JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Arik Armstead, a defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars, alongside his wife, Dr. Mindy Armstead, welcomed a group of local children to their Stay Hungry Career Camp on Tuesday evening.

Young participants from the Northeast Florida Boys and Girls Club were invited to the Fanatics headquarters in Jacksonville. Here, they explored various career paths in sports marketing and merchandise, guided by insights from the Fanatics team.

“I believe we truly sparked their curiosity and opened up new possibilities in their minds,” remarked Armstead.

Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed a meal and snacks, along with complimentary merchandise from Fanatics. The event also featured a panel discussion where students eagerly posed questions to the Armsteads, with Dr. Mindy Armstead offering her expertise as a double board-certified physician.

Some of the children asked about how Arik deals with stress management, while others wanted to know about staying motivated. Arik, the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year, says his favorite part of these kinds of events is getting to engage with the kids. 

“It’s always the kids and the questions they ask,” said Armstead. “We had some great kids and they asked some great questions.”

The career camp is just one of the events that “The Armstead Academic Project” puts on throughout the year, aimed at ensuring that all students have access to the resources to achieve their dreams. 

“Their fascination, their youthfulness and being able to learn and grow,” said Armstead. “I love being in this environment and trying to help them achieve what they want to achieve in life.”