The Superbowl of Social Impact
With Superbowl Sunday right around the corner, I’m reminded of my city’s last championship. Like any Philly sports fan, I can remember where I was for the 2018 Superbowl against the Patriots and, especially, for the most memorable play of my life: The Philly Special.
“We got this,” I reassured my family before the The Philly Special, a daring fourth down play at the end of the first half. I will always remember that moment: the anticipation, where you can’t tell if it’s anxiety or excitement eating at your stomach, followed by pure joy at a successful outcome.
Whenever I come back home, my family watches a clip my Mom recorded of us celebrating. Before the play, you can hear grumblings of doubt, but I kept the faith, trusting our team.
I had hope because this was a special team. Larry Platt has argued that these Eagles were one of the most community-minded teams in all of sports. Known for a culture of servant leadership, they believed that doing well off the field was linked to their success on it. Malcolm Jenkins advocated for criminal justice reform; Torrey Smith paid for 46 animal adoptions at a shelter; and they all supported each others’ goals. While I didn’t know how that play would unfold, I wanted my 17 relatives I was watching alongside to believe in this team, just as I did.
And sure enough, the play was a success! Jason Kelce — our sixth round center who was criticized for being too small — snapped it to Corey Clement — our undrafted, fearless Running Back — who then pitched it to Trey Burton — our undrafted, third-string Tight End — who then then tossed a perfect pass to Nick Foles — our Superbowl MVP Quarterback, who was ready to retire a year ago. It was a miracle that will go down as one of the greatest sports plays of all time.
Honoring the 2018 Eagles: Superbowl of Social Impact
So, what does my family photo and the 2018 Eagles have to do with the Superbowl of Social Impact? As the 2018 Eagles demonstrated, athletes can make a big difference, especially given the special relationship they have with their fans. Chris Long, a member of those 2018 Eagles, demonstrated the power of this relationship: he donated his entire $1M annual salary to educational charities and, because of the trust he had earned from his supporters, raised an additional $1.3M from those inspired by his work.
In honor of Long and my 2018 Eagles, I want to try to recognize other NFL players who are making a difference in their communities through what I’m calling the Superbowl of Social Impact. On Superbowl Sunday, I’ll be publishing a list of NFL players who have used their immense power for good over the past 2021–2022 season.
If you have any nominations for athletes you think should be included, send them my way on Twitter or email. I’m excited to recognize some of the athletes who are using the great power of sports to make the better world a better place!
