1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here's your host, fourteen year 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: NFL veteran and Hall of Famer A. Nius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: this is a Nius Williams and welcome to the Legends Podcast. 5 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: Prior to Super Bowl fifty three in Atlanta, we recorded 6 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: a roundtable former NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year 7 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: Award winners, hosted by NFL Network Steve Wish. Let's listen in, 8 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: lady and gentlemen. He saw the video. Now let's meet 9 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: the numbers of this next panel. Willie Lanier, Hall of Famer, 10 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: Will Shields, also a gold jacket right here, really, Troy Vincent, 11 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: come on up, and Jason Witten. All right, because the 12 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,639 Speaker 1: guys are round of applause because they set the table 13 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: for so many of us. It's one of the main 14 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: reasons why we were here for this distinguished award. All right, 15 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: So let's go ahead and sit down, and Willie, I'm 16 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: gonna start with you. We heard some of the earlier 17 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: pans some of the current players talk about what made 18 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: them get involved and what kind of sparked their desire 19 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: to inspire and have an impact in the community. What 20 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: what got you going and why was that so important 21 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: to you? Well, arriving in Kansas City in nineteen seven, 22 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: the Chiefs were very much involved in community service out 23 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: of reach throughout the whole organization. So one thing that 24 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: you wanted to do and trying to be consistent with 25 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: your expectations, was to have interest in being open to 26 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: assisting different organizations. So I remember one of the things 27 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: that I had led was a hundred thousand dollar campaign 28 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kansas City. The 29 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: cause growing up in Richmond, there were many times that 30 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: I had benefited from being involved in the Boys and 31 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Girls Clubs. So it was just one of expanding the 32 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: opportunities that you had gained from being in the game 33 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: and trying to be well if they commutet to a 34 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: citizen and just someone who played the sport Jason, Yeah, Well, 35 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: thank you guys for coming out. And I said it before. 36 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: You know, being a recipient of the Walter Payton Man 37 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: of the Year is by far the greatest accomplishment I 38 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: had in my career, and I'm sure these other guys 39 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: would say the same thing. I wanted in two thousand 40 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: and twelve, and and it's amazing the years after that 41 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: that I've gone back or they've had events, and you know, 42 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: if you ever just take a look at the list 43 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: of the names that are on that not only some 44 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: of the greatest players to ever play, but some of 45 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: the greatest people that have ever been a part of 46 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: the NFL. And so it was a huge honor to 47 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: receive this award, and to all the current players that 48 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: were nominated, I know that they understand how fortunate it 49 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: is to to be just nominated for an award like that. 50 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: And you know, similar to what Willy was saying, you know, 51 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: I think all of us have challenges and and things 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: that we have to overcome in our life. I was 53 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: no different coming from a broken home and uh, you know, 54 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: getting drafted to the Dallas Cowboys, I realized very early 55 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: in my career that that was a huge platform for me, 56 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: not only on the field, but off the field as well. 57 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: And I wanted to make a difference. And it was 58 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: simply that just trying to make a difference in one 59 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: person's lives at a time, and you know, it just 60 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: grew into a foundation and a lot of work and 61 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: being able to partner with the league and the Cowboys. 62 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: Just incredible what we were able to do. This award 63 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: and Walter Payton Man of the Year. What that stands. 64 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: I think all of us would say that it's greatest 65 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: accomplishment of my career. Well, for for me, it was 66 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: learning about what it was to be a pro. We 67 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: had a lot of guys from Kansas City that was 68 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: doing things in the community. We had Willie Lanier had 69 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: already won the Walter Payton. We had Derrick Thomas that 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: had won the Walter Payton. But was really interesting was 71 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: we had seventeen guys that were doing stuff in the 72 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: community and I wanted to be a part of that group. 73 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to prove myself to be a part of 74 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: group of be be remembered as a guy that sort 75 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: of gave of himself. But I did have a great 76 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: mentor and coach, Tom Osborne, that started us down the 77 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: road and had us give speeches to kids and to 78 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: go from there and say, Okay, what difference did you 79 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: make today? And you're going, I'm offensive, linement, what kind 80 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: of difference can I make by going to give a 81 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: kid a speech? So I started talking about different things 82 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: that I've been through and then the kids come up 83 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: with me and they write letters and they tell you that, hey, 84 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: I think in the same way you think. I still 85 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: have the same things that you have, and just to 86 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: see where you are gives me, you know, passion gives 87 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: me growth. And so I used the guys that came 88 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: before me and the guys that are with me to 89 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: sort of say, I want to have that same longevity 90 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: that they had for myself. Just growing up, I I 91 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: always wanted to I was a dreamer like most of 92 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: us in the room, and I always used to dream 93 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: of if I had anything, what would I do with it? 94 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: And if I if I had more resources, how many 95 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: more people can we affect? And my wife, Tommy and 96 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: I we we just wanted to make a difference. And 97 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: as the Lord blessed us with with more and more 98 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: and more, we had it all and we just said, hey, 99 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: in our hometown of Trenton, New Jersey, what can we do? 100 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: From mentorship programs, from feeding kids to um again, we 101 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: couldn't stop giving. And as much as the Lord was 102 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: given us, we wanted to give back. Well said, Well 103 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: said Troy. And and so I want to circle back 104 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: to you because you know, one of your jobs in the 105 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: the National Football League is to really push forward the agenda, 106 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: be it social justice, be a community service, be it 107 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: for players to be more than NFL players. And when 108 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: you look at today's players, because we know in the NFL, 109 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: especially in the past two or three years, the emphasis 110 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: on getting out in the community has really I mean 111 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: we we've seen to go to another level. I mean, 112 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: I work for your network, we do more broadcasting and 113 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: publicizing of this. Where do you where do you think 114 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: this has gone? Because players have always done things in 115 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: the community and given back, But where where do you 116 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: think this has gone over the past two years? Because 117 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: we're seeing so many extraordinary things. I think we've made 118 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: a choice as a league to make sure we promote 119 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: the greatness of our players. They've been doing this for decades. 120 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: We've just made a conscious choice and an intentional choice 121 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: to promote the goodness and the men. Why why not? 122 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: Why shouldn't we when when the men are producing, not 123 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: just on the field and off the field. The quarterbacks 124 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: are playing at a phenomenal rate. We have a great 125 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: game and these men are doing phenomenal work, not just 126 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: here domestically, but across the globe. No other sport can 127 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: say that the men doing phenomenal work. The game is exploding. 128 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: You've got young stars, you have gold Jackson and Waiting 129 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: still playing. The game is just exciting. And then yet 130 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: we're given. We continue to give. Well. When you hear 131 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: the bad tire, right Jason to say that the Walter 132 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: Payton Man of the Year Award is the greatest honor 133 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: he could have ever achieved a football player, Jason's gonna 134 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: be joining you in Canton one day. Okay, we hope that, 135 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward he's gonna get there. But when 136 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: I mean, because we've done, and Willie, we've been, We've 137 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: been into the ceremonies in Canton, and it seems to 138 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: such a mind blowing experience, knowing that your your your hall, 139 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: your your busses in that hall forever. But when you 140 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: hear someone who's buss is gonna be in there say 141 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: this Walter Payton Man of the Year Award means that 142 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: much to him. What do you think that that says 143 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: about the importance of this A one of the things 144 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: that happens. That I sit here and I was the 145 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: award win in nineteen seventy two, and I looked at 146 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: the picture of Walter Payton. I played against him, and 147 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: having played against him, it becomes even more special. But 148 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: then also sitting out in the audience is number fifty, 149 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: Mike's slingletary Michael, you just stand and everybody here himself 150 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: and played off Walter in Chicago. So the essence for 151 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: all of us to have had the benefit of an 152 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: award community service. And if you think about sport at 153 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: all times, it has been of their community anyway, at 154 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: every level, it's been of a community. It expands itself, 155 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: It gives people a chance to come together to appreciate 156 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: everything that it could do for the omen, for others. 157 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: And I think part of it is that one of 158 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: you are constantly paying back all of those who might 159 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: not sit in the room, might not be a part 160 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: of it. But this is the way you can expend 161 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: it and say things. But well, when you when you 162 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,599 Speaker 1: see the greatness, you know that you know again the 163 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: legacy of all of this. And then again we see 164 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: today's player. You guys, you guys Willie and and Jason 165 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: and you went through you guys started so many things 166 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: for these players on and off the field. What's it 167 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: like watching with some of these guys are doing right 168 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 1: now when you see her Chris Long, you know in 169 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: the water Boys project, and when you he wouldn't emmercialist 170 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: and all the money he's raising for special needs kids, 171 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: what's that like now? To see kind of the growth 172 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: of what's going on by the player, it's a stepping stone, 173 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: It's it's a growth. Everyone gets bigger and better as 174 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: we get older and as they move on and the 175 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: next generation can generate more and create more. We want 176 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: to be able to create awareness of all different issues 177 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: and different things that because we're a microcosm of the 178 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: world in itself and we've all been effected about it 179 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: differently in different ways. So if we can bring a 180 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: little light to where we grew up and where we 181 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: feel our passion, we let everyone else grow within that. 182 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: And I think that's what makes it unique. And being 183 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: able to have the social media and the other pieces 184 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: to make it expand it's it's like lightning in the 185 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: bottle because they can send it out and everybody sees 186 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: it instantly. Compared to us, you know, we had to 187 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: you know, build a little event here and then grow 188 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: from there and have your teammate do this, and then 189 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,599 Speaker 1: you hope that people know what you did outside of 190 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: the Kansas City market or wherever it is where now 191 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: it's instant. You know, you can make it live and 192 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: people can see it and be a part of it, 193 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: but also they can respond to it. And that's part 194 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: of building that that community base of understanding of how 195 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: powerful this game, in this sport and these young men 196 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: have become. Jason wasn't important to get noticed because guys 197 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: like Willie and will it's a lot of it wasn't 198 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: publicized like it is to that do you think the 199 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: works you did, whether it was for personal gain or 200 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: spreading the message like we heard the earlier talk about 201 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: globally nationally, is it was it important to you to 202 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: get noticed for the work you did? Not? Really? I mean, 203 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: I think that's the beauty in this reward. You know, Um, 204 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: I read in a Walter's book before I even met 205 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: the family that you know, when he was playing that 206 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: the secretary that worked like kind of the front office. 207 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: She she was sick because she was doing some stuff 208 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: and he went and replaced her, and so she could 209 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: go get some break because she she was getting some 210 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: treatment for the illness she was having. And so it 211 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: was a few years later that I was a finalist 212 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: for the award and I got to meet the family, 213 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: Connie and Brittany and Jared, and you know, it really 214 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: hit me then, like Wow, I didn't win it that year, 215 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: but I got to see what they were all about. 216 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: And I think that's the beauty of this award, And 217 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: I think it's great with the NFL isn't to bringing 218 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: all thirty two of these guys here so that they 219 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: can experience it. And I don't think any of these 220 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 1: guys currently would say they do it to get recognized 221 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: for that. I think, just like Will said, it's it's 222 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: kind of a byproduct of the people in front of you. 223 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: In Dallas. I heard about Roger Stalk, I heard about 224 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: Troy Aikman, and now that's the recipient, and seeing the 225 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: work that he's done when I played with him, and 226 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: so that just carries over. I think, I really do 227 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 1: think that that's the beauty of this award is it's 228 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: not so that people can see it, but it's truly 229 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: to make a difference when a community does that. To 230 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: Troy's point, that's when the award really takes on a 231 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: new meaning and you want to honor those guys. And 232 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: I sort of take it as it's not my award, 233 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: it's the people that that supported whatever that causes. It's 234 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: really there's so I get a chance to say it's 235 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: a Kansas City award because that's where everything happened and 236 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: that was a part of it and that was the 237 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,599 Speaker 1: pushing point to it. So it's, yeah, my name is 238 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: on it, and I do get to carry it home, 239 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: which is good, but pretty happy to it's it's you know, 240 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: it's the community that helped get there and that and 241 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: that's another piece of it. What was it like, uh, 242 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: last year to see so many, if not all, of 243 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: the living Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners 244 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: at the Super Bowl getting recognized for that because again, 245 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: some of them did live under some sort of anonymity. 246 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: Was before social media. What was it like just to 247 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: be you know, kind of all together on that field. 248 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: Will I'll start with you, Well, it was tremendous because, 249 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: as I said, as I said it this evening, I 250 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: was awarded it in nineteen seventy two, so that allows 251 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: me to see everyone who has come after me, and 252 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: with J. J. Watt winning it last year, it was 253 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: tremendous because it has served a purpose that many of 254 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 1: us couldn't truly appreciate. But when you think of scholarships 255 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: and the five thousand dollars in the scholarship went to 256 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: five Cans City students twenty five thousand dollars in total. 257 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: I remember about twenty years later, I'm in the investment 258 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: business in Virginia. I'm attending a conference and a young 259 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: man comes up to me and said, I won your 260 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: NFL Man of the Uth scholarship. And he had gone 261 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: on to law school working for US Telecom Indenta Colorado. 262 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: And the reality is that all of that touched someone 263 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: his family and generations to come. And that's really touching 264 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: and warm because you think about the magnitude of something 265 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: that you won and it could benefit someone else in 266 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: many generations. Its white working for the league again, you 267 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: know the league has really gotten behind it. Where where 268 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: do you Where do you kind of see some of 269 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: us headed? Because we again we hear all of you 270 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: talking about importantness? Is the players, the four men who 271 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: are up here a part of the thirty two nominees 272 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: saying they want to continue to do greater things. What 273 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: about the league's push and the initiative to keep this 274 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: the snowball rolling downhill. Well, I had a special moment 275 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: last year when we were we were here, when I 276 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to present Joe Green his trophy. I 277 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: think the league is as we look at how could 278 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: we amplify the greatness of all? And I think there's 279 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: so much power when we acknowledge as we've done this year, 280 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: it is a little bit different. There's so much power 281 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: and influence. You have you talked about you know what 282 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: do we see? Man? It is awesome watching these young 283 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: men playball and give and that using their influence, their creativity, 284 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: you don't know what to expect, and just using their personalities. 285 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: For us as a lead, we have to say, Okay, 286 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: how do we how do we grab all of that 287 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: that influence and push it out to the world. And 288 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: that's something that we have to think about. Um, we 289 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: have to talk about. But I'll tell you what I 290 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: actually I love seeing these young men in here, what 291 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: they're doing, the families, the Patent family, what you are 292 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: represent We can't bottle it up because right now, our world, 293 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: our country, they need the goodness of what these young 294 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: men are putting out in their communities. Chris Long was 295 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: saying at some point he needs somebody to inherit and 296 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: take over his Water Boys project, because once you're done 297 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: playing that shelf life of notoriety goes away. I was 298 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: about to say, would you would you agree with that? 299 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: I mean, let's and start with that. I said wrong, 300 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: would you agree with that? And what types of things 301 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: are you doing? And former winners and so many people 302 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: who used to play are continuing to do, to continue 303 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: on this legacy. Start with choice. And he's for myself 304 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: and my wife. We're now the one thing that we learned. 305 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: We was giving so much, we were all over the place. 306 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Not mission drift, meaning there's a lot of people in 307 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: your in your in your ears saying hey, you should 308 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: try this, issue, should do this, stay discipline and what 309 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: what's important to you and your passion um. And that's 310 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: what we're doing today. We focus on K through five 311 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: and creating safe zones, as we say, so that young 312 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: people still have fun and smiling. So I would just 313 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: say to the young men, don't mission drift. What God 314 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: put in your heart to do, continue doing that. Well, well, 315 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: you have to realize that when you do retire and 316 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: you move on and you do different things, it also 317 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: depends on where you go. Uh, you know, I was 318 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: fortunate I get a chance to stay in Kansas City 319 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: and still use the likeliness and things of that for 320 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: the Chiefs Organization and help build it off of there. 321 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: So we've you know, basically over the last year and 322 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: a half, just rebuilt a brand new one of the 323 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: largest daycare centers in Kansas City. And so we serve 324 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: basically almost a thousand kids a day and get an 325 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: opportunity and we built a gym down there and everything else. 326 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: And so I was part of a group that you know, 327 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 1: use the power of what we could do. Um, and 328 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: we just finished a capital raise of like seventeen million 329 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 1: dollars to create something that's unique within the Kansas City market. Well, 330 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: I just retired last year and um, you know, I 331 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: don't know, I think it. I took more criticism this 332 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: year than I ever did. Plan dope don't buy into Yeah, 333 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: broad broadcast, I don't know how you do it, but 334 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: but no, I think you you you certainly try to 335 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: keep your platform going and uh the things as I said, 336 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: you never did it for those reasons for notoriety. So 337 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: now you have those programs in place and you keep 338 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: that focus and I think Troy said it best for 339 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 1: recognizing these thirty two guys keep it the mission on 340 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: what their passions are. And uh, I think that's the 341 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 1: greatest example to me and what I experienced from Walter 342 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: Payton and his family was that you can aspire to 343 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: be the best football player and competitive and set a 344 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: standard for how you play and how you go about it, 345 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: but then also do the same thing off the field. 346 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: And I think that's a message to the two winners 347 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: in this year's for this year's award, so you just 348 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: keep it going. That's incredible what Wheels got building in 349 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: Kansas City. And uh, I think a huge platform is 350 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: because you have the Walt to Peyton man in the year. 351 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: And that's a fraternity. As Willie was saying, you know, 352 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: I was like a kid in a candy store seeing 353 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: those past recipients, guys that I looked up to, and 354 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: and um, you know, that's that's a brotherhood that I'm 355 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: I'm extremely thankful to be a part of. Well, what 356 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: about some of the things you're doing, because you know, 357 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: I know Willie and I worked together on the Black 358 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: College Football Hall of Fame and we raise a lot 359 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: of money for students scholarships things like that, but you're 360 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: involved in a lot of things. Scholarships were primary because 361 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: going back to seventy two I had mentioned that it 362 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,479 Speaker 1: was twenty five thousand all of five five thousand dollar 363 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: scholars So with the scholarship situation being the discussion, I 364 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 1: know that at different junctions I was named to the 365 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. And then for the next almost twenty 366 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: years in Richmond, I think it was five hundred thousand, 367 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: six hundred thousand dollars that we were able to provide 368 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: division public school students to attend college. And then I 369 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: most recently was on my Morgan State Foundation board as 370 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: chair of that for about six years, and so much 371 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: of it relates to education and endowed a chair my 372 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: school also. So education has been probably the foremost in 373 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: the lane activity that I feel has come from this, 374 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: and it all started with the NFL Man of the Year, 375 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: Steve I would I would actually say when I actually 376 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: heard Chris said, immediately with popped in my mind was 377 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: giving has no shelf life. Right, giving has no shelf life. 378 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: The body and what we do athletically has a shelf life, 379 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: and the game will end. But our willingness to give 380 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: our choice to give. It's endless. I want to follow 381 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: it up to on Jason, you you made a good point. 382 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: You said you've only been retired for a year. As 383 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: you know, you got hired from the Night Football, so 384 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: you were able to slip right into another post playing 385 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: career but a lot of real money. But you know, 386 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: a lot of players don't. A lot of players once 387 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: they finished playing, that transition into post career football is 388 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: a tough thing. We hear about it all of the time. 389 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: And maybe Troy, you can piggyback on this as well 390 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: as maybe what the league is doing with some of 391 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: its transitional programs, which are fantastic. But you know, you 392 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: talked about continuing to give and doing the right things. 393 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: But what about that period of hey, I don't even 394 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: know what career I'm going to go into, let alone, 395 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: continuing to try to help other people's lives. I mean, 396 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: that's got to be some a very kind of intriguing 397 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: period right there, trying to figure that part out. Yeah, 398 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: I mean it's a whirlwind. I mean, you think you've 399 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: been playing that you're a little kid, unfortunate enough to 400 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: do it for a long time for a career, and 401 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: when that's over the competition, being in the locker room, 402 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: your your life, just what you do every morning that 403 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: changes for the first time and and then um, you 404 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: know in the broadcasting career, everybody's got an opinion of that. 405 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: So I think the biggest thing is you go back 406 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: to you find passion in those things. And so, like 407 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: anything and will is a great example that of when 408 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: when you have that going in place and and choice 409 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 1: set it. You know, like giving doesn't have a shelf life, 410 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: and so you find yourself wanting to do more. And 411 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: if anything, it gets more organized because you're more hands 412 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: on and you're more involved, and you find joy and 413 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: making a difference. And that's certainly been the case for me. 414 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: That's what what about some of the league's transitional programs 415 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: to help athletes kind of find their their way in 416 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 1: that regard. So that's one of the things that's our 417 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 1: Legends community. And you will be transitioning for the rest 418 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: of your life. I'm still transitioning. So just because you are, 419 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: we find ourselves maybe running a business, running our foundation, psychologically, physically, 420 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: you will be transitioning for the for the rest of 421 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: your life. But we're still here to celebrate you. Some 422 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: of the individuals that you you you connect within the 423 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 1: locker room, those individuals will will they'll go on their 424 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: own separate ways. And that's where we come to the 425 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 1: mendas on these stage to still love on you um, 426 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: not to pass judgment um, but to make sure that 427 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: we're still embracing you and your family for the rest 428 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: of your life. So we have transitional programs. The Players 429 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: Association have transitional programs because we understand that it's a 430 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: transition for life. I had to say one of the 431 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: most striking things that was ever said to me as 432 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: a reporter from a player is uh, work done. We 433 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: know he's one of the most outstanding community service people 434 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: ever in this league. And one time Work said to me, 435 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: I think I even asked him, like, sometimes do you 436 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: think that all the work you do in the community 437 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: overshadows the great things you've done on the playing field, 438 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: And Work said, you know, I'm glad you brought that 439 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: up because I think about that sometimes. But then I 440 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: think our conversation went there are worst things to really 441 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: have to debate, and Willie, was that ever because there 442 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: was no social media and things like that, did you 443 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: ever felt or feel that the things you were doing 444 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,199 Speaker 1: outside of football or your Hall of Famer. But did 445 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: you ever feel it took away or do you think 446 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: it enhanced what you did on the field. I think 447 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: it enhanced because reality is that to be who you are. 448 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: It allowed the fullness of who you were to play 449 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: a sport to be defined in a narrow frame that's 450 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: not who you are, and to be giving, caring, concern, 451 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: interested a part of all that this life has to 452 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: offer meant you had to say thank you to others 453 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: well that which you had had to be able to 454 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 1: benefit from. So that was the the open kind of 455 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: expression that I think participating and giving allowed you to have. Jason, 456 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: you have been a very outspoken advocate for anti domestic violence, 457 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 1: for women's value, for supporting women and family who have 458 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 1: been subject to this. Of course, you know your your 459 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: personal experience. Is there a story I guess that maybe 460 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: struck you of of a survivor or someone through your foundation, 461 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: or that you just know because they've they've heard your 462 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,959 Speaker 1: story that makes you think, you know, what this really 463 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: is worth it? What we are doing is very very 464 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: important all the time. I mean, it's it's incredible to 465 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: hear those stories and uh, you know, I mean a 466 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: lot of those are worse than I ever experienced, you know, 467 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: And so it challenges me to want to do more 468 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: because I can only think back to my experience and 469 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: the motion that I had, and I saw my mom 470 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: had going through something like that, and uh, you know 471 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: that it takes a while to work through that. So 472 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: it's not just one of those things where you can 473 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: just put a program in place and they're healed and 474 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: they're better. And that's the thing about domestic violence. It's 475 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: a it's a long process of feeling like they're worthy 476 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: and that they deserve another chance and that they're okay, 477 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: and that their kids, whether they've been abused or they 478 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: saw that their their mom go through something like that. 479 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 1: So for me, it's just they want your time. They 480 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: want to hear that it's gonna be okay. To inspire 481 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: them and tell them that hey, I was in a 482 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 1: similar situation and that you can't overcome it and that's 483 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: not who you are and don't don't allow yourself to 484 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 1: be put in that box. So I think for all 485 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: of us, that's why you do it. Well said gentlemen, 486 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: I must say it has been my humble honor to 487 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: share the stage with you. To be in this room 488 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: with all of these great people supporting these young men. 489 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: Thank all of you for being here to get a 490 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: round of applause to our fantastic panelists. We're gonna wrap 491 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: this up. Thank you, guys. This has been the NFL 492 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,679 Speaker 1: Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a topic for discussion, 493 00:25:49,880 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: email us at NFL Legends at NFL dot com.