49. Braylon Edwards: Football and Philanthropy

How do athletes go from multi-million dollar contracts to making a difference? What happens in retirement for athlete’s whose identity has been focused on their sport? What motivates athletes to give and why is it unusual to see major giving in higher ed from pros? This week's guest, Braylon Edwards addresses these questions in an unscripted conversation about his philanthropy and leadership. Braylon was a wide receiver for the University of Michigan, which led to him being the third overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. He retired from the NFL in 2014 and returned to Michigan to finish his degree. Since then he continues to be a sports commentator and published his first book, “Doing It My Way”, which chronicled his outspoken life as a Michigan Wolverine. Braylon’s philanthropy has focused on athletic scholarships at the University of Michigan and in Cleveland. Most recently, Braylon has become an advisor for nonprofits on mental health initiatives, and with the U of M Alumni Association, U of M African American Giving Initiative, and the U of M Depression Center.