A Message from Demario McCall of North Ridgeville
By Demario McCall – Football Player, Mentor, North Ridgeville
Football has given me a lot. It gave me structure, discipline, opportunity—and a purpose. But maybe the greatest gift it’s given me is the ability to give back.
As Demario McCall of North Ridgeville, I know firsthand what it’s like to grow up with big dreams and limited resources. I was once that kid looking for guidance, for someone to show me the way both on and off the field. And now that I’ve walked that path, it’s my mission to help others walk theirs.
Why Giving Back Matters
To me, giving back isn’t just something nice to do—it’s a responsibility. Football isn’t just a game; it’s a platform. When we use that platform to lift others up, we build stronger communities, stronger kids, and ultimately, a stronger future.
Through camps, training sessions, mentorship, and community events, I want to create spaces where young athletes feel seen, supported, and believed in. Because sometimes, all it takes is one moment—one encouraging word, one new skill, one example to follow—to change the course of a young person’s life.
Investing in the Next Generation
There are kids out there right now—just like I was—running routes on patchy grass, tossing footballs in the street, or dreaming under the Friday night lights. Some of them just need access. Others need coaching. Many need someone to say, “I believe in you.”
That’s what drives me every day. I want to give kids the tools I was fortunate enough to have: proper training, strong values, and most of all—hope.
Whether it’s helping an athlete fine-tune their footwork or talking to a team about leadership and mindset, I’m not just showing them how to be better players—I’m showing them how to be better people.
Football Is a Bridge
Football has the power to unite people from all backgrounds. It brings together teammates, families, and entire communities. And when we use that unity for something bigger than the game, we create real impact.
That’s why I encourage every coach, player, and former athlete to give back in whatever way they can. Host a camp. Mentor a young athlete. Speak at a local school. You never know whose life you might change.
Coming Full Circle
I’ll always be Demario McCall from North Ridgeville, Ohio. No matter where football has taken me, I carry that hometown pride everywhere I go. And now, I want to give back to the same kind of communities that shaped me.
This is about legacy. About making sure the game we love continues to lift people up. About giving every young athlete the chance to succeed—on the field and in life.
Because at the end of the day, football gave me a future. Now, I’m giving back through football.