I'm a former NFL player. Draft day is bigger than football. |
The 2026 NFL Draft is a dream realized. A name gets called, the cap goes on, the jersey gets held up and a young man becomes part of football history.
Draft day is day one of joining the greatest football fraternity you have been striving for for many years. But what doesn’t get talked about enough is that it’s also day one of your journey to leave a legacy. It is day one of you becoming a true leader.
The moment a player hears his name called, that’s the moment he takes a step into a much larger role. He’s not just a football player anymore; he’s stepping onto a national stage. And with that comes the droves of eyes and followers.
This is a whole different kind of “welcome to the league” moment. A player becomes a role model, whether he’s ready for it or not. What he chooses to do with that influence starts right away.
This was true on my own draft day 26 years ago. I was achieving a dream of playing in the NFL, but I was also stepping into a community where I could have a great impact. I'd have access to see real needs and be close enough to help.
I was raised in a family focused on serving the community and giving back, and draft day only raised the stakes. Draft day gives you your new city and community. You learn really quickly that the talent, history and hard........