This weekend, Vikings players aren’t the only ones supporting causes near to their hearts at Minnesota’s game in Las Vegas.
Coaches and the team’s health and performance staff are also wearing custom-painted sneakers as part of the NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats campaign.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell is once again donating to the Jessie Rees Foundation, a project he became involved with when living in Los Angeles. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, General Manager of the Minnesota Vikings, will wear one shoe to symbolize the Minnesota Vikings Foundation and STEM education, and the other to promote the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital mental and behavioral health program.
Matt Daniels, Special Teams Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, is honored to pay tribute to his father, who died in August 2022 from effects of pulmonary fibrosis.
“As coaches, we’re not the ones on the field and might not get as much of the limelight, but we do play a key part in the football game,” Daniels told ESPN. “I think it says a lot about what we’re trying to do, what ‘The Shield’ is trying to do, to spread that awareness, for the NFL to take this measure and recognize us, allow us to be a part of the cause.”
“I really appreciate the platform and being able to use this to promote the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation,” he said. “I think it’s something that needs to have more light shed on it, and I appreciate the NFL for allowing us to do it.”
Uriah Myrie, the Vikings’ Head Athletic Trainer, underlined the significance of leveraging one’s platform for good.
“These are causes and foundations and areas that I don’t know if you could ever spotlight enough,” Myrie went on to say. “There are a lot of people on the sidelines of an NFL game.” There are a lot of people, cameras, and video perspectives… So, to me, it’s just a bigger chance to attract more people’s eye and draw more attention to those regions.
We’ve highlighted four Vikings football staff members, their individual causes, and what motivates them.
Chris O’Hara, Vikings quarterbacks coach: Postpartum Support International
Chris O’Hara and his wife Cynthia had their first child during Week 1 of the 2020 season.
Lincoln O’Hara spent 10 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after being born four weeks preterm, which added to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and the commencement of an NFL football season.
Then, four months later, O’Hara was fired by the Jaguars and recruited by the Rams, which meant the family had to relocate across the nation to Los Angeles with an infant.
Cynthia had been suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, an uncommon illness in which people have severe morning sickness throughout their pregnancy. However, in the days, weeks, and months following her son’s birth, she was devastated by postpartum depression and anxiety.
“I’ve watched her battle it, having to experience both of those things at the same time,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot about it – but not enough.”
Chris, Cynthia, and Lincoln moved again in 2022, this time to Minnesota to work for Kevin O’Connell. They welcomed a daughter, Amelia, into the family this past August during Vikings Training Camp.
“It made it tough again because I’m gone so much during that time,” said O’Hara. “She was struggling with depression and anxiety at times.” Being extremely concerned about the baby’s and her own health, all while her body is mending.”
O’Hara recognized right away that he wanted to support Postpartum Support International when it came time to choose a cause for his shoes.
“I’ve seen what she’s been through, and this is an opportunity to let her know that I see her; I understand what she’s going through.” I agree with her. I adore her. He described her as a “true warrior.” “I want to raise awareness about the condition.” It’s not her fault she feels that way. It doesn’t make her a bad mommy.
While he cannot empathize to his wife’s situation, he wishes to support her in any way he can.
“You can’t truly understand what it’s like unless you’ve been through it.” “I’ll never know how it feels,” O’Hara admitted. “There is nothing more difficult than bringing a life into this world and then having to care for that life while your body changes, battles hormones, and just the ups and downs of true depression and anxiety, which is difficult on its own stage.” When you factor in the postpartum period, it becomes really difficult.
“She’s a fantastic mother and wife.” She is our family’s rock. “It’s an opportunity for me to raise awareness for a topic that people may be familiar with if they’ve been through it, but if they aren’t, there are people all over the world who struggle with it,” O’Hara stated. “I believe that all mothers are true superheroes in this world.” It’s just a chance for me to raise awareness about a problem that has affected both of us and her, and it’s a chance for me to demonstrate how much I support her every step of the way.”
Myrie started the training crew by selecting one cause to emphasize as a group. They chose Catholic Charities Twin Cities and its Northside Child Development Center, both of which are part of the National Courage House Network.
Myrie explained that while fans are familiar with the Ed Block Courage Award and the players who earn it each year, many may be unaware of the foundation’s larger objective.
“We just wanted to find a way that we can get our crew involved in a good thing,” that’s what he said. “We present the award and get the guys to donate, but what else can we do to bring [Ed Block Courage Award Foundation] a little more attention and do a little more than we normally do?”
“Even our players hear it, we present on it, some of them understand it more once they’ve been around the league for a little while, but even the rookies, coaches, everybody kind of hearing it again or asking – that’s kind of why we wanted all of us to have the same one.” Maybe you don’t inquire the first time you see it. But when you see the entire athletic training staff has it, you’re like, ‘Wait a minute. ‘What is the point of this?’ I believe it will have a little more pull.”
Myrie believes it is meaningful to represent Catholic House Charities as a whole because of the existing connection and friendship.
“We’re a lot like a family.” “We spend more time together than we do with our actual families,” he explained. “We have a lot of things we like to do as a group….” That storm grew a little stronger when we started brainstorming [for My Cause My Cleats], and we were suddenly cooking. This is where we are starting this year; what can we do next year? “How large can it get?”
Joe, who is four years older and has a genetic disease that causes developmental delays and peculiarities, gives Siravo all of his comments with affection.
Joe may experience cerebral challenges, but he has proved his physical abilities in Special Olympics throughout the years.
“He’s been competing in Special Olympics for about 15 years.” “He’s fantastic,” Siravo observed of Joe. “He can bowl, golf, shoot hoops, or do anything at a high level.” It’s quite intriguing. He has several limits, but he can perform some really spectacular athletic stuff.”
Joe also works as a coach and mentor for Special Olympics, teaching other athletes how to swing a golf club or shoot a basketball accurately.
“Because he’s a competitive athlete, he texts me every week about what we need to do,” Siravo explained with a smile. “Joe means everything to me.
“I see his attitude, his approach to life with limitations, and still the joy of competing and of teamwork and all those things, and I’m like, ‘I should never, ever have a bad day in my life,'” he said. “It’s just his way of doing things.” ‘Get your mind out of your ass,’ it says. “Let’s go.”
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