“He's been trying to play football for the past two years,” Shante Sawyers said of her 14-year-old son Ethan. “But of course, because he has Down Syndrome, we can't do the head contact.”
Ethan was one of a number of area Special Olympians who took the field at Northwest Stadium for the Washington Commanders and Bank of America "Play It Forward" football clinic.
“Bank of America has actually done 15 clinics over the last two years, but this is actually a first in the DMV,” said Yolanda Stradford, a market executive for Bank of America of Greater Washington DC.
Valerie Biberaj, the Commanders vice president of community relations and executive director of Washington Commanders Foundation, said events like Play it Forward have been a focus of ownership.
“From day one, Josh Harris [said] there are three key goals for the organization, one of which was community,” Biberaj said. “So, you're seeing that today.”
In fact, the Commanders tapped some of their all-time greats as coaches.
“I mean, they are human just like us,” said former Commanders wide receiver Santana Moss. “And although some of them probably would never live some of the dreams that we lived out, they still have those aspirations. And they still understand who you are as that person who they look up to and want to be. So, if you try to let them know man, that you're just like me”
Moss ran the receivers group, while Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green worked with the defense.
“Sometimes you can be invited to be on the team, but you never get to play,” Green said. “So, am I really included or am I just here? I love the fact that we're making sure that they're included. They're playing, they're starters.”
Nicole Preston, president & CEO of the Special Olympics District of Columbia, said the presence of the former Commander greats can’t be understated.
“It's a tremendous benefit to have these amazing players our youth and our adults who idolize them, watch them on television,” Preston said. “And to meet them really is a tremendous opportunity for them and for us.”
As she watched her son Tyler run into the endzone and do his best touchdown dance, mom Cheryl Wilson said people would be amazed at what these young athletes are capable of.
“We should be all inclusive,” Wilson said. “Everybody should be included in everything and anything. I don't see disability when I see any of these young people out here and no one else should either.”
For Shante and Ethan Sawyers, it was an opportunity long overdue.
“You know, his dad was a huge Redskins fan, but he passed five years ago,” Sawyers said. “And so his dad would be so super proud to see him out here. So this is like, yeah, just a moment.”
The young athletes will be using the skills they learned at the Play It Forward clinic to get ready for Special Olympics football competitions locally, which then leads to the organizations summer games locally in Washington, D.C. After that, it’s on to the National Games in 2026.