When Calvin Snowden walked on the campus of Indiana University as a freshman his goal was to become a physician. Calvin majored in pre-med and football was just a game he played. That all changed when he took organic chemistry. Snowden figured out that he could make it to the big leagues, the NFL.
Calvin Snowden was drafted in 1969 by the St. Louis Cardinals during the 9th round. Calvin was a defensive end and played five seasons in the NFL with three different organizations. He played for the Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and finished his career with the San Diego Chargers.
During Snowden’s career playing football he had a quote that he stood by and always wanted to define him. “Football is what I did, NOT who I am.” He loved playing but he knew it was just a profession, it wouldn’t define him.
Now Snowden is the President of the Washington D.C. former player’s chapter. His main goal is to teach to the younger players and current players how to manage their money during and after there playing days. Snowden thinks that is the biggest difference from the time he played football in the NFL.
“During the off seasons, I had to have a second job,”
Snowden thinks that salaries are so high nowadays that the players take it for granted. “That’s why there are so many players are filing for bankruptcies. They need to be mentored”
Snowden added, “We played for beer money, while the players now play for real money.” He thinks the NFLPA has helped the players with their living conditions.
He does have a bad thing to say about owners in the NFL. “They treat players like livestock.” This means that don’t think of them as people, just as people they own with a contract. They don’t help them cope with surviving after being cut or released.
After he retired from his professional football career in 1973, he decided he wanted to go back to school. Snowden attended Howard University for his Master’s degree in Urban Studies. He wanted to join the federal government to help youth get on the path to success in life.
Snowden created a federal program called “Tapping the Top 10.” This program was put in place to help the students in the top ten percent of their class to get a summer job, to help them socially and economically, and to get them to college. Calving thinks if a student doesn’t go to college, society doesn’t understand the reason. Most likely, its because they don’t have the money to attend. He thought the best option was to give the students great life lessons and money to provide them a start on the road to success.
Since his playing days, Calvin has lived his life helping people and companies. Snowden hopes all his efforts will make the people and players of today be more conscious of life. He consistently reminds the younger players, “don’t let football define who you are.”
This comes back to his quote he repeats to everybody he talks to. This quote should be repeated at every level of football from Pop Warner to the NFL. It is strong and lets the young players know that there is more to the game of football after you put away the cleats for the last time.
Football is what I did, not who I am. Calvin Snowden lived life this way and has been successful in everything he has done. He didn’t let football define him.
