Bears Blitz

Published by Seth Boster on June 28, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

In Israel Idonije’s five seasons with the Chicago Bears, his impact on the field has been small. But off the field, the defensive lineman’s influence is bigger than any tackle he could make on 4th and goal.

“Izzy” returned to his birth-land in Nigeria for the third straight summer this NFL offseason. While some of his teammates may enjoy luxurious excursions, Idonije puts himself in places to change lives. Typically, those places are far from luxurious.

Recently, Idonije’s mission landed him in a Lagos waiting room with an infant boy. A bacteria infection was killing the child on his tenth day of life.

“The boy’s eyes had rolled into the back of his head,” Idonije described to chicagobears.com.

The doctors and nurses that Idonije brought with him on the trip were able to treat the baby on to his survival.

“It puts perspective on why you’re there,” Idonije told chicagobears.com. “If you can just change one life, it makes it all worth it.”

In an effort to change the lives of millions who walk around Nigeria barefooted, Idonije distributed over 1,200 pairs of shoes through his C.A.R.E. (Caring, Advancing, Restoring, Educating) Africa program.

Idonije attributes his compassionate drive to his parents, Henry and Choice, who raised him in a home “that established the value of benevolence and humility,” according to israelidonije.org.

After moving from Nigeria to Canada when Israel was 4, Henry and Choice later founded a volunteer program that assisted the less-fortunate. Thanks to his parents, Idonije has been involved with making a difference practically his whole life.

As a more prominent figure (not because of his tree-trunk-sized-arms), Idonije views his position as a “platform”, as he explained to chicagobears.com.

“Everybody has a platform regardless of who you are, your background or where you’re from. With the platform you have, you can do something to help those around you. I’m just doing what I can with the platform I have.”

On June 22, Idonije, on his platform, was named a Global Ambassador by the Jack Brewer Foundation, which “strives to ‘Empower from Within’ through self-sustaining initiatives, offering educational opportunities and economic development in partnership with underprivileged people around the world.”

Another award honored by Idonije was this year’s Ed Block Courage Award. Idonije was chosen by the Bears to be the team’s recipient for best representing a role model, exhibiting strength and dedication.

As training camp approaches, Idonije will be listed at defensive line, expected to play both tackle and end. Idonije will take a break from his volunteer work and his missions overseas, and enter the preseason and later the regular season.

All the while, Idonije will fulfill his responsibilities for the team; coming in for exhausted fellow linemen and contributing on special teams.

Sure, his team will need him. Just not as much as Nigeria needs him.

In Idonije’s sixth season with the Bears, his role will be small yet again.

But in perspective, football really is quite small, isn’t it? 

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