NFLPA Supports NFL Players’ Youth Camps through Partnerships
For the fourth consecutive year, the NFLPA has helped NFL players make an impact off the field in their local communities via support provided through the NFLPA Player Camp Program.
NFL players have a long-standing desire to give back to their local communities, which has inspired many players to develop and host free football camps for youth across the country. These camps reach upwards of 200+ kids per camp ranging from the ages of 8-18.
“We recognized the effort, commitment and passion our players put into their communities by hosting youth football camps and other programs,” said Dexter Santos, vice president of the NFLPA’s player services department. “The Player Camp Program allows us to collaborate and work with licensees, sponsors and other partners to support the camps by providing products, discounts and other supplies to enhance the camp experience.”
“We’re not really short on ideas or ways to impact young people. What we’re short on is the means and the tools to do it,” said Kirk Cousins, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, and one of the first player camps supported by the NFLPA when the program was created four years ago. “And so, the [NFL]PA is a great conduit to reach partners so that we can make this camp even more of a success than it already is.”
In 2018, the NFLPA provided support for 152 player camps, more than doubling the 62 camps supported in 2017, and well surpassing the goal to grow the program to 100 camps. Eight partners--EA, PowerHandz, Fanatics, Panini, KIND, Dometic, Strideline and Spread the Vote—provided the camps with items that support nutrition, hydration, training and special items for the youth to enjoy. More than 41,000 kids were impacted by the program this year.
This year, through a partnership with Spread the Vote, 30 camps assisted families of the participants with voter registration and securing a government ID.
“Definitely very grateful to be able to add those partners and help me give these kids an outlet to have fun, be themselves,” said Jay Ajayi, Philadelphia Eagles running back. Ajayi hosted his youth football camp this summer in Frisco, Texas. And in the future, he hopes to bring the Jay Ajayi Community Football Camp to his hometown in the United Kingdom.
“We probably can’t reach out to all these people on our own, so having the NFLPA helping us out, providing food, providing gear for the kids and letting them know that we’re just trying to take care of them and let them have the most fun as possible,” said Bradley Chubb, rookie linebacker for the Denver Broncos. The Chubb Foundation, founded by Bradley and his brother Brandon, has a mission to use their sports platform to activate human potential. Their camp had hopes to not only teach the skills and knowledge of football, but also help the participants develop a better sense of confidence in their daily lives.
Youth aren’t the only ones reached at the camps; many players band together to support each other. Several camps had other players assist with drills and activities, which totaled more than 450 NFL players engaged in youth camps as part of the program.
The NFLPA hopes to continue to build on the success of the Player Camp Program in the years to come. View the 2018 NFLPA Player Camp Program Infographic.
NFL Players interested in learning more about the NFLPA Player Camp Program can visit: https://nflpa.com/active-players/player-camps
New partners that align with the mission of the program are encouraged to join and support some of the players most passionate projects. Partners interested in learning more about the 2019 NFLPA Player Camp Program can contact: Brandon Putnam at brandon.putnam@nflpa.com
List of all camps:
1. Aaron Colvin
2. Aaron Jones
3. Abram Elam
4. Adam Humphries
5. Adrian Phillips
6. AJ McCarron
7. Albert Wilson
8. Alec Ogletree
9. Allen Hurns
10. Alshon Jeffery
11. Andrew Adams
12. Anthony Lanier
13. Aqib Talib
14. Arik Armstead
15. Austin Pasztor
16. Avery Williamson
17. Ben Jones
18. Bobby Rainey
19. Bradley Roby
20. Brandon Chubb
21. Bradley Chubb
22. Brandon Coleman
23. Brandon Copeland
24. Brandon Graham
25. Brennan Scarlett
26. Brian Poole
27. Bryce Petty
28. Byron Jones
29. Calvin "CJ" Prosise
30. Cameron Erving
31. Charcandrick West
32. Chris Baker
33. Christian Ringo
34. CJ Goodwin
35. CJ Mosley
36. Clinton McDonald
37. Cody Davis
38. Coty Sensabaugh
39. Curtis Samuel
40. Damon Harrison
41. Da'Norris Searcy
42. Darqueze Dennard
43. Darrell Stuckey II
44. DeAndre Washington
45. Demar Dotson
46. Demario Davis
47. Derrick Morgan
48. Derron Smith
49. Desmond King
50. De'Vondre Campbell
51. DJ Swearinger
52. Dontrelle Inman
53. Duke Thomas
54. Dwayne Allen
55. Dwayne Harris
56. Eli Harold
57. Emmanuel Ogbah
58. Eric Berry
59. Evan Engram
60. Mike Hilton
61. Gabe Wright
62. Geoff Swaim
63. Geronimo Allison
64. Golden Tate
65. Grady Jarrett
66. Hayes Pullard
67. Jabaal Sheard
68. Jaelen Strong
69. Jalen Mills
70. Jalen Ramsey
71. James Bradberry
72. James Burgess
73. Jamison Crowder
74. Jared Veldheer
75. Jay Ajayi
76. Jaylon Smith
77. Jeff Driskel
78. Jeremy Maclin
79. Jihad Ward
80. John Miller
81. Joique Bell
82. Jordan Hill
83. Jordan Howard
84. Joshua Perry
85. JuJU Smith-Schuster
86. Justin Evans
87. Justin Houston
88. Justin Pugh
89. Kamar Aiken
90. Kavon Frazier
91. Kayvon Webster
92. Keith Smith
93. Kelvin Beachum
94. Kenny Clark
95. Kirk Cousins
96. Kwon Alexander
97. Kyle Fuller
98. Laremy Tunsil
99. Leger Douzable
100. Lerentee McCray
101. Louis Murphy Jr
102. Mack Brown
103. Marcus Williams
104. Mario Addison
105. Mark Barron
106. Marquis Flowers
107. Michael Brockers
108. Michael Thomas
109. Michael Johnson
110. Mike Adams
111. Mike Davis
112. Mike Evans
113. Mike Gillislee
114. Mike Pierce
115. Morgan Burnett
116. Myles Jack
117. Najee Goode
118. Nigel Bradham
119. OJ Howard
120. Paxton Lynch
121. Prince Amukamara
122. Quincy Enunwa
123. Quinton Spain
124. Raekwon McMillan
125. Randall Cobb
126. Randall Godfrey
127. Rashaan Melvin
128. Rodney McLeod
129. Ron Parker
130. Ryan Anderson
131. Ryan Davis
132. Ryan Smith
133. Shamarko Thomas
134. Sheldon Day
135. Stephen Anderson
136. Tarik Cohen
137. Teddy Williams
138. Thomas Davis
139. TJ Green
140. TJ Yeldon
141. Tony Lippett
142. Tre Boston
143. Tre'Davious White
144. Tyreek Hill
145. Tyrell Williams
146. Tyus Bowser
147. Victor Beasley
148. Wesley Woodyard
149. Will Blackmon
150. Will Gholston
151. Will Redmond
152. Xavien Howard