For Immediate Release
Media Contacts Tom Cosentino, MWW (609) 396-0067 tcosentino@mww.com
Nashua, NH, April 4, 2014 – Jason Campbell, who recently signed to play quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, has also become the newest member of the Insightful Player team. An eight-year NFL veteran, Campbell was selected to the Insightful Player team for his ability to continually turn his life experiences into positive examples that can motivate others.
Insightful Player®, a bold movement of hope that features inspiring stories and programs about great NFL role models to inspire youth is now featuring Campbell’s story on the Insightful Player website.
An Insightful Player® is a person of integrity, such as a current or former NFL player, who shares their personal message of hope for the sole purpose of lifting the spirits of all, especially children. Campbell joins a roster of Insightful Players which includes: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Jerricho Cotchery (Panthers), Steve Grogan (Patriots), Roger Staubach (Cowboys), Devin McCourty (Patriots) and Jason McCourty (Titans) and Usama Young (Raiders), among others.
“Jason Campbell has been guided by his faith throughout his life and has always been motivated more by love and devotion to his family and to God than by a wish for athletic glory or the adulation that comes with it. The first thing he did when he was drafted was buy his parents a home. Jason’s humility, incredible work ethic, and generous heart are just some of his inspiring qualities. Jason is a wonderful role model for children and a valued member of the Insightful Player team,” said Chrissy Carew, founder of Insightful Player.
The following is a brief excerpt from Jason’s Insightful Player story:
The team Jason played for at Auburn University was legendary for its tight fraternal bonds. “Our team chaplain, Chette Williams, liked to have us lock arms before every game,” Jason recalled. “The idea was that we were locking ourselves together as one. Then when we went out on the field, that sentiment stayed withus even after the physical structure was broken. Everything we did on the field, we did together. ”
The same chaplain who created emotional intimacy by having the players lock arms fostered a sense of group protectiveness off the field as well. At regularly held meetings, team members could ask the group for support in dealing with their individual problems. “We were a brotherhood, not just a team,” Jason said. “I found out personal details about the guys: who had lost a family member, who had escaped gang life by getting a college scholarship, who had been beaten up or forced to do very difficult things. Sharing at those meetings made us want to help each other. We went into every game thinking we had to win because we were doing it for each other, and we were undefeated that season of 2004.”
Jason seems to have a knack for seeking out the right role models and taking the best lessons they have to offer. From Auburn University, he was drafted by the Washington Redskins, where he developed a deep admiration for Coach Joe Gibbs. “He used to tell us, ‘Guys, I care about you as men. Football will come and go, but what matters is how you live your life and how you treat others. Use your platform for positivity, not negativity.”
While playing for the Redskins, Jason became involved with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and raised a significant amount of money for that organization while also forging personal connections with some of the young patients who were beneficiaries of that cause. Witnessing their battles with illness and cheering them on transformed Jason’s perspective on his own life as well, as he battled several injuries in the years that followed. When his career took him to Oakland, Jason continued seeking out opportunities for public service.“The community outreach opportunities are the best thing about playing in the pros: golf tournaments, kids’ activities, banquets, speaking engagements,” Jason says.
Another outreach effort that means a lot to Jason is the one-day summer camp program he helps to run back home in Mississippi. “The camp is free. We supply all the resources, the food and drinks, and the coaches and NFL players volunteer their time. The players tell the kids their stories, what they did, how they succeeded. It’s so good for the kids to hear. We give them some form of hope that they will have opportunities that will change their lives.”
These days, Jason is perhaps best known for his resilience in the face of successive injuries, including a dislocated knee and a badly broken collarbone. “Playing thegame, there are going to be injuries,” he says philosophically. “You try everything you can to avoid them, but some are unpreventable. Injuries made me stronger and compelled me to get back out there on the field when the time was right. You have to listen to your body and trust your own judgment.”
And ultimately, Jason says, there is a greater lesson to be learned from injuries. “The tough times don’t last, but the tough people do,” he said. “If you have a strong mind and strong will, you’re always going to succeed and come out on top.Life doesn’t always go your way. But you keep going, keep working, and come out even tougher.”
The Insightful Player® series is brought to you by Coach Chrissy Carew, Hall of Fame Master Certified Personal and Business Coach and Author of her book, INSIGHTFUL PLAYER: Football Pros Lead A Bold Movement of Hope. Chrissy has been deeply inspired by her father, the late Coach Walter Carew, Sr. He is in several Halls of Fame as a high school football coach and baseball coach (as well as high school and college athlete). He used sports to help kids build strong character and teach them valuable life skills. The Insightful Player® initiative was created to help make our world a much better place by inspiring youth. To contact Chrissy Carew visit http://www.insightfulplayer.com or call 603-897-0610.
©2014 Insightful Player, LLC
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