Cleveland's Jordan Hicks Named Week 3 NFLPA Community MVP

CLEVELAND’S JORDAN HICKS NAMED WEEK 3 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jordan Hicks has been named the Week 3 NFLPA Community MVP after hosting his foundation’s second “True Strength Night,” which celebrated special needs students during a high school football game at his alma mater in Ohio.

“Being named this week’s NFLPA Community MVP is a great honor,” the Cleveland Browns linebacker said. “I believe the most impactful thing any of us can do in this life is to love on those who are struggling or often overlooked.”

On September 14, Hicks hosted an unforgettable evening that brought together more than 2,500 community members to celebrate students with cognitive and physical disabilities. The students joined the Lakota West High School football team for pregame introductions and warm-ups. Then at halftime, they took part in their own activities and performances on the field. The event raised funds for his high school’s special education department while fostering a meaningful and inclusive experience for all involved.

Earlier this year, Hicks launched True Strength Ability Awareness Foundation, dedicated to building inclusive communities for young people with special needs, teaching life skills for independence and raising funds to help upgrade special education facilities nationwide. During the non-profit’s first “True Strength Night” in February, $3,290 was raised for two high schools in Ohio during a basketball game. By promoting strong support networks and increasing awareness through initiatives like these, Hicks seeks to inspire students and their families to recognize and celebrate their unique strengths and abilities.

The one-time NFLPA player representative credits his former high school classmate and friend, Greg Osinski, who suffered from muscular dystrophy and passed away in 2012, as the inspiration behind the foundation.

“At first, I thought I was making a difference in [Greg’s] life, but in reality, he impacted my life much more than I ever did his – embodying what true strength really is all about while going through such hard time,” Hicks recalled. “True Strength is dedicated to bringing awareness to the abilities of those with disabilities, while simultaneously creating a culture of leadership, awareness and inclusion within school systems and communities across the country.”

Since entering the NFL in 2015, Hicks has also worked closely with International Justice Mission (IJM) by hosting events and raising money and awareness for its efforts to protect people in poverty from violence. 

Last year, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Hicks and his wife, Ivana, teamed up with Jeremiah Program to surprise one of its alums and her family with gifts at the team’s facility. As someone raised in a single-parent household, Hicks empathized with the organization’s goal of disrupting generational poverty for single mothers and their children. 

In recognition of Hicks being named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 3, the NFLPA will donate $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Hicks 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 NFLPA 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 a series of lesson plans about community service, inspired by the players' philanthropic work and the program's artwork created by Heartlent Group. BBBSA also invites 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

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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.