By Mark Eckel/Engagement Insider
Raheem Brock knew it wouldn’t last forever, so he started to think about his post-football life while his career was still at its peak.
Brock beat the odds as a seventh round draft pick out of Temple. He played 10 years in the NFL, eight with the Indianapolis Colts and his final two with the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive end finished his career with 40 1/2 sacks and a Super Bowl ring with the Colts from Super Bowl XLI.
All that time, however, he thought about what was next in his life.
“I wanted to make good decisions,’’ he said. “That’s why I tried to invest wisely when I was playing. I didn’t want to have no income when I was finished. That drop off can be crazy.’’
So Brock began with different ideas, the music world, the acting world; and now three years after his playing days ended, the Raheem Brock Foundation.
“I started with the music in 2005, 2006,’’ Brock said of his record label Beast Modez Entertainment. “It’s a tough industry. I learned a lot.’’
Just as he overcame the odds of being a low draft pick in the NFL, Brock did well in music as well.
Beast Modez signed two young artists, Jae Ellis and Last Donna to deals. Ellis had a No. 1 hit “Get Bent’’ at the age of 15.
“I always enjoyed music and the industry, and I’m still involved but it’s kind of on the back burner right now, while I pursue some other things,’’ Brock says.
One is a potential acting and writing career.
“I went to school and took acting classes when I was playing in Indianapolis,’’ Brock said. “I wanted to learn. I wanted to see what it was like. Then I took some writing classes as well and have some ideas for a screenplay.’’
The acting is something that Brock plans to pursue, so you may see him sooner than you think in a movie, or a television show, right now he has other plans.
Most of his time currently is spent with the Raheem Brock Foundation, which he started to help the youth in his home town of Philadelphia.
“I’ve been there,’’ Brock said. “I know how hard it is. I always felt that you should give back and it feels good to do that. I want to help the kids who deserve a chance.’’
Some of what the foundation does is reward a scholarship every year to a male and female student from Brock’s old high school, Dobbins in Philadelphia.
Brock strives to expose children to a variety of programming focused on social, athletic, and most importantly academic development. These programs teach children the value of education, especially literacy, healthy lifestyles, athletics, and giving back to their community.
Last year the foundation came up huge during the holidays, providing meals for underprivileged families on Thanksgiving and Christmas and taking a group of children on a Christmas shopping spree.
Next up is Brock’s big event, a celebrity flag football game, June 5, at his college, Temple, that culminates almost an entire week of activity in Philadelphia.
It starts June 1 when sponsors for the event get to draft players for the game.
“We’re trying to make it fun and get the sponsors involved in the game itself,’’ Brock said. “So we’ll actually have a draft where they get to pick the players for their teams.’’
The night before the game, June 4, there will be a fashion show and music showcase presented by the students at Dobbins.
“I wanted to get the kids involved, too,’’ Brock said. “And let people see what they have to offer. It should be a good time.’’