Play Like a Pro Helps Youth Football Programs

Ham told the youth “These years that y’all are in are some of the greatest years of my football experience.”

“I’ve been playing football for a long time, ever since I was 10 years old, and I still have so many memories of playing with the Green Machine back in Duluth in the West End,” Ham said. “I still have so many friends, coaches that I talk to. These friends are going to be people that may be in your life for the rest of your life.”

Ham explained how the team structure of football can enrich those relationships.

“I think football is one of the greatest sports ever created,” Ham said. “But the thing about football is once we’re done playing, if you make it to high school, if you’re blessed to play in college, if you’re blessed to play in the pros, once you are done playing, it’s not something that you can just go to the YMCA and do like basketball, so don’t take these moments for granted. Have fun doing it.”

Sharing those fond thoughts was only one way the clock turned back to Ham’s youth.

The Q-and-A session took it another notch, with enthusiastic hands reaching skyward.

The first questioner asked if Ham watched Elmo when he was little.

The father of three laughed before stating he was “more of a Power Rangers guy,” specifically the Green Ranger.