Just over a decade ago, Jason Brown was the highest-paid center in the NFL.
Brown served seven years in the NFL, beginning with the Baltimore Ravens as a fourth-round draft pick before moving to the St. Louis Rams under a five-year deal totaling $37.5 million. At one point, Brown became the highest-paid professional center in the league.
However, despite a gleaming future ahead, he felt there was a higher calling in his life and he refused to ignore it.
“My agent, he told me, ‘You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,'” Brown told CBS. “And I looked right back at him and I said, ‘No I am not.'”
The former football player was inspired by the life of his brother Lunsford B. Brown II, who passed away in 2003 while serving in Iraq. While comparing his 27 years of life to his brother, he realized he too wanted to use his talents for the greater good.
He and his family moved from their mansion to North Carolina where he maintains a 1,000-acre farm called First Fruits Farm.
“People tell me I’m crazy, they downright tell me that I’m stupid okay to walk away from millions of dollars,” Brown said in an interview. “Because if you have the opportunity to play in the NFL then it’s supposed to be a no-brainer.”
Even though he didn’t have any prior experience in farming, he started learning basic farming practices by watching YouTube videos. He also got his wife Tay Brown and his 8 children to sign up for the challenge.
“Seeing my children when we aren’t out there in the farm field and knowing that they’re learning life skills to help feed them and their families for generations to come, that is the blessing of a farm,” Brown said.
Moreover, Brown aimed to give back through First Fruits Farm. He initially planned to donate the first fruits of every harvest to local families but due to the increasing need, he eventually donated it all.
In fact, they have so far distributed over a million pounds of food through his ministry Wisdom for Life.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: OpposingViews, Business Insider, Good News Network