Efe Obada, a 34-year-old former NFL player, is retiring from football to start a foundation aimed at helping young people in care. Obada, who played for the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Commanders, credits American football with transforming his life.
A Life of Adversity
Obada’s life was marked by adversity from a young age. He was illegally trafficked to Britain from Nigeria as a child and was abandoned on the streets of South London. He entered the care system and lived with 10 foster families before turning 18.
Despite the challenges he faced, Obada found solace in American football. He started playing the sport at the age of 21 and was eventually signed by the Dallas Cowboys. His big breakthrough came in 2017 when he was signed by the Panthers and became the first International Player Pathway athlete to make a 53-man roster.
A New Chapter
Obada’s foundation, which will use sport, mentoring, and support services to help foster children and young adults rebuild confidence and unlock opportunities, is a deeply personal endeavor. He says he is driven by a “true calling” to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in care.
Success, Obada says, will not be measured by how many athletes emerge from the program, but by the lives it changes. “I’m not trying to create NFL players,” he said. “I’m trying to equip these kids with the tools and the opportunity to live fulfilling, self-sufficient lives.”
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
