1 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: teen year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer a Enius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am the Nius Williams. 5 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: This year, eighty three NFL legends have earned their degree 6 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: through the earned benefits which come with playing in the 7 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: National Football League. Today, we're going to speak with one 8 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 1: of them. MDI You Williams, who recently earned his juris 9 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: doctorate degree from the University of Baltimore Law School. I'll 10 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: say it again, law school. Made You played nine seasons 11 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: in the NFL and won the NFL Walter Payton Man 12 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: of the Year Award in two thousand and ten. And 13 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: now he he's a lawyer and I can't wait to 14 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: hear what he's going to do with that degree. Welcome, 15 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: made You and Niez, thank you for having me. It's 16 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: honor and the privilege to be here. All right, here's 17 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: the first question. You played defensive back, and I just 18 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: need to know what what is it to the great 19 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: people and the great players that seemed to gravitate to 20 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: the defensive back position. Well, for me personally, Uh, it 21 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: was just the challenge. I love the challenge. I love 22 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: the fact that growing up, UH, playing cornerback is where 23 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: I started. I love being on the island. I love 24 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: just being able to just U just to shut down 25 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: one side of the field. As much as I just 26 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: said I enjoyed the matchups, I just enjoyed the matchups. 27 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: And more importantly, UM, as I got older and I 28 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: was moved to safety. UM, just being in the middle 29 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: of the feel, understanding the defense, being able to be 30 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: the quarterback of the defense in the back end. I think, UM, 31 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: you if it suited me very well, especially all of 32 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: my skill sets that I brought to the table. It 33 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: was just a perfect match for me. But then you, 34 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: In the three years we've been doing this podcast, we've 35 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: talked with dozens of legends who have gone on to 36 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: a wide range of careers after leaving the field. But 37 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: you are only our second lawyer after bard Oates. Why 38 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: did you choose law school? Oh? Good question, man. I 39 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: think law school kind of chose me. Um. I didn't 40 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: have any intentions, never thought of being a lawyer. Um, 41 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: it was just one of those things that UM, and 42 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: the opportunity presents herself after football. And the one thing 43 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: I always tell people was the fact that I was 44 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: always intellectually curious. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. 45 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: And it was just seamless when I went to law 46 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: school because a lot of the questions and the way 47 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: I thought and the way I process information made a 48 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: lot of sense because you've been trained to think like 49 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: a lawyer and there's a very systematic way of doing 50 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: those things. It just made sense to me for the 51 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: first time in a long time, saying, Okay, I understand 52 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: why my brain worked this way and why I'm able 53 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,519 Speaker 1: to do this thing, and do you know think this way? Um? 54 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 1: So it just made sense. And I was fortunate enough 55 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: to um utilize the benefits of playing football to go 56 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: back to school as a former player, and um, I'm 57 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: just grateful for the NFL to be able to have 58 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: that benefit. What kind of law do you want to practice? Personally? 59 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: And least I want to get back to the football. 60 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: I want to get back to the league in some capacity. UM. 61 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: I think my skill set leads well being a formal 62 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: player now having a tool of of a lawyer, UH 63 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: to bring to the the table, whether it's in front 64 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: front office or even the league office. Just being able 65 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: to bring my experience and and paying it forward and 66 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,839 Speaker 1: helping to make the game a better leaving the game, 67 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: making the game better than what than what it is 68 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,119 Speaker 1: right now and improve it upon. That tell me about 69 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: the earned benefit you used to accomplish your academic goals, well, 70 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: UM one of the things that I utilizes through to 71 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: the NFL Players Trust, which is a benefit by through 72 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: the NFL and NFL p a UM. And one of 73 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: one of the things about the trust is that makes 74 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: it so unique is the fact that UM as long 75 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: as you enrolled draft to apply actually to get into 76 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: the program first of all, but then once you once 77 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: you've applied and you've been accepted into the program, you 78 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: just have to maintain your eligibility so to speak, while 79 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: you're in there to continue to receive the benefit, and 80 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: you have to apply for it each year. But if 81 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: you're even good standing academically, UM were able to continue 82 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: that benefit, and it was it was just a great 83 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: tremendous benefit that I encouraged a lot of former players 84 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: to utilize because it is something that we've earned through 85 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: our years of service in the league and UM, I 86 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: was able to utilize it to be able to get 87 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: my jury doctorate degree. Did you have any connection with 88 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: the players NFL Players Foundation as well? Yes, Yes, the 89 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: Players Foundation was tremendous in the sense that, um, they 90 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: were able to provide much needed assistance as you were 91 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: going through school, UM, and just the breath of information 92 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: that they were able to to to provide the services 93 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: because you think about just going to school often times, 94 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: but there's so many different stressors that come to me 95 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: going to school. Uh, dealing with the time management, the transitioning, 96 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: and just having somebody to bounce ideas off of and 97 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: kind of talk to as you go through the process 98 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: to walk you through the process insurmountable and I'm very 99 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: grateful for that. Let's talk about how other players and 100 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: legends can use their earned benefits to enrich their lives 101 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: and further their career career goals. What would you say 102 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: to legends that haven't taken advantage of the trust are 103 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: the Players Foundation? Well, one thing I would share with 104 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: the with the legends is that you just continue to 105 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: be a lifelong learner. Um. One of the things about 106 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: us that makes it so unique to this legend is 107 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: the fact that We're all are very smart people and 108 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: continue to learn and continue to add tools to your toolbox, 109 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: so to speak. The NFL and the benefits that has 110 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: been afforded us is there for us to utilize. UM. 111 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: You may not want to go to law school, but 112 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: there may be a certificate or some sort that you 113 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: may be interested in UM and continue education is something 114 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: that I think regardless of where you are and we're 115 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: stationed the life you win, there's always more that you 116 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:03,119 Speaker 1: can learn. And with that approach and that mindset, UM, 117 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: I think the NFL has provided us with a great, 118 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: great opportunity, great tools, and UH, someone like myself was 119 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: a beneficiary of it. I'm extremely grateful and I just 120 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: encourage more, more players, more legends, UH to to seize 121 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: advantage of that opportunity and continue to UM and you 122 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: to grow in whatever area or whatever avenue it is 123 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: that they hope to pursue. We talked a lot about 124 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: mentors on this podcast. Before I ask you who are 125 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: your mentors, I'll start with you start a school back 126 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: in Sierra Leon, you name it after your mother, You 127 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: donate two million dollars to the university, you do youth 128 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: kemps in Baltimore. So tell me about your mentor. Oh man, Uh, 129 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: my mentors. I have football mentors, I have life skilled mentors. 130 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: I have verious different mentors. And before we get into 131 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: that is I always say that beyond just the mentors, 132 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: you need an advocate and you also need a sponsor 133 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: along with the mentor, so you need all three, right, 134 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: But for me, I always start with football because I've 135 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: been indoctrinated in this game and his sport for so 136 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: long since ninth grade that a lot of the men 137 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: who have been my coaches have been my mentors and 138 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: have been with transition our relationship from being coaches, UM 139 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: to now being my mentors off the field with some 140 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: of the things that I've doing. One of the first 141 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: people that came to mind, uh, two people actually, uh 142 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: was two of my coaches. One was Leslie Fraser, who 143 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 1: is currently the fits coordinator in Buffalo, and then m 144 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: Brad Childress, who was my head coach with the Minnesota Vikings. UM. 145 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: I always speak highly of those two men. Coach coach 146 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: Frasier because when I came into the NFL, I watched 147 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: a lot of film because he was the defensive back 148 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: coach for Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, and we ran 149 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: similar scheme and he I spent a lot of time 150 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: with him learning the game, but beyond that, he also 151 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: invested a lot of time in me as a man, 152 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: and I'm very grateful for that. So you transition from there, 153 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: I was able to two become a free agent. I 154 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: went to Minnesota. He was the defensive coordinator there and 155 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: Brad Children was the head coach. And now Brad Children's 156 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: is one of my my mentors, go to mentors that 157 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: I talked to on a daily basis in terms of 158 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 1: help with me transition in life, but also how to 159 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: be a better husband and a better father. And I'm 160 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: very grateful because oftentimes we think that those relationships that 161 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: we had when we played football stops when we're no 162 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: longer a member on the team. But one thing those 163 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: two men have showed, showed me and have demonstrated to me, 164 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: is your coaches are coaches for a lifetime, and oftentimes 165 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: we don't take the as former legends. We don't do 166 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: our due diligence to extend the olive branch to continue 167 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: or to force to that relationship beyond just our playing days. 168 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: But I'm very grateful for those two men because they've 169 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: always been in my corner, continue to pick up the 170 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: phone call when I have issues or just thoughts that 171 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: I want to run by them. And I just hope 172 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: that as I get older, I'll be able to pay 173 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: and pay forward for somebody down the road, just as 174 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: they've done for me. And going back talking about mom again, 175 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: and you're neighble to school after her when you were 176 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: growing up, you have these birthdays if mom is taking 177 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: you out instead of giving you all these gifts, she's 178 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: taking you out to go and do service to the 179 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: elderly or a soup kitchens. Yes, how did that impact 180 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: your man? It really it played a huge role. I 181 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: thought I was being brainwashed um as a kid, But 182 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: honestly what I thought now that i'm I have my 183 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: own children. She was setting the stage for what life 184 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: is all about and just being in the service industry 185 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: and that's what we're you know, utilizing your platform and 186 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: and continue to pay for it for others. And she 187 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: was a tremendous woman and more importantly, she was my first, 188 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: my first coach. I called her my life coach, um, 189 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: And um, I don't think I know for sure that 190 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: I want to be who I am today, demand that 191 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: I am today if it wasn't for her and some 192 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: of the values uh that she instilled in me. Um. 193 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: But at the age of three or four years old, Uh, 194 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: whenever she could, she took me to work with her. 195 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: And it wasn't just me being at work, but as 196 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: me her showing me what she does and how she 197 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: cares about others. She was a registered nurse, worked in 198 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: the e er and she just had a heart and 199 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: a compassion for just human beings in general. And I 200 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: think part of that has rubbed up on me in 201 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: terms of the work that I'm doing. And there's no correlation. 202 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: It's a direct correlation with some of the things that 203 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: I've done in my life based on how I was 204 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: raised and the woman Um who she was. And I 205 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: think I'm more of a reflection of who she was 206 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: more than I realized. And h I think my the 207 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 1: work that I've been able to do embodies who she is. 208 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: So could we say shout out to Mother Abigail, that 209 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 1: Mother Abigail rest in peace, Rest in peace? And there 210 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: is one of the things that you know, I get 211 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: credit for the school, but I have to, you know, 212 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: say something that has been on my heart is the 213 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: fact that I never wanted to do a school. It 214 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: was I wanted to do a one off project to 215 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: just honor her, and that one off project they've turned 216 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: into part of my life's work in terms of giving 217 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: back to Sierra at Leone, and I've been blessed in 218 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: the sense that along the way, I haven't have to 219 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: carry a lot of the burden or the heaven mental UM. 220 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: There's been people have come into my life who have 221 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: heard about what I've done and they have partnered with 222 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: me to be able to accomplish some of the things 223 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: that I've been able to do. Specifically, the University of 224 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: Maryland UM and Dave just been instrumental in terms of 225 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: the year in support UM continue to leave. I have 226 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: a vision. It's one thing to have a vision, but 227 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: it's another thing to actually execute that vision. And when 228 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: I was playing, I met with the then president, the 229 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: president of the university. He wanted to meet and discuss 230 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: how can we collaborate and work together with what I've started. 231 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: And I thought it was just something that it was 232 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: just gonna be a one off project again, but it's 233 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: turned into something that is an annual thing. And I 234 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: cannot give. I cannot say enough for about my alma mater, 235 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: University of Maryland, and just being so grateful for our 236 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: continue partnership. Are you currently mentoring anyone right now? Yes, 237 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: I mentor. I want to say twenty children, twenty young 238 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: men and women in my after school program at Clapper 239 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: Mill Elementary School, and this is our a year of 240 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: doing that. UM. We've been I've been very fortunate to 241 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: work within the school system here UM in Morgomy County 242 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: and Prince George's County, Maryland, and I've had great support 243 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: staff in terms of in the schools in which we 244 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: were based in and it's been a tremendous work for us. 245 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: I want to talk about your commitment to your community, 246 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: whether back at home zero Leon are in the Baltimore area. 247 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: I understand those routes from Mother Abigail. Now my question 248 00:14:56,040 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: is do you plan to practice law they're back at home. 249 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: I plan a practice law wherever the opportunity provides itself, 250 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: and more importantly, to be direct, I'm always going to 251 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: be able to have roots here and I've been very 252 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: purposeful and very strategic and making sure that roots have 253 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: always been planning here at home. Regardless of where I 254 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: end up handing, where I end up in life, I'm 255 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: always going to have ties here in this area because 256 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: of the work and commitment. And part of it is 257 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: just that legacy planning, legacy planning peace. And one of 258 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: the things that I do now is think, Okay, if 259 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm no longer here, how do I continue to make 260 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: sure that some of this projects live on? And more 261 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: importantly is for me to be able to remove myself 262 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: from some of this projects so that the community itself 263 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: takes ownership of what I've been started and continue to 264 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: facilitate it beyond just me being there. How do you 265 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: plan on using your law degree to help the community? Well, 266 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: I think just continue to be an advocate, continue to 267 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: be an advocate, to continue to UM to be a 268 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: leader in the community, UM and more importantly UM the 269 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: work that we're doing in terms of education, continue to 270 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: uh uh push for UM for legislations that allow some 271 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: of the children to have access With everything that's happened 272 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: with COVID, oftentimes you see and that as a huge disparity, 273 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: especially with minorities and children of color with access to technology, 274 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: for example, because they're doing a lot of homeschool and 275 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: slower internet and things like that. UM. Just continue to 276 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: be a voice, UM, continue to utilize my platform through 277 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: the NFL to UM to speak out on some of 278 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: those things, of those issues. And I mentioned before, you 279 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: know the two thousand and ten you want the NFL 280 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. What motivates you 281 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: to make? Oh man? The why I think my wife 282 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: has always been UM one UH to make my mother proud, 283 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: continuing her legacy, and her legacy is me and UM. 284 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: She used to tell me something that I always stuck 285 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: with me and knee and she always says, Uh, I 286 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: don't have stocks and bonds or portfolio, but my greatest investment, 287 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: my greatest return investment, would be you. And as a 288 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: child hearing those words from your mom, I wasn't too 289 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: keen on the stock market back then. But but now 290 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: as I'm older and now that I have my own children, 291 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: I realized what she was what she meant by when 292 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: she said that, UM. And I try to make sure 293 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: that every day when I put my foot on the ground, UM, 294 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: I represent her and represent my family, but more importanly, 295 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: I represent the man up above UM and just UM 296 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: knowing that God is watching me and at one point, 297 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: at one point in my life, one day in my life, 298 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: I would have to give an account for everything that 299 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: I've done, and UM, I wanted me. I want them 300 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: to say, you know what you've done well with the 301 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: opportunities and the platform that you have, and more importantly, 302 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: the talents that you've been given. You've you've made good 303 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: with it, and I'm proud of you. And those are 304 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,479 Speaker 1: the things that I think about on the daily basis. 305 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: And that is my wife for what I do. What 306 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: I do? You mentioned practicing wherever you get an opportunity. 307 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: Do players have an advantage because they're used to moving around? 308 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: I think so. I think they do because we have 309 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: a great UM, we have a greater platform, we have 310 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: a greater reach, so to speech, just because we've played 311 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:32,360 Speaker 1: the multiple cities. UM. I think there's always an opportunity UM. 312 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: And and in that, I think what players have to 313 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: do is figure out, Okay, how can I strategically UM 314 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: make an impact? And oftentimes we think it's more financial, 315 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: but sometimes you're just leveraging your your brand and using 316 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: your brand to continue to make a difference in the 317 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 1: cities in which you've played. And and I think the 318 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: NFL has been a great resource with having franchise as 319 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: in so many different places that the brand the shield 320 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: carries such a such a weight, and I think we 321 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: just need to understand and take advantage of that as 322 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: much as we can. Are there some other things you're 323 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 1: now doing in Baltimore other than the school working with 324 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: the school, No, I think the biggest thing is just 325 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: right now is just UM the after school program in 326 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 1: conjunction with the school and tying that in with what 327 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: we're doing at the University of Maryland and having those 328 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 1: students who are currently and UM in school at the 329 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 1: university become more of a mentor uh creating a pipeline 330 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 1: of mentors through the university for the for our children 331 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: in our mental program because they need to strive and 332 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: visualize themselves when they attending college if they don't already 333 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: have that mindset and UM the partnership with University Marylands 334 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: allowed us to continue to have force to that development 335 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: and more importantly just UM for the children to be 336 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 1: able to have come on campus and see themselves one 337 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: day maybe not necessarily attend the University Maryam, but at 338 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: LEASTI himself have access to have the opportunity to continue 339 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: the education. Final question, what do you see as the 340 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: way throughout nation's collective struggles right now? And because you 341 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: came to the States at nine and coming from Africa, 342 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: do your I see it not just from a citizen 343 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 1: of the United States, but also from your background in 344 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 1: your history. Yeah. Well, one of the things that I 345 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 1: look at is why the reason why my parents came 346 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: here in the first place. Before I even came here, 347 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: I remember my father and my mom talking about America 348 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,479 Speaker 1: being the land of opportunity and providing opportunity for for 349 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: us to have a better life than where we had 350 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: and serra leone and a part of me always thought 351 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: about that and think that opportunity is there. But yet again, 352 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: I think we are in a UM. We're in a 353 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: new in a new era, so to speaking, where UM, 354 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people may not necessarily have that same dream. UM. 355 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: And part of it is also, UM, we got to 356 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: be able to come together collectively as a as as 357 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: a country rather than being divided. I think right now, 358 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: with everything that's been happening, UM, there's a lot of division, UM, 359 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of healing that needs to be done. UM. 360 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: And I think for us to continue to move forward, 361 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: a lot of that healing has to take place on 362 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: both sides before we can actually sit down and have 363 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: a serious conversation in terms of how can we move forward. 364 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: But if we don't have those dialogues and more importantly, 365 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: those action steps behind those dialogues, UM, I think everything 366 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: else will be meaningless. But I'm very hope, I'm very 367 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: optimistic with the resiliency of the United States. You take 368 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: a look at the history of this country. It shows 369 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: a lot of resilience, and oftentimes when you are in pain, 370 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: you forget that, Um, there is a process in terms 371 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: of the healing that will take place. UM. But when 372 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: you hurt and you're angering, you're disappointed, UM, you you 373 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 1: gotta be able to express yourself. You've got to be 374 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: able to figure out a way how can I channel 375 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: what's happening. I can I put it into words, I 376 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: can act? How can I complementalize a little bit better 377 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: so that I'll be able to create a better version, 378 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: not only for myself but also for my family. So 379 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: I think those are the things, in my opinion, that 380 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: we need to do a little bit more of. Is 381 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: one we need to heal. Secondly, before we can move 382 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: forward to have dialogues about what the next steps are, 383 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: we gotta give each other the space to be able 384 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: to to be able to grieve and and and not 385 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: necessarily look at it as oh, wow, you shouldn't do this, 386 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: you shouldn't do that. UM. It's just like anything else. 387 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: When you have damage, you have UM, you have wounds 388 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: that as uh that has been afflicted. You need time 389 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: to a lot of that things to to to heal 390 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: and takes place mode you. This has been incredible. Thanks 391 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: so much for joining us and thanks for listening in. 392 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 1: The best is yet to come. Thank you, Nis, Thank 393 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 1: you for having me. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. 394 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: To provide feedback or request a topic for discussion, email 395 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.