Los Angeles Rams linebacker Kenny Young emerged as an integral part of the No. 1-ranked defense in the league last season.
Young was initially drafted by the Baltimore Ravens before being traded to the Rams as part of the deal that involved cornerback Marcus Peters. The move wound up paying some dividends during an injury-riddled season for the linebacker corps in 2020.
He is now expected to maintain his starting job alongside linebacker Micah Kiser on the inside leading up to the 2021 NFL season. While he has managed to make a significant impact on the field, his efforts off of it have also started to take root.
Young revealed that he started the Tackle Young Foundation, which provides support for literacy in underserved communities, via Sarina Morales of the team’s official website:
“I started the Tackle Young foundation because the simple fact that I’m from a community that helped raise me from different sorts of people outside of my family. That’s helped guide me to where I’m at today. Whether it be working at my character, how I perform, how I treat people…that comes from Louisiana, so I want to give back. So, for me, “Tackle Young” stands for tackle youth early. Maybe they need some financial literacy lessons on savings. Maybe they need a football camp…whatever it may be, maybe it’s books! I’ve donated over 400 books to kids in first to third grade in Watts. Man, I’m so glad I did that because somebody said, 70% of kids there just don’t have the advantage of the reading comprehension that they need.”
Young has been active with his foundation this offseason. He recently partnered with UNIFY Financial Credit Union for a 12-week financial literacy program called “Tackle Finances.”
The program was a crash course for college students learning about the structure of finances. They are also taught about student loans and money management techniques to help them plan for the future.
Although Young has not been in town very long, he has wasted no time in making his presence felt both on and off the field. While the restrictions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic put the world on pause, he saw it as an opportunity to make his plans come to fruition.
Young will have an opportunity to once again play a crucial role in the Rams’ quest for a championship this season. However, it is his efforts off the field that will truly make an impact down the line.
