After retiring from the NFL, players are left with an unimaginable amount of time and money, and most are unsure what to do with themselves. Some players use this opportunity wisely, others…not so much. The players that deserve a large amount of praise are those who not only give back to the world, but make sure to give back to the community that raised them and believed they would make their way to their NFL dream. These players are the true heros of the NFL.
Jerome Bettis
Detroit native and former Pittsburgh Steeler, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis announced his retirement in 2005 saying, “This Bus stops in Detroit”, putting an end to his prolific NFL career and a beginning to a charitable post-NFL life. Bettis regularly gives back to his Detroit hometown.In 1996 he founded the Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation which focuses on improving the quality of life for underprivileged and disadvantaged children. 
The foundation has donated over 1,000 pairs of cleats to the children of the Detroit school system, the school system Bettis grew up in. The foundation also funds the annual “Bowl With the Bus, bowling tournament which is devoted to raising money for disadvantaged children. In 2012, Bettis’ foundation donated $21.8 million to the MacKenzie PreK to 8, which opened that fall. Bettis hopes that children do not grow up the way he did, selling crack cocaine to make ends meet. When asked about selling crack with his brother in an episode of “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” Bettis said, “The mindset was, ‘We’re in the hood. Mom and Dad, they’re working their butts off. There’s no money around. We need to make some money.’ So we said, ‘You know what? Let’s give it a shot.’ And it was one of those moments that you regret, but at the moment, that was the only thing that was really available to us.”
Bettis is also active in the Pittsburgh community. In 2014, the second annual “Bowl With the Bus” fundraiser raises money for the children of Pittsburgh. Bettis has personally donated into other funds supporting asthma as well as opening his own sports camp the Jerome Bettis Asthma and Sports Camp, which supports child athletes with asthma. Bettiswas diagnosed with asthma at the age of 14, which did not hold him back from his NFL dream. In an interview with medical adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D, Bettis spoke about how asthma affects his play “At first I thought it meant I couldn’t play sports anymore, but my parents said I could do anything I wanted in life — as long as I followed my doctor’s program.”
Jim Kelly
Shortly after Jim Kelly’s 1996 retirement from the Buffalo Bills, his newborn son Hunter Kelly was diagnosed with a rare and usually fatal disease globoid-cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease). Jim devoted his life to his son, founding the Hunter’s Hope organization and Hunter’s Day of Hope, which occurs every February 14th. During Kelly’s Hall of Fame induction speech in 2002 he attributed his perseverance and dedication to his son Hunter saying, he (Hunter) was the toughest person he had known and was “my hero, my soldier, my son”. Kelly’s son had passed away August 5, 2005.
Three years later on June 3, 2013, Kelly was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer in his upper jaw. Shortly after, Kelly underwent surgery to treat his cancer. It was reported that the surgery was successful and he was now cancer-free. However, on March 14, 2014, a follow-up test revealed the cancer had returned, which meant Kelly had to undergo chemotherapy. Later that year on August 20 Kelly announced he was again cancer-free. Kelly encourages young people to remain steadfast and dedicated in their endeavors during his annual football camp at the Buffalo Bills training facility. He has been holding the camp since 1988.
Dan Marino
Dan Marino, one of the best passers of all time, is one of those NFL quarterbacks who have truly given back to their community in a special way. In 1992, Marino and his wife Claire started the Dan Marino Foundation following the diagnoses autism in their son Michael. This foundation continues to impact the community and is currently part of the Dan Marino Center, a part of the Miami Children’s Hospital.
The Dan Marino Center focuses on the diagnoses and treatment of children with a risk for psychological and developmental problems. Marino has used this foundation to spread awareness of autism, and has collected over $22 million for research, treatment, and diagnoses of developmental and psychological issues among children. The foundation currently donates to multiple research facilities such as: Autism Societies of Miami-Dade and Broward, the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and the Dan Marino Foundation. His foundation has also reached out to celebrities and popular figures, including Doug Flutie, who also has a son diagnosed with autism. In 2005 the Dan Marino Foundation was honored by the Miami Heat in front of thousands of a packed American Airline Stadium.The Marino Foundation also sponsors fundraisers such as the “Walk About Autism”.
Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie also has a son diagnosed with autism. He has spent much of his post-NFL career donating to foundations which further the research of autism. He also started his own foundation called the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation, named for his son Doug, Jr.
Flutie has even created a cereal called Flutie Flakes that donates all of it’s proceeds to research in treatment and diagnoses of autism.Flutie has run multiple campaigns connected to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation which help the lives of children and families affected by autism. These campaigns include” Autism on the Go” and the Annual Golf Classic.The Autism on the Go campaign was created in honor of Flutie’s parents who passed away in November of 2015. This campaign raises funds for the foundation’s “Active Lifestyle” program, which provides children with autism the opportunity to participate in activities such as sports programs, aquatic programs, music programs, social skills building, and family events.
Dick Butkus
Richard Marvin Butkus, AKA Dick Butkus, retired from the NFL following the 1973 season, and was elected to the Hall of Fame 6 years later. He was born, grew up, attended college, and played his entire professional career in Chicago. Butkus was commonly referred to as the “meanest player of his time” and one of the greatest defensive players to ever play the game. Immediately following his career as a Bear, Butkus moved on to become an actor. Butkus also became the representative of Nautilus Sports/Medical Industries in Lake Helen in Central Florida as well as gave educational presentations on injury rehab and proper sports exercise.The Butkus Foundation collects and distributes money to organizations of Butkus’ choice including: I Play Clean Campaign, which encourages student athletes to excel in sports without the help of steroids and other drugs, The Butkus Award, given annually to the best collegiate linebacker who also contributes to his community in a positive way; and The Dick Butkus Center for Cardiovascular Wellness located in Orange County, California which provides a cardiac screening program that is able to detect threat of sudden cardiac arrest and heart disease.
Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham, the 90’s NFL bad boy, made quite the transformation following his 1995 performance drop. Before that year, according to David Picker’s 2011 ESPN report Cunningham was said to be ‘egotistical and selfish’ by his teammates. After being benched and subsequently released by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995, Cunningham took a year off to better himself as a player and as a person. In a 2011 E60 report, Cunningham admitted he was not mentally ready for the NFL saying, “I was immature. I was trying to figure out who I was”. Cunningham joined the Minnesota Vikings in 1997. Chris Carter, the Vikings star receiver at the time said, “when he (Randall) came to Minnesota, the No. 1 thing in his life was his faith,” the next year, Cunningham took over for an injured Brad Johnson and lead the team to the NFC Championship Game.
Following his retirement in 2001, Randall spent 8 years under the direction of John Michaels, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Spring Valley in Las Vegas. Randall Cunningham founded and is now a senior pastor at the Remnant Ministries. According to their website, the church focuses on bettering the community it services by strengthening religion and faith in families, honoring their verse “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Aeneas Williams
Much like Randall Cunningham, Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams also went on to become a pastor following his NFL career. In 2005, Williams gave up his hard hitting life as a free safety to become a pastor at The Spirit Church in St Louis, MO. As early as 1992, Williams began to minister and give sermons to teammates before games. Before long, his sermons expanded to the entire team, and their families, to such an extent there was a sermon held in his home every Tuesday night. After his time with the St Louis Rams, he had decided to open a small ministry in the basement of his home. His ministry grew larger and larger each year, moving to Crowne Plaza in June of 2008, the Christ Memorial Baptist Church in Cool Valley in February 2010, and eventually The McCluer South – Berkeley High School where the ministry has stood ever since.
Erik Coleman
Erik Coleman played 8 years in the NFL as a safety for the Jets, Falcon, and finally the Lions before retiring in 2012. What makes Coleman special is not necessarily what he did in the NFL, rather what he has been doing since. Between putting in time becoming an analyst at SNY, he is also devoting time to lay groundwork for the next generation of athletes to take their part in the NFL. 
Coleman hopes to share the three important ideas that school comes first, faith is key, and hard work does pay off. In Coleman’s words “In my house, you wouldn’t be playing unless you brought home some OK grades, so school is definitely important.” Much like most players, he sees God taking a large role in the success of NFL players. Coleman tells kids as well as parents that dealing with injuries is of major importance, telling them to be aware of their injuries and to never play through them. When asked why he has the desire to work with young athletes he says that he always had people speaking to him at football camps, but never had a professional to speak to his group. He feels that someone with true NFL experience is the best voice to tell these children how to progress in the NFL.
Peyton Manning
After an 18 year Hall of Fame career, Manning announced his retirement. After years of starting up foundations and fundraisers for the growth of organizations in need, Peyton looks to further devote his time to bettering these foundations. He is known for his off-the-field work helping children on their path to join the NFL. Now living back home in New Orleans, Peyton is restructuring his family life and teaching the kids of his community more about football and how to successfully take the path to the NFL.“The Peyback Foundation”, which helps disadvantaged children, won him the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under.
More stories you might like
