Former NFL linebacker Henri Crockett sits tall in his chair, dressed in an all-black crewneck. Behind him is an iconic image of legendary entertainer Michael Jackson. Surrounded by trophies and framed certificates, the 6’2” giant who played for both a national championship team and a Super Bowl champ tilts his head slightly and smiles while reflecting on his childhood.
“I had many mentors at every point in my life,” he says.
Crockett grew up in a tough part of Pompano Beach, but he recalls something far different from the image of neighborhoods like his often portrayed on television. While media narratives back then often suggested that people in the hood were constantly fighting or tearing each other down, Crockett recalls playing in the streets with neighborhood kids and being raised not only by his mother, but by an entire village.
Growing up in a single-parent household, he says, he never felt disadvantaged because of the strong sense of support around him. That’s why he and his brother Zachery, also a former football star, started the Crockett Foundation in Fort Lauderdale in 2002.
Since then, the foundation has helped hundreds of inner city youth to find mentors and jobs across South Florida. From healthcare to scholarships and mentoring programs, the foundation has made a real difference.
One of those who has benefited is eleventh grader Sydney Morris, who struggled to find networking opportunities before joining the program two years ago. Now she’s connected with doctors, nurse practitioners, and podiatrists, even gaining internship opportunities. She now works with special-needs children and adults, helping conduct mock interviews for job preparation.
“I’m happy where I’m at,” Morris says. “I can already see my future as an LPN. “I am grateful to Henri Crockett and all that he does.”
Before he became a role model for students, Crockett was simply a kid trying to find his way.
He spent his days playing in the streets with friends, sometimes getting into trouble and, if necessary, being disciplined by other parents in the neighborhood, a reflection of the close bonds within the community.
“It was the best time of my life,” he recalls.
But football seemed to be calling his name.
Crockett says the encouragement to stay on the right path came from unexpected places. Local figures in his neighborhood, even some who were involved in street life, pushed him toward something greater, helping fund football camps and encouraging him to stay focused on school.
Along the way, others stepped in as well.
Lunch ladies at school made sure he never went hungry, and mentors throughout his life continued guiding him.
“I had all my good friends,” Crockett says. “Some are in jail, some passed away, but some of them I still see to this day.”
While attending Blanche Ely High School in the early 1990s, Crockett quickly gained recognition for his talent on the football field.
In 1991, Crockett’s senior year, he played linebacker. His performance eventually earned him recognition as an All-American athlete in Parade Magazine’s Super Prep and Football report, which helped secure a full scholarship.
From 1992 to 1996, Crockett attended Florida State University, where he thrived. In 1993, he contributed to the Seminoles’ victory in the NCAA Division I-A Football National Championship. He was part of five consecutive conference championship teams.
But college opened Crockett’s eyes in ways that went far beyond football.
Once he arrived on campus and saw the opportunities available to many students, he realized how much larger the world could be. He recalls the size of homes he encountered while hanging out with his teammates.
“Their houses looked like they lived on three blocks,” Crockett says with a laugh. “That sparked something in me to want to do more.”
In 1997, Crockett’s dream of playing professional football became a reality when he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round.
Two years earlier, his brother, Zachery, had been chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round.
“I didn’t go as high as I wanted,” Henri says.
While playing in Atlanta, Crockett witnessed something that deeply influenced his outlook on life. He saw thriving communities of Black professionals, people who were not athletes or entertainers, but entrepreneurs and professionals building successful lives while giving back to their neighborhoods.
“I couldn’t have gotten drafted to a better place,” he says.
Eventually, Crockett stepped away from the field and shifted his focus toward something even more meaningful: giving back to the youth.
Today, Henri Crockett leads the Crockett Foundation, serving 225 kids, where he works to empower students from communities similar to the one that raised him.
Through the program, students gain access to resources such as STEM education, academic tutoring in SAT preparation, math and reading, mentorship, and college and career exploration.
For Crockett, the work feels like a natural calling.
The same compassion and mentorship he once received growing up in Pompano Beach is now something he strives to pass on. For example, organizing the annual Crockett Foundation Community Health Festival to help families prepare for back to school.
A typical day at the foundation begins long before students arrive.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Crockett and his staff prepare the space, stocking the pantry with snacks and lunch, organizing supplies, and ensuring students have everything they need when they arrive after school around 4 p.m.
Crockett insists on being there when they walk through the door. He wants to be one of the first faces they see. To him, it’s about more than academics; it’s about presence.
Thinking about the people who once helped guide him, Crockett hopes the students he mentors will one day remember him the same way.
“I hope they look at me as somebody that was genuine,” he says. “Somebody that cared about people.”
For Crockett, the foundation represents more than just a program; it is his field now.
A place where teamwork, mentorship, and collaboration come together.
One day, he hopes to expand his vision even further by opening his own school dedicated to nurturing and educating young people.
“I’m passionate about what I do,” Crockett says. “I love what I do. I just want to give back everything that was once given to me as a youth.”
Courtney Kambobe, senior director of the foundation, says the impact has been life-changing for many of the students they serve.
“We teach them to always be the smartest in the room,” she says. “Iron sharpens iron, and this program sets them up for that.”
