The Detroit Lions Michigan Emmy winning documentary series “Under the Helmet” premieres a new episode at Ford Field ahead of every home game. So far this season, the series has featured Romeo Okwara, Quandre Diggs, Kerryon Johnson, and Taylor Decker.
Next up: Lions safety Tavon Wilson.
For those unfamiliar with the series, it is led by Dustyn Blindert (Senior New Media Producer) and Eamonn Reynolds (Director of Football Communications), and it looks at Lions player’s lives off-the-field, giving fans a unique perspective on who the players are as individuals.
This episode opens with Wilson talking about what it was like growing up in a tough neighborhood and how he now reaches out to youth in the community, letting them know “their future is bigger than their environment, right now”.
The video then shifts to Wilson talking with youth about facing adversity head-on and not running from problems. He leans on his experiences of growing up in the projects without a mother (who died when he was 12 years old) or a father (who dies when he was only one year old) and that people are capable of overcoming adversity.
Wilson said he recognizes that the NFL provides him a platform to reach out and help others because that’s what he really wants to do. That line of thought transitions into the work he does to raise money for Lupus research as it has impacted his family.
Continuing with the family theme, Wilson then talks about his immediate family and how he enjoys spending time with them on his off days.
Wilson then spends some heartfelt time talking about his wife. Explaining how she is his biggest supporter, as well as the person who helped him break through barriers and overcome his fears.
You can watch the entire touching episode on Wilson below: