By Jim Gehman, Player Engagement Insider
Jacksonville, Florida native Sam Barrington wasn’t initially too excited about being drafted by a team who play their home games on a field often referred to as the “Frozen Tundra.”
“Going into it, I didn’t really want to go anywhere cold,” Barrington, a linebacker who was chosen by Green Bay out of the University of South Florida in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft, said. “But that was me just being ignorant to the fact that just because it’s a cold place; it doesn’t put a hold on anything.
“I was happy that I got drafted because you could be a free agent and you’ve got to still go and create history. Once you’re drafted, you’re a part of history forever. And so I was happy and it’s been beautiful ever since.”
On the field, Barrington contributed on special teams as a rookie in 2013 and moved into the starting lineup for seven games in 2014. He spent the 2015 season on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury in September.
Off the field, he began contributing shortly after become a Packer and hasn’t let up since. Helping others is part of his DNA.
“I’ve been doing charity work, or things that you would deem parallel to charity work, ever since I was a freshman in college,” Barrington said. “And even before then with small things in the community. I always was that type of guy. It’s just always been a part of me. I come from a large family and giving and selflessness have always been two of the most important things.”
Barrington is active with several charitable organizations around Wisconsin including NFL Play 60, the Salvation Army, Packers Kid Fan Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“I think the best is yet to come,” Barrington said. “I spoke to kids on being progressive not only for the community, but for themselves. About having a bright future. They don’t have the opportunity to get too much insight from guys in my position, so I’m just thankful that I have the opportunity and the platform to go and give.”
Green Bay’s nominee for the annual Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a player for the commitment he has demonstrated in helping others in the community, Barrington is also heavily involved with the Dreambuilders Foundation.
“We have three main focal points,” explained Barrington. “Including a custom bus route that helps not only the kids, but their families in the winter. It decreases the likelihood that a kid has to miss out on some form of education because of transportation.
“We’re working on synthetic football fields at Green Bay East and West High Schools. And the thing that we’re looking at also is literacy with the adolescents. So many of your adults today suffer from being illiterate, and it’s because maybe they didn’t have the tools or maybe it’s just something they didn’t take seriously as a child.
“We’re making sure that we can decrease the amount of individuals that grow up and are illiterate. We’re pushing literacy hard to those kids. We believe that if the kids are able to go and pick books out themselves instead of books just being pushed in their face, they’re more prone to read.”
While spending the season on injured reserve, Barrington has not only rehabilitated his foot injury, he’s also taken the time to try to read into his future, his life after football.
“As a professional athlete, you get asked that question a lot. And for different reasons sometimes,” Barrington said. “But I know that I’m laying the foundation now for whatever it is that I want to do after football, so I can transition into that properly and in a smooth manner.
“But I can’t tell you what I’ll do after football. If I’m done in five years from now maybe I’ll want to take some time out and spend time with my daughter, Samari, who is six years old. If I’m done in 10 years from now maybe I’ll want to go into coaching. You don’t know because it all depends on where your mind is at that point in time.
“I’m into broadcasting and mass media. So (this upcoming offseason) I’m interested in attending the broadcasting boot camp that the NFL does in New Jersey. I’ve applied and hopefully I’ll get accepted into that.
“But outside of that, right now it’s about football. My primary focus will be getting myself back into the best physical shape possible so I can come back and be the best linebacker in the NFL.”
