Arik Armstead is known for his signature belly rub on the field after sacking an opponent. But for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end and 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year, the move is more than a celebration. “It’s a mantra that I live by,” Armstead explained. “You always have to grow and stay hungry. That’s my mindset as I move through life.”

Off the field, that mindset fuels a different kind of impact. It’s what led Armstead and his wife, Mindy, to launch the Armstead Academic Project, giving students the support and opportunities they need to build strong futures. The husband-and-wife team wants to ensure that every student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has the resources they need to thrive in life. For middle and high school students, that means exploring college and career pathways to help them prepare for their future.

“Research shows that young people aren’t prepared to enter the workforce,” Mindy Armstead said. “We want to provide an opportunity for exposure and experience to different types of jobs that are out there.”

Arik Armstead is highlighting AAP for the NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats campaign, which allows players to shine the spotlight on mission-driven organizations and issues they are passionate about by wearing custom-designed cleats representing their chosen cause.

For high school senior Cameron, AAP’s career camp — where students visit a business in their city so they can envision themselves in a role there — did exactly that. “Buying and selling and trying on clothes, that’s a real job,” he said with a laugh during a facility tour at Fanatics. The experience opened up a new world of career possibilities for the young man. “You can’t be what you can’t see, so it’s a real good feeling to get exposed to something like this,” Cameron said. “It’s a game changer.”

The next time Armstead performs his signature belly rub in his AAP cleats, he hopes young people can see where they want to go and “unlock what’s possible in life.”

Fans can join Arik Armstead by visiting his My Cause My Cleats page to directly support the Armstead Academic Project, bid on his custom cleats, or find another cause near you.

The Armstead Academic Project is supported by the Charles Koch Foundation, which as part of the Stand Together community funds cutting-edge research and helps expand postsecondary educational options.

This story is part of a partnership between the NFL and Stand Together, focused on amplifying and growing the impact of the philanthropic work of NFL players. Together, this collaboration shows real strength comes when we unlock the power within communities and the critical role each of us can play in contributing to solving problems around us.

Learn more about Stand Together’s top issue areas and explore ways you can partner with us.