The Players Choir, a group of former and current NFL players, has been a significant success since its formation in 2008. The choir, which includes Super Bowl Champions, Pro Bowlers, NFL Men of the Year, and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, showcases their singing talent onstage as one team rather than rivals, as NFL fans are used to seeing. The Players Choir elevates God through their singing voice, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie that allows the audience to see another side of the players.
The choir has become a staple of the NFL and Pro Bowl halftime performances, as well as the national anthem. According to the Players Choir bio, the choir made notable appearances at the White House, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the 2024 NFL Honors telecast on CBS, and the CBS Presents Super Bowl Soulful Celebration 25th Anniversary Special, to name a few.
The choir has collaborated with renowned artists such as Fantasia, Kiera Sheard, Regina Belle, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Erica Campbell, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, and Patti LaBelle. It also performed at this year’s NFL Draft in Detroit, collaborating with the Detroit Youth Choir.
The choir will grace its presence on July 7th at the 30th annual Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans, led by Grammy-winning gospel producer Myron Butler and choir director Demarcus Williams. In addition, the choir performed today at New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton for the Women’s Urban League’s 5th Annual Women in Harmony Awards Luncheon, the warmup before Sunday’s main event, sponsored by Febreze.
The Exclusive Press (EP) had a chance to interview former NFL players, including the original Cameron Newton from the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, as well as Bryan Scott, who played for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints. In their post-NFL careers, both men run successful careers as entrepreneurs. Newton and Scott’s presence in the choir brings back that NFL brotherhood bond, creating harmonic nostalgia memories.
Scott, who played with the NFL Saints in 2006, expressed his excitement about his homecoming visit to New Orleans, making the moment extra special.
THE HUDDLE
Scott, who has joined the choir since its start, told the EP a few players serenading their voices to the godmother of souls, Patti LaBelle, led to Melanie Few (the founder of the Players Choir) executing the vision.
“Patti LaBelle was performing on stage. She looked at the crowd and said, “I see a bunch of handsome men that can play football, but I bet not nan one of y’all can sing,” Scott recounted. “One at a time, guys started coming up and singing a song. That’s when Melanie Few had the vision to get the guys together and start what we now know as the Players Choir,” he continued.
According to Scott, the choir has created a safe space, impacting the lives of many by saving people, marriages, and friendships. In addition, the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year shared that the choir has made him a better person, husband, father, and son.
“We’re often portray as Superman to the outside world, but we can also embody Clark Kent within our own walls with each other,”
Bryan Scott shared with the Exclusive Press (EP)
The choir is a therapeutic extension of the locker room, especially for post-NFL players who frequently face interpersonal challenges. It helps players find purpose and reduce mental health stigma. The choir also plays a crucial role in retired NFL players’ mental health and journey.
In a sport that demands them to be warriors or gladiators, the choir enables them to let their guard down. Newton added that the choir has been a vehicle for retired players to recreate that missing locker room void.
L-R: Cameron Lemark Newton; Photo Credit: Instagram/Players Choir; and Bryan Scott (Right) at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA; Photo Credit: Instagram/Team Bryan Scott
Newton shared that the drive to bring the same NFL intensity into rehearsals comes from the men pouring into each other to make each other better. As a result, they give it their all on stage, creating upbeat music to pour into the world.
MAKING PLAYS AND SCORING TOUCHDOWNS
Both Scott and Newton agreed that the limited rehearsal time fosters a level of readiness akin to football’s competitive environment. Their quick readiness to perform is one of the strengths they draw from each other to perform at a high level.
“To come together and quickly put something together, to go out and perform, and to put your best foot forward is amazing,” Scott shared.
Newton, who grew up singing in church choirs as a youth and college student in his home state of South Carolina, recalls his experience on America’s Got Talent (AGT). After singing a track, AGT judge Simon Cowell wanted to hear them sing a cappella. “That was a game-time moment on what to do in those situations,” Newton shared. “Do you tense up? Do you tell yourself you can’t do it? Do you tap into what you’ve always done and adjust?” Newton added. That critical moment was a motivating factor for him to rise above the occasion, as if he were making plays on the football field.
The talent doesn’t just stop with singing. The players also have other unique skills, including rap, writing, and playing instruments, such as the tambourine, piano, and drums.
THE FIELD GOAL OF INSPIRATION
Newton takes great satisfaction in motivating the younger players who are nearing the conclusion of their careers. He shared with the EP that players have had the opportunity to experience the choir firsthand. The choir, just like the church, extends an open invitation to players, particularly those nearing retirement age, to come and be a part of something bigger.
The players are looking to repeat their previous performances with a touchdown and field goal, before their fall performance in New York City. This upcoming performance along with the choir’s previous appearances, is a testament to the power of their music to inspire and uplift countless souls. As Newton said, they will be on a stage, a field, a venue, and a show near you, changing and impacting lives.
You can follow the Players Choir on all social media platforms at @playerschoir on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube. Readers can also visit the Players’ website at www.theplayerschoir.com for additional information, upcoming shows, and much more.
