Terry McLaurin
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Wide Receiver | Ohio State | 5 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been the team's number one wideout since 2019. He has recorded three consecutive 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons, joining Henry Ellard and Gary Clark as the only other receivers in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He is also one of two receivers in franchise history to have at least 4,700 receiving yards in his first five seasons.
McLaurin has produced Pro Bowl-caliber numbers despite playing with multiple quarterbacks and has been a reliable option for the Commanders in each of his first five seasons. Since 2019, McLaurin has recorded just 19 drops, the fifth fewest among players with at least 340 receptions during that time frame. Since 2019, he also has the fifth-most receiving yards in the NFC and is tied for second with 48 receptions of 25 or more yards. During that time span, McLaurin has 34 30-plus yard receptions, the sixth most in the NFL, and has hauled in 10 touchdown passes of 30 or more yards, tied for the seventh most in the NFL.
In 2022, McLaurin was named to his first Pro Bowl after accumulating 1,191 receiving yards and averaging 15.5 yards per catch.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
In 2023, McLaurin has leveled up his community impact by hosting and participating in events of all kinds that give back to the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.
In June, McLaurin participated in a virtual reading for kids in partnership with the NFLPA. He also hosted his free football camp for 150 local youth. At the event, McLaurin jumped in each drill, took pictures, and passed out goodies. Then, only a week after the football camp, he partnered up with Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Capital Area to give local kids a
free bike, offering a chance for fun and freedom as summer got underway. He capped off the summer with a back-to- school event for teachers from James McHenry Elementary School and Wheatley Education Campus, surprising the teachers by purchasing everything off their wish lists to start the school year.
As the NFL season gained momentum, so did the receiver's initiatives. In August, McLaurin partnered with PLB Sports & Entertainment to launch Terry McLaurin's Crunch Time breakfast cereal, with all proceeds benefiting the Terry McLaurin Foundation. The foundation supports underserved children with education and social support, health and wellness assistance, and mentorship. The following month, McLaurin hosted a birthday celebration at FedEx Field for kids from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) DC and Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Capital Area. The event included activities, meals, gifts, and quality time with McLaurin.
This fall, McLaurin kicked off his Terry's Team initiative. At every Commanders home game this season, he gives four different guests the gameday experience of a lifetime with perks that include free parking, a pregame meet-and-greet, and more.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
The community efforts seen by the wideout in 2023 bloomed from seeds planted in years prior. 2022 was a year of philanthropy to remember for McLaurin.
That fall, he hosted an event for his birthday with community kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters and CASA for Children
D.C. At the celebration, for which he was later named that week's NFLPA Community MVP, McLaurin gifted a pair of shoes to every child. But that occasion was not a one-off giveback activity but rather the launch of a special, long-term project: the Terry McLaurin Foundation. The foundation's establishment transformed his individual passion into a vehicle for changing lives. It works to provide educational and social support, health, and wellness assistance and mentorship to aid children in succeeding both in school and in society.
The mission of the Terry McLaurin Foundation can be traced back to an interest first seen in the wideout shortly after arriving in Washington. Since his rookie year, McLaurin has shown a commitment to giving back to underserved youth. In 2019, he selected Youth Entrepreneurs, whose goal is to provide entrepreneurship education to students, as his charity for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative. He followed up those efforts with support for an organization with an adjacent mission in 2020, the Boys & Girls Club of America.
Following its launch, the foundation hit the ground running during the 2022 holiday season. That November, McLaurin hosted a Thanksgiving meal distribution for foster families, handing out meal boxes and grocery gift cards. Then, in the week leading up to Christmas, the Foundation treated kids to a Target holiday shopping spree with each child receiving a
$150 gift card.
In addition to these tentpole moments, the Foundation established the Dream Catchers Fund to help fulfill special requests for disadvantaged youth so that they don't feel sidelined by not having items like prom dresses, art supplies, or sports equipment.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Last April, McLaurin was named a finalist for the Pro Football Writers of America's Good Guy Award, an honor presented annually to an NFL player for his qualities and professionalism towards reporters. This award's title fits McLaurin and perfectly encapsulates his authenticity and kindness.
McLaurin's "good guy" nature is as dependable and undeniable as his receiving skills, which his Washington teammates and coaches recognized early. When 2020 team captain Landon Collins went down with a season ending injury during McLaurin's sophomore season, McLaurin was unanimously voted captain by his teammates.
Becoming a face of the franchise has meant a lot of growth for McLaurin. He has used his star status and resources as a force for good, changing countless lives in the DMV area. One prime example is how on his impressive NFL journey, McLaurin has been open about how therapy has improved his life, whether it was during his D.C. Touchdown Club Award acceptance speech or his appearance on "The Pivot" podcast. As a mental health advocate, philanthropist, teammate, and human, Terry McLaurin always displays his exemplary personality and demonstrates his value of service.
