The YouTuber Who Swapped Air Traffic Control for Videos with Mbappé
John Nellis’ journey from air traffic controller to social media star has been anything but conventional. The 31-year-old YouTuber, originally from Newcastle in County Down, Northern Ireland, left his career at Cork Airport two years ago to pursue a passion for creating football-related content on YouTube. Today, he boasts over two million subscribers on his channel, with a video featuring football star Kylian Mbappé amassing nearly 10 million views.
Before his rise to fame, John spent eight years in air traffic control, a high-pressure job that kept him on his toes. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when air travel slowed to a near halt, John found himself with more free time. He used this to dive into his hobby of creating football videos, which eventually led him to quit his stable job in 2022 and take a chance on social media content creation.
John describes his decision as a “gamble,” reflecting on how his YouTube channel had only 7,431 subscribers when he left air traffic control. “When I look back, I label myself as delusional,” he admitted. However, his gamble paid off: his channel now has hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and he’s collaborated with big names like Zinedine Zidane and Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.
Beyond YouTube, John also has a significant following on TikTok, where he won the Sports Content Creator of the Year award in the UK and Ireland. His career shift has given him opportunities to attend major events like the Ballon d’Or, where he even turned heads by wearing football boots reworked into formal shoes.
Despite his success, John is cautious about advising aspiring YouTubers. He encourages young creators to keep their options open and not put all their hopes into content creation. He emphasizes that while many create videos, only a few manage to turn it into a full-time job. However, with growth, opportunities like commercial partnerships and advertising can help make the dream a reality.
John’s football-centric content stands out because it appeals not only to die-hard fans but also to casual viewers. “If you don’t like football, there’s a chance you’ll enjoy our content because it’s not about results or players. It’s about fun and creativity,” he explained.
His distinct Irish accent has also contributed to his recognition, making him memorable on a global scale. Though John isn’t sure how long his career in content creation will last, he’s relishing his time in the spotlight. As he continues to engage with fans and expand his platform, John remains grounded, keeping his passion for creating entertaining and creative content at the forefront.
