Philadelphia Eagles’ Chris Long Hailed for Donating Entire Season’s Paychecks to Charity

Sports

Defensive end says he wants to give back to people who gifted him his career

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long is playing the 2017 season for charity, and sports Twitter is cheering him on.

The Chris Long Foundation said Wednesday that the player’s final 10 game checks will be donated to support educational equality in the three cities he’s played for during his decade-long career: Philadelphia, St. Louis and Boston. Long had already donated his first six game checks toward scholarships to his middle and high school in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Long’s base salary this year is $1 million, and he signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Eagles in March that included a $500,000 signing bonus and a guaranteed $1.5 million.

“In my 10th year, I want to celebrate the awesome opportunity I’ve had to play football by giving back to the communities that have given me that gift,” Long said in a statement. “Educational opportunity and equity are the best gateway to a better tomorrow for everyone in America.”

Long is encouraging fans and business owners to donate as well, by launching the “Pledge 10 for Tomorrow” campaign. The city that raises the most money will earn an additional $50,000 donation. “We have such a great platform as football players and hopefully fans get behind it,” Long said.

Long is being hailed on Twitter for his act of generosity, being called a “class act” and the GOAT.

https://twitter.com/ajwright07/status/920651590670999552

https://twitter.com/MattLombardoPHL/status/920644335569338368

https://twitter.com/TheMightyEROCK/status/920643590551896064

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