Kansas City Chiefs Legends Hold Press Conference To Express Gratitude On Behalf Of Retired Players
To Kyle Turley For
“Gridiron Guardian Sunday”
December 23rd
Turley issues call to action to NFL active players in the days leading up to Guardian Sunday
Kansas City, MO—Today at a press conference hosted by a large group of Kansas City Chiefs Legends and The Gridiron Greats, Kyle Turley broke down as he was overwrought by emotion as retired players expressed their gratitude to him for his efforts to help retired players in need . Turley created the upcoming December 23rd Gridiron Guardian Sunday initiative which is a grass roots humanitarian effort in which active NFL players can help provide aid to retired players in dire need. This Sunday, active NFL players will make donations that will be used to provide aid to scores of NFL retired players in need through the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.
In attendance at today’s press conference were a group of over 20 Kansas City Chiefs legends spanning several decades including : Fred Arbanas, Len Dawson, JC Pearson, Danan Hughes, Richard Baldinger, Larry Marshall, Ed Buddy, Allen Reynolds, and others. Gridiron Greats founder Jerry Kramer and former St. Louis Cardinal Conrad Dobler who himself has been battling post football related health issues, and the NFLPA disability system, for years also participated. The group of retired NFL players came together to express their gratitude on behalf of retired players to the active players around the league who are participating along with Turley in Gridiron Guardian Sunday.
“The fact that Kyle Turley started this initiative to help retried guys in need, and the support shown by the active players around the league, is really meaningful,” said Len Dawson, member of the Pro Football Hall Of fame and former Kansas City Chief. “While it is not their responsibility to help care for their retired brothers in need we are so grateful that they have stepped forward to help the many guys that are in need of medicine, medical care, food, clothing and shelter.”
“Those are the guys who made this game great, the older generation,” said Tony Gonzalez, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. “Everything is because of them. If they didn’t play, the game wouldn’t be as great as it is. We owe it to them to make sure they’re OK.”
Many active players have committed to participate in the effort including Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzales, Ty Law, John Welborn, Eddie Kennison, of the Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, Anthony Herrera, Ryan Cook, Marcus Johnson, Ben Leber, of the Minnesota Vikings, Ephraim Salaam of the Houston Texans, Kawika Mitchell of the NY Giants and Darwin Walker of the Chicago Bears….just to name a few. Hundreds of others (who have chosen to remain confidential) have also committed.
“One day we’re all going to be retired and you never know when an emergency can happen,” said Chiefs Cornerback Ty Law. “It’s only fair because they were the pioneers to help us get where we’re at. I want to help those who can’t help themselves.”
One hundred percent of the player’s Gridiron Guardian donations are used to provide aid to retired players. No portion of their donations are used for any expenses or overhead of the Gridiron Greats. This initiative is about players helping players.
With less than one week left before Gridiron Guardian Sunday, Kyle Turley has been hard at work networking with players on teams around the league. On Monday he sent, via Federal Express, over 1900 donation and reminder cards to every active player in the NFL; they will arrive on Wednesday morning. This is the second mailing he has done of this magnitude to the leagues current players.
Turley, who will be donating his entire game check from his December 23rd game against the Detroit Lions, used today to issue a call of action to his fellow active players as he choked backed tears.
“Today I would like to announce that an additional $50,000 has been committed from just my teammates along. This is purely a humanitarian effort. Many guys who helped to pave the way for us are suffering and are in need of help,” said Turley. “In this season of giving I am asking all the active players to join me in helping our brothers. Commit to make your donation today, whether it is a small or large donation, it does not matter; you can choose to remain confidential or to be public. Call us at 1-800-708-1078 to sign up or fill out the donation form this week. The work Coach Ditka, Gale Sayers, Jerry Kramer and the rest of the GGAF are doing not only is necessary but it is improving the lives of many of our brothers. It is an incredible feeling to stand here today along side so many NFL legends and team up with them to not only help people but to raise awareness with regard to the issues facing retried players.”
Last week, Matt Birk of the Minnesota Vikings announced that he will donate a portion of his game check from the game on December 23. He presented a check to Mike Ditka for the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and spoke about why he felt compelled to participate.
“I feel like this is the right thing to do; players and owners today all prosper because of the men that came before them. Many are suffering through no fault of their own,” said Matt Birk. “This is an epidemic that is affecting retired players and their families, from all eras; I see this as a humanitarian issue. When I came into the league I was told that the NFL is a brotherhood and we would always be part of that brotherhood, so it’s only right for us to help our brothers.”
The Gridiron Greats also announced that former Kansas City Chief Sherrill Headrick will be a recipient of funds raised from “Gridiron Guardian Sunday.” Headrick, a middle linebacker who resides outside of Ft. Worth, Texas played at TCU and for the Dallas Texans which then became the Chiefs. He has had over 15 surgeries for football related injuries and is now battling a terminal cancer that has spread from his liver to his adrenal glands and right lung; chemotherapy can not help him. Medication will provide him a few extra months, or a year, at a cost of $4,000 per month which is not covered by insurance. In addition to Headrick being a receipt of funds from Guardian Sunday, the Gridiron Greats also launched a public donation drive to help provide assistance. The public is encouraged to visit gridirongreats.org to learn about Sherrill Headrick’s story and to make a donation which will be earmarked and used for the purchase of Heardick’s medicine.
“I can’t begin to express what this initiative Kyle started means to the Gridiron Greats and all retired players. I founded this organization less than a year ago and never dreamed that so many involved in the game today would step up to help,” said Jerry Kramer founder of the Gridiron Greats. “The response of the active players to ‘Gridiron Guardian Sunday’ has been amazing. A lot of retired players are seeing these guys come forward and it has made them feel that there is hope and has demonstrated that they are not forgotten. It’s wonderful what they are doing to help their brothers in need.”
“With the recent announcement by Mike Ditka that he was dissolving his Chicago based Ditka Hall Of Fame Trust and donating half the funds in that trust to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, plus the dollars that the active players have committed, thankfully we are in a position to help a lot of players and their families,” said Jennifer Smith, the Executive Director of the Gridiron Greats. “We are so grateful to the active players for their support and to Coach Ditka for not only his donation but the countless hours he spends working with us at the GGAF. I want to encourage players who need help to please contact us at 1-800-708-1078 or gridirongreats.org.”
For more information, or to schedule an interview with current and former NFL players participating in the initiative or members of the Gridiron Greats call Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund at (920) 499-7133. Additional information is also available at www.gridirongreats.org.
###
