Making the Transition by Dustin Levi About ex-NFL player Marc May & about how he transitioned into becoming a key component in the Chicago Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association... “I always wanted to give back.” Those are the words of ex-NFL tight end Marc May, who after a well-traveled football career has decided to dedicate his post-career life to the NFL Alumni Association. Marc May is a Chicago South Shore native who had a lengthy career on the professional football and semi-pro football levels. He attended & played football at South Shore High School before attending Purdue University as a wide receiver. May was in the same draft class as NFL hall of famers like running back Earl Campbell & quarterback Warren Moon but like Warren Moon went undrafted and from there he started trying out for NFL teams. And although Marc May played wide receiver at Purdue, he switched to Tight End after a tryout with the Los Angeles Rams and Coach George Allen in 1978. In 1982, May signed as a free-agent with the Dallas Cowboys, playing for Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry but was eventually released during training camp. From there, May took his talents to the well-known semi-pro football league, the USFL. Through 1983-1985, May played tight end & even a bit of defensive end for the Chicago Blitz, the New Jersey Generals & the Orlando Renegades. But in 1987, the Minnesota Vikings gave Marc May a shot as he made his official NFL debut. After finally making it to the NFL, in 1988, Marc May finished off his playing career in the city of Chicago where it started with the AFL team Chicago Bruisers. However, even though Marc May has had a well-traveled career which has seen him play in multiple football organization across the entire country, it’s the memories of his amateur years that steered him toward working with the NFL Alumni Association. “I remember back in 1967, 1968 during one of the first Punt, Pass & Kick events at Rosenblum Park, Bears players like Brian Picculo, Bobby Joe Green & Ernie Banks were out there & they took their time out on a Saturday morning to talk to a bunch of kids” said May. He continued, “I just thought that was so cool & I said if I’m ever in that position, I would want to do the same thing.” Now, Marc May is in that position. He is currently coaching the Freshman football team for St. Lawrence High School in Chicago, a job he is definitely enjoying. Aside from being a mentor for the youth for Chicago, he also plays a key part in the Chicago Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association. May is the head of the Communications department in the NFL Alumni Association. As May jokingly puts it, “I’m basically the Communications guy & more importantly I’m Charlie Brown’s baby sitter.” May says, “I just try to keep everything on point.” May handles the social media aspects of the NFL Alumni Association, anything that deals with Twitter, Facebook & whatever falls alongside those outlets, he handles. It’s safe to say that he’s an important piece in the success of the NFL Alumni Association. But Marc May also believes that they still have room to grow. “We just have to be more consistent & be more proactive in getting out in the community & just showing our face, being there, attending different functions, helping youth groups.” “Chicago is definitely a football town & the more we get out there, the more we participate, the better it will be for us as an organization.” Marc May definitely has the right mindset & if his vision is put into action, the Chicago chapter of NFL Alumni Association will definitely see a jump in support from the Chicago community. Sports Editor Dustin Todd Levi [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 03:07:15 +0000
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