Football

Falcons punter Bradley Pinion sports cleats supporting 'Punts for Purpose' with Compassion

By Kevin Mercer Dec 7, 2023
Falcons punter Bradley Pinion gestures to the crowd after a game, Jan. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion will be one of the players proudly sporting custom-made cleats in Week 14 as part of the NFL’s annual “My Cause My Cleats” campaign. The initiative is designed to give players a platform to bring attention to a charitable cause that’s important to them.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

Pinion’s cleats will showcase “Punts for Purpose,” an initiative he and his wife, Kaeleigh, launched in partnership with Compassion International to support child survival centers in the developing world. Compassion is a faith-based child development organization committed to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

“Expecting the birth of our own child while launching ‘Punts for Purpose’ has put into perspective how crucial care for the mom and baby is before the baby is even born,” Pinion told Compassion this month. “I always knew it was important, but it wasn’t until I saw it with my own wife and child that I realized how vital good resources and timely care are throughout the process. I couldn’t imagine going through it without the resources we have.”

Every time one of Pinion’s punts falls inside the 20-yard line, $1,000 will go to “Punts for Purpose” in order to support 500 child survival centers. These centers will helps thousands of mothers and children in poverty to receive proper prenatal care, education, nutritious food, clean water, access to medical care, a birth assistant during childbirth, and a community of spiritual and emotional support.

What’s more, Pinion has encouraged punters from around the league to join the cause. There are now 12 different punters involved with “Punts for Purpose,” including Tress Way of the Washington Commanders.

“Seeing nearly half of the punters in the NFL participate in ‘Punts for Purpose’ is crazy to me,” Pinion said via a news release from Compassion. “It is truly humbling and exciting to have other punters join in on something my wife and I are so passionate about. I was hopeful others would want to get involved but had no idea it would be this many.

“I feel like you can see God at work!”

According to Compassion’s statistics, every year 2.6 million babies in poverty don’t survive their first 28 days, and most of those die within their first week due to pre-term birth or delivery complications. Many mothers in the developing world also face severe and life-threatening conditions, and roughly 830 women die each day from pregnancy or childbirth complications. To learn more about how the Pinions are helping with “Punts for Purpose” and to donate to the cause, click here.

It was through a trip to Tanzania with Compassion that God placed it on the couple’s hearts to leverage their platform for good.

“We got to visit these centers, these communities that Compassion has partnered with churches, and really kind of see their way of life over there,” Pinion told Compassion. “And it kind of just helps you realize how fortunate we really are here in the United States. … We’ve been blessed with so much and this is just our way of hopefully giving just a little bit back.”

For all the good work Pinion has done with Compassion, he’s been named the Falcons’ nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given annually to a player for his philanthropic efforts.

Pinion, who lists the Bible verse Proverbs 23:7 on his X bio, has been vocal about his faith in Christ during his nine-year NFL career.

He joined NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” last August to discuss the upcoming season, as well as the “Punts for Purpose” initiative, and made sure to mention God.

“Growing up, you hope and wish life turns out this way (to reach the NFL),” Pinion said. “I’m a big man of faith, so God took over and it’s worked out for me.”

The 29-year-old from Concord, North Carolina, is considered one of the best punters in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2020-21 season and is hoping that, this season, his Atlanta Falcons (6-6) can maintain their one-game lead over the Bucs in the NFC South and earn a playoff spot.

A head-to-head win on Sunday in Atlanta against the Bucs will go a long way toward that end. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

RELATED STORIES:
– WATCH: ‘I ONCE WAS’ – NFL punter Bradley Pinion
– TRANSFORMED PODCAST: Falcons punter Bradley Pinion & wife Kaeleigh
– Falcons punter Bradley Pinion reps Jesus with words, Compassion with cleats
– SS PODCAST: Bradley Pinion, Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter
– Matthew Slater supports Compassion International w/ ‘My Cause My Cleats’

Tags: