Russell Okung

Professional Football Player

Russell Okung is a professional NFL player known for his advocacy for player rights and mental health awareness, alongside his impressive athletic career.

Born
October 7, 1988
Quotes
9
Rank
#5575

About Russell Okung

Russell Okung — Life and Legacy

Russell Okung is a prominent NFL offensive tackle recognized not only for his athletic prowess but also for his advocacy in player rights and mental health. His career has been marked by significant achievements, including a Super Bowl victory, but it is his commitment to social issues that sets him apart. Okung's philosophy centers on resilience and accountability, which is evident in his quote, 'The game is bigger than me.' This reflects his understanding that success in sports is a collective effort, and he often emphasizes the importance of teamwork and mutual support. His advocacy for mental health is particularly notable; he has been vocal about the challenges athletes face and the need for open discussions surrounding mental well-being. In a landscape where athletes are often seen as mere entertainers, Okung challenges this perception by insisting on the importance of player rights and fair treatment. His experiences during contract negotiations have fueled his passion for advocating for systemic changes within the NFL. By prioritizing these issues, Okung not only impacts his peers but also inspires future generations of athletes to be more than just players, but leaders in their communities.

Quote collection

Russell Okung quotes

9 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"It's about quieting your mind and getting into certain states where everything outside of you doesn't matter in that moment. There are so many things telling you that you can't do something, but you take those thoughts captive, take power over them and change them."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I'm not surprised people are being slaughtered, people are being martyred. Our hope isn't in this world as believers, it's in the eternity. To be absent of body is to be present with the Lord, so they are dying for something that is real and will last forever."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I love the church. And the church is flawed. I think it's important that the issues of justice become important to the church. A lot of these churches don't necessarily take on justice because it affects dollars that come in. We need to start and assess the areas that we're in and not be so obsessed with becoming this big, huge church where everybody's pointing at one leader! We all should be pointing at Jesus, and if that's true we got to get to a place where the people become important to us. It kills me! It hurts me! Jesus has set the example. It's very clear!"

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I really love Los Angeles! The diversity here! You have people from all walks of life. And there's so much zeal for life and passion and creativity and those are the sort of things I wanted to be around. There's something amazing about the West Coast! As an entrepreneur, as a person who's very invested in the technology sector, and in business - I think there are incredible opportunities out here, almost to the point that I'll probably never leave it all."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I'm not defined by whatever team I play for or whatever status I have. And I ask myself like who do I belong to, what's my ultimate source and strength and peace and in wisdom? I hold onto that. And I make all my decisions based off of that. My counsel - always go to God and Jesus first before I make any decision. And it definitely navigates me well."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"Everybody wants to win. You know, nobody ever wants to feel like they lost. That was probably one of biggest lessons I learned. You don't want to be that guy sort of banging fist on table telling somebody what you want. People want to feel like they had enough value on both sides that the deal worked out on both ends. I had an incredible team in place that really supported me and I would not have been able to get the deal done had it not been for those people."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I had people who were around me, people that I put a lot of trust in that sort of messed me over. So after that I said, only I can look back over my life and say I was responsible for whom I hired. I was responsible for how I managed my money. So I decided I wanted to do it myself. I understood the business of football. And because I can understand the business of football, I decided it's the best decision for me to be an agent. It made the most sense and I think a lot of players are opening their eyes to it as well."

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Russell Okung Professional Football Player
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"I've always asked myself, what does it mean to love your neighbor. Like what does that exactly mean? And it means that we have an obligation to one another in every facet of life. In every facet! It starts with being present in somebody's life. And somebody that may not look like you, may not understand you, but just going out of your way to just be there!"

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