Former NFL linebacker, TV analyst, author and humanitarian Sam Acho talks about the Super Bowl and his role as an ambassador for the international justice mission

Sam Acho has been a busy man during Super Bowl week in Los Angeles. The former NFL linebacker, NFLPA vice president, author, ESPN analyst and humanitarian helped launch Team Freedom’s latest “Free to Play” initiative. Free to Play and Team Freedom create a world where children are free to play, free to dream, free to live safely. This is just one of the many ways Acho is making a difference as a International Justice Mission Ambassador.

Acho joined the WBGO Studios podcast Sports Jam with Doug Doyle to talk about the IJM and why he is so passionate about the organization that partners with local authorities in 14 countries to fight slavery, child trafficking, violence and abuse against women and children.

“I saw with my own eyes what International Justice Mission is about to do, going to different countries and changing justice systems. I was in Guatemala a few years ago leading professional athletes in a trip. We have had the chance to see women and children who have been abused. We must speak up for them and help the IJM to properly punish the perpetrators. What we are doing now is saying that everyone wants to be implied. Join us, go here and be part of this change.”

Acho is also the founder and president of Athletes for Justice, an organization that works to unite professional athletes and everyday athletes to fight against injustices in the world. He was featured in a Super Bowl ad highlighting his social justice efforts in the city of Chicago.

In 2016 and 2017, Sam was nominated by the Chicago Bears for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the league’s only award that recognizes both civic and professional contributions.

Sam takes his role as Vice President of the NFL Players Association very seriously. He has been with this organization since his second year in the NFL.

“Obviously the NFLPA, one of the jobs is to protect current players, and so you think of some former players, and yes, there are protections, but the main job is to negotiate collective agreements. J I’ve been lucky enough to be in some of those negotiations the last year and over the last few years. Those are the things that you started to think about differently from an AP perspective rather than just a former player. “

The husband’s father attributes success and humanitarian work to his parents, who he says gave him a solid, insightful and worldly foundation.

“My parents were born and raised in Nigeria. Every summer and even at Christmas, we would go back there to visit family, visit friends and see a different world. doctors and nurses, I would also go. We would do these medical mission trips. We would go to different villages in Nigeria and could help people with hernia problems and people with cataracts and glaucoma. So, go, helping and serving has been something it’s kind of in my blood. And you think about what IJM does. Some people can’t even go for help because they’re not free enough to , they would be abused on their way to seek some kind of medical treatment or something.”

Sam played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received the William V. Campbell Trophy for being the top varsity athlete in college football. he was on the NCAA TOP VIII Award, which recognizes the top eight student-athletes in all sports, and was named the 2010 Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year. In 2011, the 6’3 star was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and played four seasons as a linebacker with the team. He then signed with the Bears for the 2015-16 season and played four years in Chicago before spending the 2019 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Acho’s first sack in the NFL came against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he beat Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The NFL veteran’s first book, Let the World See You: How to Be Real in a World Full of Fakeswas released in October 2020.

“It’s a book about what it means to be seen, to be known, to be loved and to be authentic.”

Sam and his brother Emmanuel, who also played in the NFL, were incredible high school athletes at St. Mark’s in Dallas, Texas. Sam was the private state school track and field champion in the shot put and discus. Sam still holds the school record in the 12-pound shot while his brother broke the school record in the discus. Sam was named to the all-conference football team during his final three years in high school and averaged 12 points and 15 rebounds per page during his senior year on the basketball team.

Just before heading to Los Angeles for Super Bowl week, Sam says he was able to hang out and have dinner with his three young children and his wife and even play catch with one of his sons.

“I just try to be present and listen.”

You can SEE the whole SportsJam conversation with Sam Acho here.