By Lisa Zimmerman, Player Engagement Insider
Hard work has always been Willie Colon’s calling card. Raised in New York by his mother, a detox nurse, and his father, a supervisor, Colon followed in his parents’ footsteps by trying to do his best at everything that crossed his path, and do it one day at a time. He was further motivated by watching his mother, who suffers from Lupus, but whom he never saw complain or make excuses. To that end, he has made sure to constantly stay focused on the task at hand while educating himself to be ready for any future opportunities.
Colon, a 10-year NFL veteran who most recently played right guard for the New York Jets, and who is currently a free agent contemplating retirement, took some time out to attend the 2016 NFL Sports Journalism and Radio Boot Camp. Previously, he had attended the NFL’s University of Michigan MBA certification program and the NFL’s Broadcast Boot Camp. For Colon it’s about continuing to give himself the tools to move forward, and that’s the same pattern he’s followed for most of his life.
Initially, as a student at Hofstra University, the NFL wasn’t even on Colon’s radar. At the time, he was considering a career in law enforcement. Colon explained that he was more focused on the day-to-day of getting through his classes and executing his responsibilities as a member of Hofstra’s football team.
But then things changed. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. For the next seven years he became an integral part of the Steelers offensive line before heading to the New York Jets in 2013.
Over the years Colon evolved into a locker room leader and spokesperson and always kept an eye on the bigger picture. “Sports is so much bigger than what you do,” he said. “You know who you are on the field, but you don’t always know who you are [in other areas].”
To that end, Colon has taken advantage of the NFL’s programs to try to learn more about what he wants to do in the next phase of his life. He points out how much access the league provides to the world outside the NFL through its boot camps, internships and certification programs.
“The NFL does its best,” Colon said of the resources the league provides. “However young guys don’t always see the end because they’re focused on the now. But you have to turn off [football], you have to think of your future, your family. And you have to assume that tomorrow is your last day. Guys don’t want to think about life after football, but if you don’t think about it, you’re losing. And every NFL program I’ve done has been top tier. My heart will always be in debt to the game of football and the NFL.”
And Colon is aware that transitioning from the NFL can cause difficulties for players and everyone experiences something different. He is somewhat apprehensive of when that moment comes, but knowing he has taken steps to prepare himself provides an element of comfort, especially when he acknowledged how much of an impact being an NFL player has had on his overall life and will have as far as assisting in creating future opportunities. But he knows he – along with his fellow players – have to put the work in when they are ready to take the next step.
“It’s easy to say what you want to do,” he said. “It’s another thing to do it.”
Lisa Zimmerman is a long-time NFL writer and reporter. She was the Jets correspondent for CBSSports.com, SportsNet New York’s TheJetsBlog.com and Sirius NFL Radio. She has also written for NFL.com.