Toledo-born NFL star gives back—with a smile
In a fitness studio off Airport Highway, NFL wide receiver and Toledo native Nate Washington grabbed a battle rope and whipped it with the velocity one would expect from a veteran pro football player.
But his recent “boot camp” workout at Studio Fitness wasn’t part of the Tennes- see Titans’ training routine. Washington was in Toledo to help with a fundraiser as a favor to his mother, Lisha Washington, and studio owner Karen Everage.
It was actually the third session of the day, as the Titan wide receiver dem- onstrated the exercises he uses to stay in shape while trying to inspire the particpants to follow his lead. A smile rarely left has been that city.
“I'm gone a lot, but everything I do is for the city… I contributed all to Toledo and the people continue to stand behind me. They always spoke highly of me, so I always want to contribute back."
Washington not only held the boot camp, but also conducted his annual football camp at St. Francis de Sales High School while in town last month. Again, there was little fanfare, but that did not matter to the 70-something kids ages six to 16 who woke up early that Saturday morning for sweat-dripping drills, exercises and seven-on-seven team competition.Washington's face as he put the six women in the studio through the paces, giving them just a snippet of some of the things he does to keep his body football-ready. The events raised some money for his Nate Washington Foundation, but it was meant to send a bigger message about the importance of giving back – even after nine NFL seasons. There were no local television news cameras following his every move. No hordes of reporters that he usually en- counters in the Titans’ locker room. No reality TV spots. Washington said he did it because it was the right thing to do–and because his mother asked him.
"The cities I've played in, they've given me an opportunity to make a name for myself,” he said. “But I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the city that built me. Toledo 8
"As a mother, I don't think he gets all the accolades he should,” said Lisha Washington, who is a member of her son's foundation board. “I'm beyond proud of the way he gives back to the community. That's the way he was raised. He doesn't take his talent for granted. So many didn't expect him to make it because he was always a small kid. You don't know what God has planned for you." Washington's story has been well doc- umented locally, playing for a Scott High School football team often overshadowed by the city's private school powers. Instead of playing for a Big Ten or Mid-American Conference college, Washington ended up at Division II Tiffin University where he essentially rewrote the school's record books as a receiver.
Then he beat the odds as an undrafted free agent to win two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers before sign- ing a multi-million dollar contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2009. When he made the opening day roster for the sixth time, Washington surpassed the average num- ber of years a player stays in the NFL. But he said dream careers eventually come to an end and he wants to make sure he is not caught off guard, like so many of his NFL brethren. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract with Tennes- see, which will bring him $4.8 million.
During the 2013 season, his 58 catches for 919 yards was the second-highest total of his career, after the 2011 season when he caught 74 catches for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite last year’s numbers, Washington said he doesn't want to take anything for granted.
A Blessing from God
"God forbid if this sport is taken away from me that I would look back on things with regret," Washington said. "I try to give everything that I can, regardless of what I'm doing. I give every bit of me in practice, every bit of me in games. When I get home, we have a foundation and they- see a smile on my face when we're giving back because any given day this can be all taken away. Washington chats with his 2-year-old daughter, Niyla.
"[Pro football] has been a blessing from God and I always try to remember that and stay humble. So this keeps push- ing me forward and making sure I moti- vate myself to keep everything moving forward." Washington and his girlfriend, Mo- nique Johnson, who is president of his foundation, have a two-year-old daughter, Niyla, who darted around Studio Fitness NFL photos courtesy oF the teNNessee titans nonstop while her parents participated in the workout.
"My girl Monique and I have been together for five years and we're look- ing to solidify things and grow a family," Washington said. "This is my family. Our daughter is one of our many blessings. [When she gets older] I want her to know just how hard I worked to make sure she has an opportunity to be great. I have an opportunity to pave a path for her."
Those who watched Washington grow up in Toledo, like Everage, are not surprised that he has remained humble through the years despite the fame and fortune that come with being an NFL star. "I'm very grateful he took the time out of his busy schedule–and he is busy– to come and spend this time to help us," Everage said. "He gives back to the com- munity and I think it says a lot about him to do this. I've lost my voice today but I enjoyed it."
Gives it his all
St. Francis football coach Chris Hed- den, who had four of his players partici- pate in Washington's camp, said the Tole- doan's story to greatness still resonates. "It gives all of these kids hope, but not just in football but in life in general," said Hedden, who also once coached at Tiffin. "He shows you what can happen through hard work and determination. You can tell that Nate is a high-character person, and that's important for the kids to see . The NFL doesn't care where you're from. They want to know how hard you're going to work. You can tell he surrounded himself with good people." As Washington heads into the 2014 sea- son with new Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt (who was his offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh), the wide receiver said he wants to continue to make an impact in the league, and on young people, recalling how he was while attending Scott High School.
"Sometimes we inspire youths to have dreams but we don't press them in the right direction, so that's what I'm trying to do with the foundation," said Washing- ton, who will be 31 on Aug. 28. "I'm trying to make sure that they know that their dreams are possible." Washington is living proof of that— for 10 years running.
