The 2013 NFL season is officially underway! Old and new faces have graced the field to represent all 32 teams for Week 1, and NFL fans welcome them with open arms as the start of the new season begins. Thursday, Sunday and Monday night’s games all proved the the NFL is back with a vengeance.
During this week many players racked up yards, touchdowns and tackles to both help their teams win games and help themselves possibly earn a bigger contract in the coming years. But the gridiron isn’t the only place the most lucrative league in the world is kicking off this new season; there are also a few NFL stats in the sports marketing world being earned outside the stadium and in the community.
The Most Important NFL Stats No One is Talking About
Photo Credit: Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens won were crowned Super Bowl Champs last season, and also won the opportunity to bring the NFL’s 2013 Kickoff Community Build to their hometown. The NFL’s Community Legacy Project invests in community development projects in the neighborhoods home to the reigning Super Bowl Champions each year. This year, volunteers representing the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, United Way and The National Dairy Council installed $35,000 worth of improvements at Hilton Elementary School in Baltimore City.
The NFL Working with Communities
The offseason was also highlighted by various players’ charitable endeavors, including the 4th annual One Team 4 Haiti Global Ambassadors trip – sponsored by JBF Worldwide – which is a charitable organization founded by former NFL player Jack Brewer.
This year’s JBF Worldwide GLobal Ambassador delegation included current and former NFL players Ronnie Cameron (Philadelphia Eagles), Drayton Florence (Carolina Panthers), Barrett Green (Former NFL player and CEO of HealthMax), Akin Ayodele (Former NFL Player), Abe Elam (Kansas City Chiefs), Kenderick Allen (NFL Free Agent), Shawn Springs (Former NFL Player and 1998 Pro Bowl member) and Nate Jones (NFL Free Agent).
Throughout the season, the philanthropic efforts of the league, teams and players will continue, with a host of community events, fundraisers and donations in support of fans and organizations in NFL cities nationwide. NFL Punt, Pass & Kick and Play60 programs will take the League’s grassroots youth football and fitness initiatives to cities and schools nationwide, while team outreach efforts like Colts Community Tuesdays will engage players in localized community service each week.
Players Pitching In
These efforts will be complemented by programs sponsored by players’ personal charities, such as Peyton Manning’s Peyton’s Pals program, which sponsors a series of special events to expose a select group of 15-20 teens to a variety of educational, cultural and community service activities throughout the year.
Also, the Israel Idonije Foundation will be continuing it’s after school program, which provides students from more than 11 schools in the Chicago area with access to tutoring, mentorship, arts, athletics and cultural experience opportunities every weekday.
Heroes Being Heroes
With Week 1 in the books, the NFL has already scored points on and off the field. With these and other ongoing efforts to make a difference in their hometowns, NFL teams and players are lined up to make a big impact this season other than just on Sundays.
