Tommy Maddox Foundation

The Tommy Maddox Foundation is a Christian, non-profit organization established by NFL quarterback Tommy Maddox and his wife Jennifer in 2003. The Foundation's primary mission is to encourage and support disadvantaged kids in overcoming life's challenges through programs that provide spiritual growth and leadership opportunities.

Tommy was inspired to start the Tommy Maddox Foundation because of his own personal experience in overcoming life's challenges with the strength he found in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

After becoming the NFL's youngest player as a first-round draft pick in 1992, as Denver Broncos' heir-apparent to quarterback John Elway, Tommy unexpectedly spent his initial NFL years on the sidelines. After seeing little action and being traded away to a series of teams over a 5 year period, Tommy was eventually cut from the NFL in 1997 and returned to Dallas to start his own business - an insurance agency.

After a few years of soul-searching and prayer, Tommy was given the chance to play professional football again when he took a risk, closed his insurance business and, after a series of tryouts, landed a position to play in arena football, then the XFL.

Tommy's inspiring football comeback began immediately, as he led the Los Angeles Extreme to the XFL championship in 2001 - becoming the league's first and only MVP. Tommy's effort and talent were quickly recognized by the Pittsburgh Steelers who saw his potential similarity to Kurt Warner, another underappreciated quarterback who went from playing arena league football one season to leading the St. Louis Rams to an NFL Superbowl victory the next.

As often happens in life, unforeseen obstacles rose up to challenge Tommy's comeback.

In November of 2002, Tommy's football career and comeback story almost ended during a game with the Tennessee Titans, when he suffered a potential career-ending tackle that left him temporarily paralyzed. After the prayerful support of friends, family and the nation, Tommy miraculously recovered. In fact, he did more than recover, he came back to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the AFC North Title that very same season - in one of the most inspiring comebacks in NFL history.

Tommy's courage, faith, recovery and post-injury performance earned him the unanimous honor as the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.