Football taught me more than how to win games. It taught me to fight for every inch—no matter the odds—both on the field and in everyday life. As a former NFL athlete, I know the power of competition. I know what it means to set a goal, put in the work, and refuse to quit when the odds are stacked against you.
Sports didn’t just change my life—it saved me from the dangerous choices I was making, and a dark life path that could have destroyed me. It taught me responsibility, accountability, hard work, and pride. That’s the spirit of sports, the spirit of America—and the same drive that built this nation will keep it strong for generations to come.
Today, under President Trump's leadership, that spirit is being reignited in powerful and historic ways. From preparing to host the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles to welcoming championship teams back to the White House, President Trump is putting athletics where they belong: at the heart of our national pride and unity.
At the beginning of this month, he signed an Executive Order creating a White House Task Force to ensure the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics are a world-class showcase of American excellence. This team—chaired by the President himself—will coordinate security, transportation, and visa processing so athletes and fans from every corner of the globe can experience America at its very best.
No one loves this country quite like President Trump, and one of the ways hey demonstrates that is through his support of sports.
To have a president take the lead to coordinate the first Olympics held on American soil in decades is both an honor and a huge responsibility. I’m confident that with President Trump at the helm, the LA 2028 Olympics will showcase the very best of our country to the world. With an estimated 15 million visitors and billions in economic impact, the
2028 Olympics will serve not only as a contest of athletic excellence but as a beautiful celebration of our nation’s unity, generosity, and fighting spirit.
President Trump's commitment to athletics reaches far beyond the professional level of sports. By bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test in schools, the President is challenging young Americans to get active, get healthy, and get competitive again.
As someone who grew up without a silver spoon—someone who made my share of mistakes before finding my way to the NFL—I know how important sports can be for a young person’s future. Sports teach discipline, accountability, and resilience. On the field, sports demand grit, focus, and determination. Off the field, they shape men and women of character to live and lead with purpose. That’s the mission of Athletes for America: rallying athletes nationwide to safeguard America’s greatness, inspire the next generation, and remain rooted in faith and the values that built this country.
That strength starts with fueling our bodies right. Through Athletes for America’s partnership with AFPI’s Health & Harvest campaign, we’re championing policies that promote nutritious, whole foods—like returning whole milk to school cafeterias and ensuring transparency in food ingredients—because peak performance, on and off the field, depends on what we put in our bodies.
I proudly chose to chair AFPI's Athletes for America because I believe in its mission.
We know the power and influence that athletes can have on society, and at Athletes for America, we believe that we can impact the hearts and minds of people across this great country in ways politicians can’t. That’s why we’re working at the grassroots level—uplifting underserved communities, championing educational reforms, and supporting faith-based initiatives that strengthen families and inspire hope through sports and community building.
President Trump understands that the lifelong values we learn in sports—hard work, fair play, perseverance—are the same values that built this nation. He’s ensuring that those values aren’t just preserved; they’re celebrated.
From making sure the 2028 Olympics highlight America’s greatness on the global stage to harnessing sports as a force for national unity, his message is simple: America thrives when its people are strong and united.
And now, we have a chance to use the incredible platform of sports to help save the soul of our country. That’s a race worth running—and I intend to run it all the way to the finish line.
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