Chris Long isn’t just a football player.
The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end has grabbed a number of headlines this season, mostly for his efforts off the field. Long has made considerable effort to give back to the community, including donating all 16 of his game checks this season to fund scholarships and provide for charities.
Long made an appearance on “The Ellen Show” on Friday to discuss his philanthropic contributions with host Elen Degeneres. The 10-year NFL veteran cited his parents as his inspiration for giving back, but he also explained how community work fills the emotional gap that his profession cannot.
“Football for me, while it’s fun, I don’t get the fulfillment out of that alone, so selfishly the charity stuff makes me feel good, makes me feel like I’m not just playing ball, I’m doing something bigger than that,” Long said.
Degeneres clearly admired Long’s work, as she teamed up with Cheerios to donate $30,000 to Long’s Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign, which strives for educational equity and opportunity in St. Louis, Boston and Philadelphia, the three cities long has called home in his NFL career.
Long is a perfect example of a person who understands the power of their platform and is using it for the greater good.
