NASHVILLE – The Titans will take center stage in the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign on Sunday at Nissan Stadium by making statements with their cleats.
Players had an opportunity to pick a cause important to them and represent their chosen organization on custom-designed cleats.
Titans receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine chose Destiny Rescue.
"I found out about Destiny Rescue about three years ago during a men's Bible study I'm a part of," Westbrook-Ikhine said. "When I heard their mission, it hit my heart. What they do is they help save, rescue and restore young children, mainly girls, around the world who get trapped into trafficking, or some sort of exploitation."
Westbrook-Ikhine said he'll have the name Abigail on his cleats. Abigail is a survivor who went through the Destiny Rescue program. Westbrook-Ikhine met Abigail on a Zoom call a few weeks ago, and he heard her personal story. A quote from what Abigail said to Westbrook-Ikhine will also be on the cleats.
"Her story is heartbreaking," Westbrook-Ikhine said. "But she has so much hope now, because of what Destiny Rescue does. It gives hope to these girls, and reminds them they have a life, and there's a bigger purpose out there for them. Now she wants to turn around and be a light for girls who were in a similar situation as she was, to know they are not alone, and there's someone fighting for her to."
The cause on Sunday will also be personal to Titans cornerback Jarvis Brownlee, whose chose Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Brownlee recently lost a close friend of his, before the NFL Draft.
"Aria Faith" was 22 years old when she passed away after a battle with breast cancer.
"She was one of the people in this world that understood me," Brownlee said. "I knew her since my freshman year in college, and we had a bond. She was there with me for the ups and downs, and I wish that she was still on this journey with me. To be able to talk to her on a Monday, and then lose her the next day. It was shocking. I wish she was still here with me."
Titans defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat will support Backfield on Motion.
Backfield in Motion is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of inner-city youth through education and athletics. Some of the kids from Backfield in Motion actually designed Sweat's cleats.
"It's a great organization," Sweat said. "I love helping children, and I have since I was in college. My major was Youth and Community Studies, so this is something I love.
"(I've talked to kids there) and I asked how it helped them, and they said it helped them a lot with schoolwork, and time management at a young age, and that's important. So, I'm choosing to support Backfield in Motion not only because of my personal mission to inspire and give back to the youth, but more importantly it allows me the opportunity to vocalize and promote Backfield in Motion's mission."
A large number of Titans signed up to participate for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, either in warmups or during the game. And several Titans staff members will participate in 'My Cause My Sneaks' by wearing their own custom shoes in support of chosen nonprofit organizations.
Here's a look at the players who will take part in the My Cause My Cleats campaign for Sunday's game vs the Jaguars, and their causes: CLICK HERE.
