WARRICK DUNN HAS GATHERED inspiration from family, friends and football.
It has led him to become one of the NFL’s most respected players on and off the field.
The winner of the inaugural The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP Award, an honor given to a player for commitment to giving back to his community, the Atlanta Falcons’ star running back has been driven to help others since the death of his mother.
As a football player, his determination also comes from his mom and his early days of playing youth football in
Only 18 years old when his mother was killed, Dunn received an outburst of support from family and friends. It motivated him to help others in need.
The encouragement he received from his mother, Betty Smothers — an off-duty police officer who was ambushed and killed at a bank by armed robbers — helped him from his beginning days on the football field.
“She was a tomboy and she was a state champion in high school track and field. She never tried to push me away from playing sports, football especially,” he said.
“Her drive was like mine. She always wanted to prove to people her son could play the game. Being a little guy playing the game, I think over the years, it drove her and it has driven me since her death.”
At 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, Dunn’s stature is small by NFL standards.
His size has been in question ever since his youth football days.
“A lot of people don’t know this, when I first started playing football they wouldn’t even give me a uniform,” said the two-time Pro Bowler and three-time 1,000-yard rusher. “That’s always been a driving force. Over the years I’ve learned to always try and stay meek and humble because the game can be taken away from you at any time.”
Dunn learned a lot about the game and life from his youth football coach, “Choo-Choo” Brooks, who he described as a father figure in his life.
He also learned a lot about football and understands the influence a coach can have at a very young age.
“The youth football coach sets the foundation for future teachers,” said Dunn. “Obviously, athletic-wise players will get better as they get older, but teaching the basic fundamentals, once kids understand that it helps them in the long run.”
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Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
Images courtesy of Getty.