For Abbrederis, new dream sows new purpose
June 27, 2018 | Football, Mike Lucas
One of Wisconsin’s all-time great receivers starts charitable foundation after NFL retirement
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Although Jared Abbrederis has always been well-grounded and intentioned because of his faith, he knew that his playing career would someday reach a crossroads.
And when it did, he'd still need "purpose" in his life.
Especially when he didn't have football.
In early January, the former University of Wisconsin wide receiver announced his retirement from the National Football League.
In a tweet, Abbrederis recapped an "amazing journey" and spoke to how since he was 4 he dreamed of playing for the Green Bay Packers, a dream he never thought he would live out 20 years later.
"As fun as the ride has been, my time has come to hang up the cleats and to start the next chapter of my life," he opined as a prelude to thanking everyone who supported him along the way.
Excited to turn the page and start a new chapter! #thankful
— Jared Abbrederis (@Abbrecadabra) January 5, 2018
Before Tuesday's annual Legends of Wisconsin Golf Classic, Abbrederis outlined the thinking and purpose behind that next chapter — the creation of his foundation, Supporting Others to Win (SOW).
Without the normal late June anxiety about an upcoming training camp, he also spelled out why he has been able to make an orderly, painless transition from football.
"It's a great living," acknowledged the 27-year-old Wautoma, Wisconsin, native who was in the NFL for parts of four seasons, the first three with Green Bay and the last with the Detroit Lions.
"But there are more things than football out there. It's not the only thing I can do."
To this end, he never let the sport define him or consume his identity. Even as a walk-on. So, when everything fell into place on his decision to retire, he said, "It made it easy for me to walk away."
Nonetheless, he pointed out, "A lot of things went into it (retiring). If it was just one thing, it would have been tougher. But, for me, one of the biggest things was my family."
Abbrederis and wife Rachel have two daughters, Kenzie, 3; and Blakely, 1. And he felt they were getting to an age where any interaction would be meaningful and too memorable to miss.
"I didn't want to have to move my family all over the place," he added. "I wanted to help us build our roots back here in Wisconsin. And really let them live their life as well."
It came down to that factor and his role with the Lions.
"Last year, I wasn't really a receiver," suggested Abbrederis, who was used primarily as a blocker. "If I was actually running routes and catching the ball, it would have been a harder decision."
Not that he thought that he was too good to do the dirty work. On the contrary. To reiterate, he was a walk-on at Wisconsin and left as the co-holder of the school record for catches, with 202.
"You kind of earn your spot on the roster as a fourth or fifth receiver, and you have to do it," he said of his NFL role. "But at this stage of the game, it wasn't something I wanted to do anymore."
Nothing against Motown, but when he was in Detroit, he realized how much he left behind and it was ultimately the genesis behind the January start-up of the foundation.
"Knowing how much I love Wisconsin, and missed Wisconsin, and how important it is to us," he said, "that's when we wanted to set up something to really help out this area."
Abbrederis specifically targeted one area: Central Wisconsin.
"We're starting off small," he said. "We're in some of the poorest counties in the state: Adams, Marquette, Waushara. We want to help people when they come across tough times."
To execute foundation goals, Abbrederis has partnered with the Waushara County Department of Human Services, which will identify needs and administer funds accordingly within communities.
"Giving back has always been huge and we did a lot before we set up the foundation," said Abbrederis, who's committed to "getting people back on track" to whatever extent.
Regarding the acronym for Supporting Others to Win, he explained, "SOW as in sowing a seed that will hopefully grow into a tree that can be fruitful and successful for the people we help out."
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At this time of the year, he's enthused about SOW assisting youngsters. "We're looking at summer camps for kids who can't afford it," he said. "Camps teach a lot of good things."
Camps can also be unforgiving. NFL training camps. In his first one with the Packers, Abbrederis tore an ACL and was sidelined for his entire rookie season in 2014.
"Right away, I was behind the eight ball," said Abbrederis, a fifth-round draft choice. "I was grateful the Packers stuck with me … but it really puts you behind. To get four years in the league is a blessing and it was an awesome experience. But to start off the way it did for me, it kind of put a damper on it all a little bit.
"I gave everything I could, I had an awesome time doing it and built some relationships over those years that really gave me a platform for the rest of my life.
"And now I'm looking forward to enjoying a fall and not having a training camp looming on my mind," said Abbrederis, an avid hunter and Thrivent Financial rep in Wautoma.
"I'll miss the comradery, the brotherhood. That's why I loved football — the brotherhood that you had with the guys on the field. But it's not like I won't find it in the next thing I do."
He has already turned the page to that next chapter.
