Jaylon Smith’s legacy is just beginning and it has nothing to do with football

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

The Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker is making the world a better place.

Jaylon Smith is an incredible human being.

From the emotional moment he took the phone call that let him know he was drafted to the NFL by the Dallas Cowboys, his story has been a heartfelt one. The Notre Dame star was all set to be a top five pick in the 2016 NFL draft, but a devastating injury came at the most inopportune time. In his final collegiate game, Smith tore two ligaments in his knee and suffered nerve damage, so just like that - his NFL career was in serious doubt.

With focused vision, determined belief, and earned dreams - the star athlete overcame adversity, and is now on a path to have a wonderful pro football career. And it’s those three attributes that Smith uses to define his trademark “Clear Eye View” which has helped instill faith while he battles relentlessly to reach a goal.

Smith has been in the league four years now, but he never saw the field his rookie season as he used that time rehabbing his injury. Many doubted whether the nerve in his knee would regenerate, allowing him to properly heal and maneuver his body at a level to play linebacker in the NFL, but that doubt never came from Smith. He worked tirelessly, never getting down, and never making excuses. He had a great spirit about him and never lost sight on his goals.

Slowly and surely, his knee improved. From wearing a brace on his leg to help with “drop foot” to having full mobility of his lower extremities - Smith is now a new player. He’s coming off his third season, the last two of which has seen him start all 16 games. He led the team in tackles last season, and was selected to his first ever Pro Bowl.

The Cowboys front office re-upped on Smith last year when they signed him to a six-year, $68 million contract extension that will keep him wearing the star through the 2025 season; a deal that is guaranteed to put $35 million into his bank account. Financial security has now been achieved, which is a big accomplishment for a guy whose career faced so much uncertainty early on.

While Smith’s personal achievement is inspiring and makes for a great story, this is only the beginning. With an opportunity to use his NFL platform for change, the star linebacker is doing exactly that with the creation of the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute. The program, known as MEI, is designed to close the economic and educational gap for minorities through: financial assistance, strategic planning, and mentorship.

If black and brown communities across America are going to thrive, entrepreneurship is required to beat poverty and create pathways to prosperity.

Smith talks about how kids in his own community of Indiana are taught that the only way they can make it out is by being a professional athlete, a concept that he feels is so misleading.

MEI’s first winner and founder of Hurry Home, Jada McLean, talks about the importance of such a cause, and having the backing of someone like Smith.

“Two percent of minority founders receive funding compared to their white counterparts,” explained McLean. “The numbers are pretty bad, so to have someone that has ‘made it’ and coming back to give to the community is really huge. He’s always talked about it, but he’s putting his money were his mouth is.”

Smith has pledged $2.5 million over the next several years to help inspiring minority entrepreneurs. Smith never takes anything for granted and feels a great amount of gratitude for the opportunities he’s been given, and he wants others to have opportunities as well.

“This is my true purpose beyond athletics, and I’m passionate about it,” Smith said. “I don’t want to be remembered as just a great athlete, or just a great football player. I want to be so much more. This equality stuff matters, but you got to start somewhere,”

Smith strives to be a game-changer on the field, but now he’s committed to being a life-changer off of it. The venture competition is just beginning and this year will be showcased on July 10 at the Omni Hotel in Frisco, Texas, but Smith plans on taking it all over the country.

That’s definitely something worth swiping about.

The MEI Marketplace is expanding to the Dallas area July 2020 ! More to come... #EnterpriseBeatsPovertyhttps://t.co/VayJcVQUwM

— Jaylon Smith (@thejaylonsmith) January 31, 2020

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