Kansas City's Orlando Brown Jr. Named Week 11 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Orlando Brown Jr. has been named the Week 11 NFLPA Community MVP after he donated $50,000 to Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Type 1 Diabetes research center and spent more than an hour visiting with the patients.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the NFLPA for the Community MVP award,” Brown said. “Diabetes has greatly impacted my life, through my dad and younger brother, and it affects so many people in our community."
During the past nine months, Brown has spent countless hours visiting with the patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital while educating himself on how to raise awareness about diabetes research. His latest visit on November 9 saw the Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman open up his own wallet to match the $50,000 donation made by Emilie Rosebud Diabetes Research Foundation to Children’s Mercy. These funds will go toward the hospital’s continued efforts to ultimately find a cure.
Diabetes has impacted multiple members of his family – from his dad, former NFL player Orlando Brown Sr., who passed away in 2011 from diabetic ketoacidosis; to both of his dad’s parents, who also died from diabetes; to his younger brother, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the fifth grade. Given his family history and having a son of his own, Brown was inspired to take part in the TrialNet research program, which reveals if someone has an increased risk for the disease. Though Brown was found to not be at risk, the Oklahoma University alum hopes to inspire others to get tested so that there can be a future without Type 1 diabetes.
“It is even more important to me that it is another avenue to raise awareness and highlight the importance of testing and education for Type 1 Diabetes,” said Brown, who plans to show his support for diabetes research during the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign in December.
Since entering the NFL in 2018, when he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, Brown has been a consistent contributor to his community. In 2020, he visited his old elementary school in Baltimore and spent time with the students, answering questions, reading to them and inspiring them to go after their dreams.
Since moving to Kansas City in 2021, the Pro Bowler has focused on educating children about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Earlier this year, he hosted a bowling night for the football team at Central High School in Kansas City, where he partnered with Kanbe’s Market to provide healthy snacks and ingredients for recipes. In June, he participated in the "Down with Type 1 Diabetes!” campaign by having his blood drawn at Children's Mercy Hospital to promote awareness. He also auctioned off a signed OU jersey and donated all proceeds directly to the cause.
In honor of Brown being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his charity or foundation of choice. Brown will also take part in a virtual or in-person visit to a school or children’s hospital. Along with the other 2022 Community MVPs, he will also become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.
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.
2022 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Week 2: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Week 3: Cody Davis, New England Patriots
Week 4: Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: John Metchie III, Houston Texans
Week 6: Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Week 7: Jason Cabinda, Detroit Lions
Week 8: Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
Week 9: Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals
Week 11: Orlando Brown Jr., Kansas City Chiefs
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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 season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.