Arik Armstead
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Lineman | University of Oregon | 9 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
The 49ers selected Arik Armstead in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Armstead has appeared in 112 games (93 starts) and registered 296 tackles (42 for loss), 31.0 sacks, 83 quarterback hits, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Armstead has also started all nine playoff games he's appeared in, tacking on 7.0 sacks, 27 tackles, and a forced fumble. Over his nine-year career, Armstead has become an integral piece of the 49ers formidable defensive line. His dominance and dedication to "Stay Hungry" on the field has captured the hearts of the fanbase and his leadership in the locker room is exemplified by his selection as a four-time team captain.
The 2022 season was a pivotal moment in Armstead's career. When injuries impacted the 49ers, the team relied on Armstead to move from the edge to solidify the interior of the D-line. Armstead stepped up with versatility and selflessness, averaging 4.4 tackles per game, 5.0 sacks, six tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits in his new role. Since then, he has proven his ability to collapse the pocket during one-on-one matchups.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
His tireless commitment to community efforts in 2023 has left an indelible mark, promoting education, inclusivity, and positive change in his hometown of Sacramento, the Bay Area, and beyond. In a fitting acknowledgement of his year- long efforts, the NFL Players Association awarded him the Week 5 Community MVP award. Armstead also received the CBS Bay Area Jefferson Award, the Yours Humanly 2023 Leading With Heart Award, and the Boost Collaborative Conference's Excellence in Leadership Award. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg recognized Armstead's community contributions and awarded him the Key to the City.
He kicked off 2023 with his annual UC Davis Children's Hospital visit in Sacramento, donating holiday gifts to over 75 patients. Then, throughout the year, Armstead has had a clear mission to advocate for and help work toward education equity. He has hosted seven reading events through his program "Storytime with Arik Armstead" and provided free Zenni Optical vision screenings and glasses to under-resourced families.
Over the summer, he hosted the Armstead Academic Project's inaugural Kick Off for Kids Gala, raising over $303,000 to support youth academic success. Following the Gala, Armstead hosted a free football and wellness camp and Sacramento State University college tour for over 500 students. In September, Armstead hosted the 49ers Read for Justice event, reading aloud to second-grade students, encouraging conversation around social justice, and supporting the distribution of 3,000+ books. Soon after, he donated 200 books at the Sacramento Literacy Festival and distributed bikes to hometown youth. During the month of October, he continued his outreach to local schools in East Palo Alto, CA, reading to students and encouraging positive attitudes.
To support 80,000 unfunded Black children in California, he secured a commitment from Governor Newsom to increase resources for the lowest-performing students, particularly students of color. He also publicly supported a Literacy Bill to ensure that the state prioritizes library access to every third-grade student in the state, impacting 427,015 children.
Recently, Armstead also donated $100,000 to Teach For America and Square Root Academy to help youth meet literacy standards and learn about AI technology, respectively.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Armstead's fourth consecutive WPMOY nomination demonstrates his steadfast dedication and commitment to the community. Over several years, Armstead has collaborated with nonprofits and educators to provide elementary youth in need of comprehensive academic support targeted reading interventions by credentialed teachers. He plans to scale this summer program to other Sacramento and Bay Area schools to close the literacy gap among third-grade students.
Since the Armstead Academic Project's (AAP) inception in 2019, the defensive lineman has helped raise and personally donated over $2 million to Sacramento and Bay Area youth. Collectively, the initiative has impacted the lives of over 516,500 youth and families through AAP. Additionally, Armstead is creating a Career Camp Playbook to bridge the gap between youth need and employment opportunities to promote economic mobility for underserved youth, nationwide.
From hosting story times, youth football camps, college field trips, free health and wellness fairs, and providing resources, warm meals, and school supplies, Armstead does it all. Armstead has made numerous other notable community efforts. He's read to 3,272 students across 42 classrooms, promoting literacy through the Storytime with Arik Armstead program. Additionally, he sponsored and hosted 2,577 students for youth football camps and college field trips. His financial support for Sacramento youth with Mercy Housing has surpassed $500,000. He has maintained a
six-year tradition of generosity by purchasing, wrapping, and delivering over $20,500 in holiday gifts to UC Davis Hospital pediatric patients.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
A Perry/Yonamine Unity Award winner, four-time team captain, and four-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, Armstead has proven time and time again his commitment to his family, locker room, and community. Armstead's commitment to the community is personal and as such, he has created an organization that will continue long after his career in the NFL. "Everything you do on the field is inspirational to me and to all your teammates, but everything you do off the field is monumental," said his former teammate D.J. Jones. "What you're doing for your community has me stepping up for mine."
In total, Armstead has directly impacted over 516,500 youth and contributed $2M+, continuously finding new communities and organizations to empower. While formalizing his own nonprofit simultaneously, Armstead is a constant at 49ers-driven community events and a leader of the 49ers Players Social Justice Council, helping direct $2M+ of team funding to community organizations.
