Arik Armstead

Golden Nuggets

• Lists his parents, Guss and Christa, as the most influential people in his life. He also gives credit to his grandfather, Willie B. Armstead, an Air Force veteran, for instilling the value of integrity that his parents have passed along to him. "A lot of things he instilled in my dad have carried down to me. Having a family member who is more courageous than you can imagine and who served his country is a huge honor."
• Played both basketball and football at Oregon before focusing only on football in 2014. During Super Bowl 50's Media Day, Armstead joined Sacramento's ABC10 sports team as a reporter to learn what it is like to cover NFL players during one of the most hectic events of the year. Held at SAP Center in San Jose, Armstead interviewed former teammates, fans, media members and Miss Universe. "It's like a feeding frenzy - everyone running around, and being part of that frenzy was a unique experience," said Armstead during the event.
• For Armstead, the NFL Draft process was a whirlwind tour. He went straight from the National Championship Game to San Diego to prepare for the NFL Combine and then to Sacramento for the Draft itself. However, his favorite part of the process was being drafted by a team so close to his hometown. "It's a dream come true. I'm blessed to be in this situation. Not a lot of other people are that close to home. Being able to play home games in front of my family is perfect for me."

Click Here to See Arik Armstead's Full Bio

Golden Nuggets

• Lists his parents, Guss and Christa, as the most influential people in his life. He also gives credit to his grandfather, Willie B. Armstead, an Air Force veteran, for instilling the value of integrity that his parents have passed along to him. "A lot of things he instilled in my dad have carried down to me. Having a family member who is more courageous than you can imagine and who served his country is a huge honor."
• Played both basketball and football at Oregon before focusing only on football in 2014. During Super Bowl 50's Media Day, Armstead joined Sacramento's ABC10 sports team as a reporter to learn what it is like to cover NFL players during one of the most hectic events of the year. Held at SAP Center in San Jose, Armstead interviewed former teammates, fans, media members and Miss Universe. "It's like a feeding frenzy - everyone running around, and being part of that frenzy was a unique experience," said Armstead during the event.
• For Armstead, the NFL Draft process was a whirlwind tour. He went straight from the National Championship Game to San Diego to prepare for the NFL Combine and then to Sacramento for the Draft itself. However, his favorite part of the process was being drafted by a team so close to his hometown. "It's a dream come true. I'm blessed to be in this situation. Not a lot of other people are that close to home. Being able to play home games in front of my family is perfect for me."

Goldmine:

• In May of 2020, Armstead donated $50,000 to Sacramento's Mercy Housing for students to be able to participate in distance learning. The donation will provide 350 Chromebooks to students, as well as one-year of pre-paid internet service for those families, many of whom have multiple students in their households. Also included in the donation were education kits consisting of learning activities, books, supplies and even healthy snacks benefiting children of all ages who remain physically at home, unable to visit their schools because of the coronavirus pandemic. "These are things that people should have access to, these are things that students in other communities do have access to, so this is just a baseline of essential needs for them to be successful in the classroom," said Armstead. "I think people need to realize that some of the things we're experiencing right now maybe the new norm, even when the virus calms down." Armstead took the time to personally deliver the Chromebooks to the recipients of the donation. "A lot of students had been disengaged before the pandemic, but even more so with school getting canceled and having to learn virtually and not having the technology and access," said Armstead. "I'm happy that I launched the foundation last year so that I could try to address some of these issues in my community."
• During the 2020 offseason, Armstead began implimenting several installments of Storytime with Arik Armstead using virtual platforms. For Earth Day, Armstead surprised a virtual classroom of 20 second-grade students with a story time, Q&A and conversations about the environment. For Mother's Day, he and his mom, Christa, read "Guess How Much I Love You" on the 49ers Instagram account. Education is at the forefront of Armstead's commitment to the Bay Area, as the defensive lineman founded the Armstead Academic Project to ensure every student, no matter their socioeconomic status, has direct access to a quality education through a positive learning environment and resources needed in order to thrive and be successful.
• Armstead returned to his hometown of Sacramento during the 2019 offseason to host the second charity weekend for his foundation, Armstead Academic Project, which promotes equal opportunities through education. The festivities kicked off as teammates Ronald Blair III, Richard Sherman, Jaquiski Tartt and Ahkello Witherspoon joined Armstead for a charity gala and silent auction which raised more than $100,000. Armstead then led a youth camp the following morning, where the children were able to get hands-on lessons from the NFL players. Throughout the day, Armstead stressed the importance of hard work, sportsmanship and teamwork.
• NFL players had the opportunity to participate in the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign during Week 14 of the 2019 season. Armstead and his teammates represented their respective causes with custom-designed cleats in an effort to raise awareness and funding. In choosing the foundation Arik Armstead Academic Project which focuses on education equity, "I play for all children to have the right to quality education," said Armstead.
• NFL players had the opportunity to participate in the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign during a designated home game between Weeks 13-15 of 2018. Armstead and his teammates represented their respective causes with custom-designed cleats in an effort to raise awareness and funding.
• In April of 2018, Armstead worked with Leataata Floyd Elementary and 916 Ink to host a trip to the Imaginarium, where the young students developed their artistic abilities, while learning how to be better at communicating. The event was in conjunction with Armstead's foundation, which focuses on assisting at-risk youth, particularly through the means of education.
• Armstead returned to his hometown of Sacramento this past offseason to host the second charity weekend for his foundation, Armstead Academic Project, which promotes equal opportunities through education. The festivities kicked off as teammates DeForest Buckner, Ronald Blair III, Richard Sherman, Sheldon Day, Jaquiski Tartt and Ahkello Witherspoon joined Armstead for a charity gala and silent auction which raised more than $100,000. Armstead then led a youth camp the following morning, where the children were able to get hands-on lessons from the NFL players. Throughout the day, Armstead stressed the importance of hard work, sportsmanship and teamwork.
• Members of the 49ers defensive line spent time with 25 local youth from the Fam 1st Foundation at Shoe Palace for a special holiday shopping experience on December 16, 2019. The Fam 1st Foundation is based in Oakland and focuses on underserved youth, aiming to build new generations of innovative thinkers to create solutions for the future of Oakland and beyond.
• In 2017, Armstead returned to his hometown of Sacramento to hold his Annual free youth football camp. The camp was held in Elk Grove, CA and sponsors made it possible for 200 scholarships to be offered to interested kids. The kids participated in both football and conditioning drills with the players and then were allowed to ask questions to discuss not only football, but school, healthy choices, and other topics. Armstead's goal was to provide campers with a unique experience on the football field, as well as insight into the hard work and dedication that are needed to make it to the NFL. "I want the kids to enjoy themselves while also coming away learning that they can do whatever they put their mind to," said Armstead. "I want to teach them the things that helped me get where I am now like the importance of education, work ethic, and faith."
• If Armstead wasn't in the NFL, he would be playing basketball. He was a three-year starter in basketball at Pleasant Grove High School in Sacramento and played two years at the University of Oregon before focusing solely on football for the 2014 season. He entered his high school senior season listed as the number three prospect in NorCalPrep.com's Top 40 rankings for the class of 2012. "A big part of the recruiting pitch from Oregon was they were going to let me play two sports. We only lost 5 games during my time there. I wanted to go somewhere with the chance to win and be a part of something special."
• Armstead's brother, Armond, was forced to retire before ever playing a down in the NFL. After playing collegiately at USC, Armond became an All-Star for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, helping the team win the league's 100th Grey Cup. He went on to sign with the New England Patriots in 2013, but medical issues forced him to hang up his cleats. "The biggest thing he has told me through this process is, 'at the end of the day, it's just football.' Having a brother who played at this level makes everything less overwhelming."
• In April of 2018, Armstead worked with Leataata Floyd Elementary and 916 Ink to host a trip to the Imaginarium, where the young students developed their artistic abilities, while learning how to be better at communicating. The event was in conjunction with Armstead's foundation, which focuses on assisting at-risk youth, particularly through the means of education.
• Armstead and his teammates joined Levi's in support of breast, colon and pediatric cancer warriors at the Crucial Catch Fashion Show presented by Dignity Health in October of 2018. 49ers players and cancer warriors took to the runway to show off their attire and share their stories of strength and courage with the audience.

Click Here to See Arik Armstead's Full Bio