Andrew Whitworth
LOS ANGELES RAMS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Tackle | Louisiana State University | 16 |
Demonstrates Excellence on The Field
As the sixth oldest active player in the NFL at the age of 39, Andrew Whitworth remains a core pillar of a Rams offense that ranks atop the league. His 2020 season was shortened after suffering sprains to the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee during Week 9. Andrew rehabilitated the injury and made a miraculous, gut-it-out-like effort to return for a postseason run. Before the injury, he started every game for the Rams since joining the team in 2017 (aside from the season finale when McVay rested all the starters.) A four-time Pro-Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Andrew is a 16-year veteran who has competed in 229 career games with 225 starts.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Andrew Whitworth continues to marvel at the NFL community and football fans worldwide with his ability to protect "the blindside," an area that goes unseen by the quarterback as they drop back and assess the field. He's responsible for the unseen area, he steps in to protect, he allows others to flourish, and he never expects raucous applause from fans. To Andrew, it's just the mantra of a left tackle in the NFL, but it runs core to his being and is reflected clearly in his community work. Andrew consistently showcases a unique ability to galvanize his teammates and others to support causes important to him, his family, and the Rams organization. Resembling the style of his play on the field, Andrew's work in the community addresses the often-unseen issues that continue to plague underserved communities in Los Angeles and beyond. Most recently, at the beginning of the 2021 season, Andrew launched his "Big Whit for LA Families" program and committed to donating $20,000 after each home game to repair homes in his home state of Louisiana and move Angelenos facing housing insecurity into affordable homes. In Los Angeles, Andrew works with non-profits to help individuals pay for rent and groceries, support down payments for homes, and furnish homes.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Every year, Andrew actively recruits teammates to join him and Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes for children battling life-threatening illnesses. Over the past three years, he has been a significant catalyst in raising more than $400,000 to grant wishes. For the holidays last year, Andrew and his family purchased wish list items for 53 families living in crisis motels and shelters. The Whitworths bought gifts for nearly 100 children and provided each of the 53 families with a $500 Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions gift card along with individually packaged holiday meals.
In the wake of civil unrest that struck the nation following the death of George Floyd, Andrew agreed to match all proceeds raised for the team's Social Justice Fund throughout the 2020 season. Andrew has contributed more than $215,000 to support the team's social justice efforts.
At the height of the pandemic in March 2020, Andrew made a $250,000 donation to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to kick off the team's virtual Te'LA'thon for Los Angeles and support COVID-19 response efforts. Andrew's contribution financed a total of 1 million meals that were distributed to Angelenos in need. Andrew has also funded STEAM Labs at two elementary schools to help close the technology gap for low-income students and provide them opportunities to achieve upward mobility.
During the holidays in 2019, Andrew funded a shopping spree for 77 youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, providing each child with a $100 gift card to purchase items on their holiday wish lists. A few days later, he teamed up with United Way of Greater Los Angeles to make the holidays brighter for local children and families who were battling homelessness or had recently transitioned into supportive housing. A total of 114 children received a wrapped gift from their wish list. He surprised all 77 families living in temporary housing with a $500 Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions grocery gift card and treated them to a catered holiday meal. In May of 2019, he provided a $16,325 donation to match the funds raised by Rams fans and community supporters for United Way of Greater Los Angeles' Home Walk, the nation's largest fundraiser to end homelessness. For Read Across America Day in 2019, Andrew donated $20,000 to the "First Quarter for Literacy" initiative designed to get books to children in underserved communities and visited an elementary school to discuss the importance of reading with students. (Video recap available)
After a series of tragedies struck the Southern California region in 2018, Andrew donated a game check to the families of the mass shooting victims at the Borderline Bar and Grill and hosted families in a suite for the Rams Monday Night Football game. He auctioned off his game-worn jersey to raise money for families affected by the shooting and the wildfires that displaced many across the region during the weeks leading up to the game. In his first season with the Rams in 2017, Andrew purchased new bikes and helmets for all 600 students at an elementary school in Watts, one of Los Angeles' highest-need communities.
From 2017 – 2019, Andrew purchased 50 tickets for every Rams home game and donated them to local charities and schools. Aside from his efforts in Los Angeles, Andrew was also a community steward in Cincinnati during his time with the Bengals. Before joining the Rams, Andrew started The Big Whit 77 Foundation, which impacts the lives of youth and families in his home state of Louisiana. One of the foundation's programs, Whit's Warriors, offers financial assistance to high school seniors in Louisiana. The program has awarded $400,000 in scholarships and school supplies.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Andrew has been named a captain by his teammates in all five seasons with the Rams and was a team captain in eight of his 11 years with the Bengals. His positive character is displayed through his actions on and off the field. One instance that imprinted Andrew's leadership on the entire Rams organization was the morning after the Borderline Grill mass shooting in 2018. Andrew asked Coach McVay if he could address his teammates and coaches during their team meeting, where he strongly encouraged them to 'wrap our organizational arms around our local community at a time of tragedy.' "I've been blessed to play in this league and to be a part of some really good seasons," said Andrew, "But making a difference in someone's life will go beyond football any day of the week. It's not just about the game; it's about the opportunity to bring people together. When I look back and think about my NFL career, the time spent out in the community giving back to people in need will always be the most touching to me."
