Atlanta's A.J. Terrell Jr. Named Week 12 NFLPA Community MVP
Atlanta’s A.J. Terrell Jr. Named Week 12 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A.J. Terrell Jr. has been named the Week 12 NFLPA Community MVP for hosting his inaugural “Crownucopia” event, a two-day Thanksgiving initiative featuring culturally inclusive self-care support for families experiencing homelessness in Atlanta.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the NFLPA for the work that the A.J. Terrell Jr. Foundation is doing to serve communities in and around Atlanta,” he said. “This means so much to me because Atlanta isn’t just where I work — it’s where I grew up. My parents and siblings are still here, and now I’m raising my kids here, too. Atlanta has always been home, and it always will be.”
On November 14, volunteers assembled 200 gift bags filled with essential hair and personal care items from Black-owned brands, all tailored to the needs of women and children of color. The following day, the Atlanta Falcons cornerback, along with his family and foundation team, joined residents of My Sister’s House at the Atlanta Mission to distribute the gift bags and serve a holiday-themed dinner.
“Crownucopia” exemplifies the mission of Terrell’s foundation, which is dedicated to honoring the dignity and unique needs of underserved communities in Atlanta. Black hair and skincare products are often overlooked in typical homeless shelter donations. By addressing this shortage, the initiative underscores Terrell’s commitment to uplifting marginalized people in ways that truly resonate.
“Giving back to this city isn’t something I have to do; it’s something I want to do,” he said. “That’s why I started the A.J. Terrell Jr. Foundation — to pour into Atlanta’s youth and help them reach their full potential. I truly believe that mentoring and investing in them is one of the best ways to make a real difference in this city that’s given me so much.”
This year, the fifth-year pro helped his alma mater, Westlake High School in Atlanta, by sponsoring its Athlete Centered Education Program, which strives to cultivate an environment where student athletes can excel both academically and athletically.
His foundation also sponsored activities for more than 300 elementary school students in partnership with CampHBCYouth, an organization committed to closing opportunity gaps for Black inner-city youth through free and subsidized summer camp. During the week, Terrell gave a motivational talk to the kids and participated in a field day and football camp.
Additionally, Terrell’s non-profit has funded academic athletic coach positions dedicated to helping student-athletes at Westlake and Frederick Douglass High Schools in Atlanta, covering travel and expenses for the coaches to attend a professional development conference to equip them with the tools to maximize their impact. And in September, his foundation hosted a community incubator event that fostered new collaborations between local organizations and non-profit leaders while empowering them to serve in an even greater capacity.
In recognition of Terrell being named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 12, the NFLPA will donate $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Terrell will take part in a special visit to a local school, children’s hospital, or community center. Along with the other 2024-25 Community MVPs, he will also be eligible for the Alan Page Community Award, which is the NFLPA’s highest player honor and includes an additional $100,000 donation.
For its 11th season, the Community MVP program is teaming up with two supporting partners: Young Minds Inspired (YMI) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). As the nation's leading provider of free educational outreach programs, YMI will bring this year’s NFLPA Community MVPs to classrooms across the country through lesson plans about community service, inspired by the players' philanthropic work. BBBSA is also inviting this season’s Community MVPs to partner with its 230+ agencies across the country, providing these athletes with more opportunities to engage with youth through its volunteer-supported mentoring network.
The Community MVP campaign is part of the NFLPA's continued efforts to support the year-round civic outreach and engagement of its player members. Please visit the NFLPA Community MVP website to learn more about the program.
2024-25 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: K.J. Osborn, New England Patriots
Week 3: Jordan Hicks, Cleveland Browns
Week 4: Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens
Week 6: Ernest Jones IV, Tennessee Titans
Week 7: Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Week 8: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Week 9: Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Week 10: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Week 11: Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12: A.J. Terrell Jr., Atlanta Falcons
###
About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 NFL season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.