By Mark Eckel | Engagement Insider
DeShaun Foster’s mission when his eight-year NFL playing career ended, actually while it was still going on, was to go back to school and finish his college degree.
He had hoped to get it completed before his sister, and while that didn’t happen, he’s done more than just graduate from UCLA. Much more.
Foster, a second-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2002, saw his playing career hit its phoenix when he helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl XXXVIII against New England.
The running backs’ touchdown run against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, in which he broke a half dozen, or so, tackles, is still talked about in both cities.
“Might have been the longest one-yard run, ever,” Foster says with a laugh.
His career ended just a few years later, even though it could have added a few more years to it. But there was more for Foster to do, more to accomplish.
After earning that degree, Foster took a position as an assistant running backs coach back at UCLA. He has also hosted the DeShaun Foster Skills Camp at Edison High in Orange County, California that brings together between 250 and 300 kids ages 7 to 14 with developmental disabilities the past four summers. He also host some adults with the same disabilities.
As a NFL player, Foster, still just 35 years old, had it good. He not only scored the touchdown that put away that 2003 NFC Championship Game; he scored again on a 33-yard run in the Super Bowl. He led Carolina in rushing three straight years, despite sharing time in the backfield with Stephen Davis, and is UCLA’s sixth all-time leading rusher.
Now he’s doing something he enjoys just as much, if not more, giving back, helping others who are not as fortunate.
“I always had a football camp,” Foster said. “It was just something I wanted to do to give back, help kids. Then when I heard about the Challenger Program, I wanted to get involved in that.”
The Challenger Division of the Pop Warner League is a co-ed flag football program for players ages 5-18 with developmental disabilities.
DeShaun’s mother, Cheryl, worked with the Special Olympics when Foster was young. Now, he’s trying to help the Challenger Program take on the same goals.
“It’s just a great feeling being able to help and watch the kids have such a great time,” Foster, who has several other former players and friends come out and help, said. “We have a game at the end of the camp and watching the kids play, it’s flag football, so even the kids who are in wheelchairs get to play. We just put the flags on the back of the chair.”
Foster’s camp runs in August. When it ends he hustles back to UCLA for practice. Last year was the fourth year of the camp and the fourth year he’s been an assistant with the Bruins. He doesn’t plan on either of them ending any time soon.
“Just to see their faces,” Foster said, “seeing how excited they are, the ones that you recognize – you remember their name – it’s just the little things.”
Foster retired from the NFL after the 2008 season as the age of 28, even though he had offers to continue playing.
First on his list was finishing his degree.
“I always told my mom I would do that, and I did,” he said. “I wanted to get it before my sister, but that didn’t happen.”
What did happen was he offered a job with the football staff.
“Since I was going to be back at school, they asked me if I wanted to coach,” Foster said. “I started that first year; and I’ve been doing it ever since.
“Coaching isn’t anything I saw myself doing when I was playing. I knew I wanted to do something to stay around the game. I thought maybe I would go into TV, or something like that. But that didn’t really work out. I started coaching and now I really like it.
“I’m content. I’m happy. I’m able to be around the game I love, the school that I love, and just things are working out. I’m back in California. I’m just enjoying life.”