Bradley Bozeman
BALTIMORE RAVENS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Guard/Center | Alabama | 4 |
Demonstrates Excellence on The Field
On the field, Baltimore Ravens guard Bradley Bozeman is emerging as one of the top offensive linemen in the NFL. He blocks for an esteemed rushing attack that topped 100 rushing years in 43-consecutive games, tying the longest streak of its kind in NFL history (Pittsburgh Steelers 1974-77). He played every one of the Ravens' 1,107 snaps on offense in 2019. That season, Bradley and the rest of the offensive line helped the Ravens set an NFL record for single-season rushing yards (3,296) and produce the NFL's No. 1 scoring offense (33.2 points per game). Baltimore also became the first team in league history to average at least 200-plus yards rushing and passing per game in 2019. In 2020, Bradley started at left guard in all 16 games, helping block for the NFL's No.1 rushing attack (191.9 ypg), which produced the third-most yards (3,071) ever in a 16-game NFL season. Throughout the 2021 season, Bradley has started every game at center, blocking for 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
While the unforeseen COVID-19 crisis caused their initial philanthropic efforts to change, Bradley and his wife Nikki didn't let the pandemic stop them from providing incredible support to the Baltimore community when residents needed it the most. The main focus of their foundation is to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children and families by focusing on the dangers of childhood bullying.
At the beginning of 2020, the Bozeman's devised a special mission to stop bullying. On February 10th, the couple embarked on a cross-country RV trip – from Maryland to California – with the intent to travel for six weeks, drive over 5,000 miles, address more than 12,000 kids in 18 schools with stops in 16 states along the way. While they did indeed speak to several thousands of students on their trip, it, unfortunately, had to be suddenly cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and schools being shut down.
After it became apparent that the Bozeman's weren't going to be allowed to visit schools anymore that year, they turned their efforts to combat one of the most significant needs in our area – food insecurity. COVID-19 has had a devasting impact on Marylanders, driving food insecurity numbers to unprecedented levels. Additionally, approximately 80% of Baltimore City School students qualify for free and reduced meals. With no school in session, the Bozeman's knew the students they typically help with anti-bullying messaging would not be able to get the meals they so desperately needed.
Beginning in July 2020, the Bozeman's started a meal distribution at Mount Pleasant Ministries in Baltimore. Every other week their efforts delivered 21,000 meals to over 300 families. They also ensured that each family left the distribution with a hot, already prepared meal that they could eat that night. Additionally, they created a special Halloween distribution that allowed children to dress up in costumes and safely "trick-or-treat," They hosted a special Thanksgiving food distribution. These distributions have continued throughout the offseason and into the 2021 season – distributing nearly two million meals in total.
Additionally, in 2021, the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation launched a collaborative charitable effort with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Maryland, and the Baltimore City Police department to provide meaningful food and academic support to children living in Baltimore's disadvantaged communities. Their SYNC Snack Program pairs kid-friendly snacks with critical academic and instructional resource materials and delivers them weekly to metro area Boys and Girls Club locations. The snacks are accompanied by educational resources, provided through QR codes on the snack box, including the Bozeman Foundation's online library of anti-bullying, diversity, and inclusion video messaging.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Bradley has been championing bullied and at-risk children primarily by taking his message directly into schools for assemblies since his college days at the University of Alabama. Bradley, a center for Alabama's championship team, and Nikki, a women's basketball center, were bullied as kids and wanted to make a difference. Established in 2018, the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation helps promote charitable, philanthropic, and grassroots community activities. The foundation helps lend support to parents, school staff, and adults in the community to help prevent bullying behavior and create a safe school and community environment for children. While they couldn't visit students in person or physically be at their food distributions in 2020, the Bozeman's partnered with the Ravens to use robots that allowed them to virtually be at their ongoing events – thanking volunteers and spreading love to the families picking up their food. Additionally, you can often find Bradley on Friday nights at Liberty High School in Carroll County, Md. Bradley has been working consistently with the Liberty High School football team to mentor the players and support them throughout the season.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
The incredible philanthropic work that the Bozeman's do regularly has caught the attention of the local city and state officials. In January 2021, Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby presented the Bozeman's with an award to recognize their charitable efforts in Baltimore. The Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation's work to combat bullying also includes legislation reform as it's worked closely with the Maryland state delegates that authored "Grace's Law," named after a young girl that killed herself after relentless cyberbullying.
Bradley is a perpetual participant in Ravens' Community Monday activities. He has shopped with kids during the team's annual Holiday Helpers event, volunteered through the Ravens' Caw to Action initiative, encouraged kids to be active and healthy through the team's PLAY 60 program, and more. To kick off the 2021-2022 school year, the Bozeman's also donated hundreds of backpacks full of school supplies to underprivileged Baltimore City students.
