For most men just getting out of prison, reentering society is a tough transition. Many have difficulty finding housing or have to deal with ongoing addictions. Just finding a stable job can be very challenging . . . unless you are a professional football player still in your prime.
Former Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress was released from prison in June 2011 after serving nearly two years on a gun charge. Sunday night he caught three passes for 66 yards—one for a touchdown—in a pre-season NFL game for the New York Jets.
From Christianpost.com on Plaxico’s ‘victorious’ return:
“It just felt good to get back what I love to do so much,” Burress said. “To be honest, it feels like I never left. The ball hanging up there in the lights, I just trusted myself.”
Although Burress did not seem fazed by accomplishing the task at hand, he expressed the excitement he felt for returning.
“It’s a day that myself and my family have been waiting for that would inevitably come,” said Burress. “It just felt good to get back what I love to do so much and that’s run around on a football field and score touchdowns, and compete at the highest level of competition playing in this league. It’s definitely a privilege to play.”
It was a ‘victorious’ return in a profession known for giving second chances. Like Michael Vick before him, Plaxico has a great opportunity to overcome the poor choices that led to his incarceration.
Other ex-prisoners are going to need a little more help. Which is one of the reasons why Prison Fellowship exists—to help ex-prisoners access critical services and become productive, law-abiding members of the community.
With our Community Reentry Teams, ex-prisoners are matched with a mentor, a church, and resources to meet their basic needs and gain a sense of security that will help them avoid criminal alternatives for good.
To find out how you can help, click here.