Look Good, Do Good

As Week 13 in the National Football League gets under way, players across the league are joining the "My Cause, My Cleats Campaign" which allows athletes to showcase their causes on the field, during this week’s games.
 
The initiative is a culmination of 18 months of collaborative work between the NFL and players across the league, and it includes an online storytelling platform, in partnership with The Players’ Tribune.
 
Over 500 players are planning to take part in the league-wide campaign. Many have worked with Nike, Under Armour and Adidas to design their cleats, which will arrive in locker rooms this week.
 
In statement released by the NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say about this week’s festivities.
 
“NFL players give their time, passion and resources to support deserving causes across the globe. We’re all looking forward to seeing how these personal charitable commitments are expressed on cleats, online and on social media during this week’s games.”
 
With every player’s cleat telling his unique story, here is a short list of what to watch for, from your favorite players.
 
Panthers tight end GREG OLSEN’S cleat (pictured) will tell the story of his son, T.J., who survived a heart defect in his infancy, and will raise awareness for congenital heart defects and the HEARTest Yard initiative.
 
Chiefs safety ERIC BERRY, 2016 Comeback Player of the Year, will use his cleat to tell the story of his battle with cancer and help raise awareness for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
 
Cardinals running back DAVID JOHNSON’S cleat will tell the story of his being bullied as a child and his work with STOMP Out Bullying to help other kids going through the same experience.
 
Many players have opted to join forces in support of causes they care about, including five players who will wear cleats that tell the stories of communities in East Africa that receive desperately-needed clean water through the Waterboys initiative, spearheaded by New England Patriots defensive end CHRIS LONG.
 
Ten players across the league, including Cardinals safety TYRANN MATHIEU and Buccaneers wide receiver MIKE EVANS will wear gold cleats that tell the story of treating all people with respect and dignity and sidelining racism through the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) nonprofit organization.
 
To learn more about the My Cause, My Cleats campaign, visit www.nfl.com/mycausemycleats