From Shaquem Griffin to Tom Dempsey, the league is full of inspiring stories.
With the big Super Bowl game coming up, the spotlight is on the NFL. While we have a lot of football fans here at Easterseals NJ, we’re the biggest fans of players making a difference in the disability community. Many of these players created foundations and nonprofits to help others. Below are just a handful of current and former players that showcase that anything is possible.
Keith O’Neill
The former Colts and Cowboys linebacker has been vocal about his struggle with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. O’Neill started the 4th and Forever Foundation to help others struggling with mental health.
Brandon Marshall
Marshall, a former NFL linebacker, announced he had borderline personality disorder in 2011. He’s made it his mission to spread awareness and destigmatize BPD. He even started his own nonprofit– Project 375– with the goal of “unlocking human potential through conversation, education, & inspiration.”
Shaquem Griffin
Griffin is a former NFL linebacker (and twin brother of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin) born with Amniotic Band Syndrome. ABS affected Griffin’s right hand, causing it to become underdeveloped. Griffin eventually underwent surgical amputation to have the hand removed. Griffin has worked with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a sports program for those with physical disabilities.
Tom Dempsey
The late Tom Dempsey was a kicker for the New Orleans Saints. Dempsey’s kicking foot was deformed; he wore a special boot while playing. He famously made a record-setting field goal against the Detroit Lions in 1970. The kick resulted in the “Tom Dempsey Rule” which now requires all players to use shoes similar to the NFL standard. Interestingly enough, Dempsey’s custom shoe was lighter than other shoes.
Brent Boyd
Often called the father of concussion awareness, Boyd is a former NFL offensive guard for the Minnesota Vikings. He founded the advocacy group, Dignity After Football, and famously testified in front of congress regarding the NFL’s disability plan.
Rocky Bleier
Bleier was a former halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He sustained severe injuries to his right foot and leg during the Vietnam War. He wrote a book about his experience, Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story, discussing his injuries and his time in the NFL.
Tedy Bruschi
Bruschi, a former linebacker for the NFL and current senior advisor to the head coach at the University of Arizona, suffered a stroke in 2005. After sitting out a season to recover, he was able to continue playing for several more seasons. Shortly after his stroke, he started a non-profit organization, Tedy’s Team, to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease victims while supporting survivors.
Samari Rolle
Rolle, a former cornerback for the Oilers and Ravens, has been very open about living with epilepsy. While he eventually retired, citing his illness as well as injuries sustained on the field, he’s currently the assistant football coach at a high school in Florida.
Joe Barksdale
Barksdale is a former offensive tackle in the NFL, but his impressive resume also includes singer-songwriter and stand-up comedian. Last year, Barksdale publicly shared his autism diagnosis. He mentioned in an interview with the Today Show that the diagnosis made him feel comfortable with who he is.
Eric LeGrand
LeGrand signed a symbolic contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, but he’s never played in the NFL. This college footballer fractured two of his vertebrae in a game against Army, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Since then, LeGrand has created a platform to speak out about those living with spinal cord injuries. He partnered with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to create the nonprofit Team LeGrand. He’s also an author, sports analyst, and motivational speaker.
Of course, these are just a handful of the many NFL players with disabilities who are making a difference in the world. Who are some of your favorite players and nonprofits?
My grand son has been diagnosed with autism. He has a passion and plays football and basketball. He’s 12 years old he shys his way in public he is shy but he loves sports.
My 10 year old son is autistic but is very athletically talented.
The biggest issue is that he gets very upset when coaches yell! We are having an especially hard time this year!
Not the only Laura. We are dealing with that and my son decided to step aside for the season and try again later.
Truly inspiring read! These stories highlight the incredible resilience, determination, and strength of individuals who refused to let disabilities define their limits. It’s a powerful reminder that with the right support and mindset, barriers can be transformed into milestones.
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I was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) four years ago. Despite trying several conventional medications and treatments, my condition continued to decline. My muscles weakened, fatigue became overwhelming, and everyday tasks grew more difficult. It was a frightening and frustrating time.Last year, driven by desperation and a glimmer of hope, I decided to try an herbal treatment program from NaturePath Herbal Clinic. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. But within just a few months of starting the treatment, I began to notice real and encouraging improvements I had more strength, significantly less fatigue, and my mobility started to improve. I felt more stable, more energetic, and, most importantly, more like myself again.This experience has been truly life-changing. For the first time in years, I felt hope returning. I could engage in daily activities with greater ease, and my overall quality of life improved in ways I never thought possible.
If you or someone you love is facing the challenges of ALS, I wholeheartedly recommend exploring their natural approach. It may not be the answer for everyone, but for me, it made a world of difference.You can learn more by visiting http://www.naturepathherbalclinic.com
At Appeonix Creative Lab, we are inspired by the determination of NFL players who have overcome disabilities to achieve greatness. Their stories reflect our own mission of breaking barriers through technology. We specialize in delivering innovative software solutions including custom web and mobile app development, digital marketing, testing & automation, and maintenance services, all designed to empower businesses and create inclusive, accessible experiences. Learn more about us at;
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Inky Johnson is an incredible testament to the strength of humanity.
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These players are seriously inspiring, tackling real issues head-on. It’s a shame more folks don’t know about the impact of organizations like webharmonium.
These stories are seriously inspiring—like, who knew players could face such tough battles? It’s cool to see how some of them, like Barksdale, have turned their struggles into something positive. Check out this game that kinda gets that vibe of facing challenges head-on: https://idols-of-ash.net/.
These players are awesome. It’s wild how much they’ve turned their struggles into something positive for others. Respect.
These players are awesome. It’s wild how much they’ve turned their struggles into something positive for others. Respect.
This was genuinely inspiring to read. What stayed with me most is that these stories are not just about football, but about visibility, perseverance, and the courage to keep going when life looks very different from the expected path. If you ever need a simple way to hide details or anonymize an image before sharing it online, something like PixelateImage can be useful too.
For years, many people doubted that I would recover from Parkinson’s disease. Even when others lost hope, I refused to give up. I followed my neurologist’s recommendations and used medications such as Carbidopa, Sinemet, and Levodopa. While these treatments provided some temporary relief, my condition eventually worsened, especially by the fifth year. At that point, I decided to explore an alternative approach and tried a herbal program from EarthCure Herbal Clinic( w w w. earthcureherbalclinic . com). I used their treatment for four months, and over that period, I experienced a remarkable improvement in my symptoms. Today, I am grateful for the progress I have made and for discovering another option that worked for me in curing and reversing my PD and all its symptoms completely. I share my experience for those who may be considering alternative paths alongside conventional treatment or without any conventional treatment. Send them a message on “info @ earthcureherbalclinic. com” to get your own treatment for any disease or virus .
This is such an inspiring list—every story here reminds us that persistence and hard work can overcome almost any obstacle. The discipline these athletes showed mirrors what it takes to learn a new skill, like mastering a language. For anyone looking to build that same kind of muscle memory for Chinese, I’ve found a tool that uses repetitive dictation to strengthen recall naturally. It’s worth checking out if you’re serious about consistent practice: studyChinese
What an inspiring read about these incredible athletes! It really shows how much grit and determination can overcome. Speaking of games, I always enjoy a quick round of Cheat or Repeat when I need a break.
This was a genuinely inspiring read. Stories like Shaquem Griffin, Tedy Bruschi, and Eric LeGrand show how powerful resilience and visibility can be for the disability community. Tools like Whisper Web can also support accessibility by turning speech to text, making it easier to capture thoughts, notes, and stories without typing.