Martellus Bennett has transitioned from the football field to the Disney Channel, inspired by his child’s vivid imagination, with the launch of a new series on Disney Jr. called Hey AJ.

The former NFL tight end initially penned a children’s book series titled Hey A.J., which has now been adapted into a Disney Jr. animated series. The show premiered on January 13 on the Disney Channel and became available for streaming on Disney+ the following day.

Hey AJ centers around A.J., a spirited young girl whose imagination transforms ordinary moments into exciting adventures. She is accompanied by her trusty stuffed bunny, Theo. Bennett takes on the role of executive producer for the series and lends his voice to A.J.’s father, Marty, a retired football player who wholeheartedly supports his daughter’s imaginative escapades.

In a recent discussion with Parents.com, Bennett revealed that his journey began when he started purchasing books for his daughter and noticed a lack of representation that mirrored his own family.

“When you start buying children’s books or watching these shows, there’s not a lot of representation,” he commented. “All of my work is really just a reflection. It’s a reflection of my Black experience in the world.” Bennett aimed to craft stories that celebrate boundless imagination rather than imposing limitations.

“You start buying children’s books, or you start looking at these shows, there’s not a lot of representation,” he explains. “All of my work is truly just a reflection. It’s just a reflection of my Black experience through the world.” Martellus wanted to build stories that centered imagination, not limits.

“Since there was a lack of what I wanted my daughter to see as possible, which was just the power of imagination,” he says, “I wanted to write books that brought this imaginative side of childhood to the bookstore, to the screen, where it really was just about play.”

Martellus credits his daughter for inspiring his creative shift. “A.J. is a representation of my daughter, but she’s also the genesis of my writing career. So [the book] gave birth to my journey creatively.”

In his interview, Martellus also notes that the messiness of creativity can be challenging for parents. “Being a parent of a creative child is really tough, especially in your early ages, because creativity is always a mess,” he says. He also emphasizes teaching structure: “Managing a creative child can also be tough if you don’t spend a lot of time with creatives, nurturing that creativity, but also teaching them how to clean up after themselves.”

The show reflects that balance. A.J.’s imagination spills into every environment, but the family ecosystem — parents, grandparents, neighbors — grounds his daughter and he hopes that the series will also encourage families to engage with each other in creative play and not just watch it on television.

“Just being a good neighbor by helping out another parent along the way,” he notes, explaining why community is built into the show’s rhythm.

Ultimately, Martellus sees Hey A.J. as an invitation for families to recognize the power of imagination in everyday life. “The shenanigans between dad and daughter, that’s very much our reality,” he says.