Back to School,A Lineman's Mission for Literacy

Veteran defensive lineman Marcus "The Wall" Williams has always believed in the power of education. His foundation's "Reading Blitz" program recently hosted a back-to-school event at an elementary school, where he and several teammates distributed books and new school supplies. For the massive athlete, interacting with small children is one of the most joyful parts of his job.

The gymnasium was a riot of color, filled with kids wearing their favorite team colors. Williams laughed as he saw a young girl in a Kansas City Chiefs jersey that was so long it looked like a dress. He made a mental note to find her a kids' size later. He noticed that among the men's NFL jerseys on the fathers and older brothers, there was a mix of quality. Some were clearly official, while others had the tell-tale signs of being fake NFL jerseys—slightly off colors and fuzzy logos. It didn't matter to the kids, though; their pride was unwavering.

During a reading session, Williams held up a picture book about football. A boy shouted, "I want a jersey like yours! Where's the best place to buy NFL jerseys?" Williams smiled and used the moment to talk about more than just shopping. He explained that reading the official NFL website or sports news sites was just as important as wearing the gear, because understanding the game makes fandom richer. He promised the class that if they all finished a book that month, he'd donate official, high-quality jerseys to their school library. The offer was met with cheers, turning a question about apparel into a motivation for literacy.