Activism in Sports: Then & Now

Meet Levi, a lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan with a heart of gold. Facing the struggles of cancer treatment, Levi fulfilled his wish to meet his heroes, who gave him the strength to overcome it.

Because of teachers like Mrs. Kahl, the future defensive lineman and 4x Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee overcame his struggle with reading and made it his mission to help others do the same through the Armstead Academic Project.

49ers players embarked on an Inspire Change Cultural Tour presented by United Airlines at the San Jose African American Community Service Agency to explore Black-owned Bay Area small businesses.

Follow along with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy as he volunteers with his teammates at the 49ers Hope for the Holidays event presented by U.S. Bank.

The San Francisco 49ers invited formerly incarcerated men to Levi's® Stadium and visited San Quentin State Prison to hold valuable discussions on social justice and continue to learn how we can all Inspire Change.

San Francisco 49ers 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Arik Armstead discusses what "Inspire Change" means to him through his organization, the Armstead Academic Project.

During the defense's weekly meeting, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks surprised Arik Armstead with messages from the D-line congratulating him with his fourth-consecutive nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide.

Over 25 San Francisco 49ers players dedicated their time to give back to their local community at CityTeam for the organization's annual "Feast with the Niners" event.

The San Francisco 49ers hosted military families and active-duty service members at the SAP Performance Facility for a behind-the-scenes practice visit presented by U.S. Bank.

San Francisco 49ers players visited a local children's hospital as superheroes to brighten the days of patients and nurses and give back to the community.

Through Salute to Service, George Kittle has connected with veterans like Ramon and Mary from Operation Freedom Paws and used his platform to amplify their mission to empower veterans by creating lifesaving service dog teams, like Huey.

The 49ers hosted second grade students from the Oakland Unified School District to read "Just Ask! Be Brave, Be Different, Be You" by Sonia Sotomayor with Arik Armstead, Austin Bryant and T.Y. McGill.

San Francisco 49ers players visited a local Boys and Girls Club to bond with kids in the community and engage in after-school activities.

San Francisco 49ers players joined cancer warriors for a Crucial Catch Art Therapy event presented by Dignity Health to create custom denim jackets generously donated by Levi's®.

49ers players and the San Jose Police Department came together for a friendly game of kickball to enhance police-community relations, promote social justice awareness and benefit the San Jose African American Community Service Agency.

49ers players supported Humane Society Silicon Valley by intaking dogs from a rescue run, socializing animals who have been struggling to find a home and stocking the pet pantry.

Since 2020, the 49ers personnel department have hosted monthly mentorship sessions focused on alternative careers in sport, nutrition/wellness, social injustices and leadership with youth from the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, presented by United Airlines.

To show the team's appreciation for our country's veterans, the 49ers and U.S. Bank welcomed 16 military veterans, service dogs and their families from the nonprofit Operation Freedom Paws to breakfast and a private practice visit before the team's Week 10 game vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 49ers partnered with Shoe Palace and Visa to provide a special holiday shopping experience and a $250 gift card for 15 students from one of the team's Social Justice grantees, SPAAT.

John Lynch and his family hosted their 26th annual Christmas party presented by United Airlines for the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley and local military families for a holiday brunch, photos with Santa and to open gifts.

In the 49ers third-annual Read for Justice event presented by Newfront, Armstead read aloud and opened a dialogue with elementary students on important lessons around diversity, inclusion and equity.

The 49ers partnered with United Airlines to bring San Jose African American Community Service Agency students to visit HBCU campuses, historic sites and cheer on the 49ers in their matchup vs. the Atlanta Falcons.

Levi's® and Fred Warner partnered together to host a shopping trip for 15 single mothers from the Women's Achievement Network and Development Alliance (WANDA) Silicon Valley.

Bay Area students surprised Arik Armstead with his third Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination, presented by Nationwide.

Tony Hartman, a blood stem cell transplant recipient, met 49ers offensive quality control coach Deuce Schwartz for the first time after undergoing a stem cell transplant to save his life.