018. His courageous return for one final season in 2019 was a victory in itself before he retired at 29. Never one to idle, Frederick channeled his strategic mind into a new venture, co-founding Demiplane, a digital platform for tabletop role-playing games, proving his leadership extends far beyond the gridiron.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Travis was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Travis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Travis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his seven-year NFL career (2014-2019).
- Named a First-Team All-Pro center for three consecutive seasons (2014, 2015, 2016).
- Anchored a Dallas Cowboys offensive line that led the NFL in rushing in 2014 and 2016.
Did You Know?
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in computer engineering.
He was a standout wrestler in high school, winning a state championship in Wisconsin.
He co-founded the tabletop gaming technology company Demiplane after his NFL retirement.
“The game gave me everything, and it also took everything. But I wouldn't change a thing.”
