Latest news with #SafetyImpactAward
Fox News
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Super Bowl champ Ed McCaffrey a 'big believer' in safe gun ownership, gives advice on responsible handling
Ed McCaffrey won't be watching any of his kids in the Super Bowl as he did last year with son Christian, but he still made the trip to New Orleans for a special cause. The three-time Super Bowl champion recently partnered with Colt to spread awareness about responsible gun ownership. "I'm a component of firearm safety. If you're going to exercise your right to own a firearm, you ought to do it safely and responsibly. That's why I partnered with Colt," McCaffrey said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. Clay Matthews, Fletcher Cox, Adam Vinatieri and Joe Thomas were nominated for Colt's Safety Impact Award, and Matthews won it. McCaffrey said it was "incredible" to be a part of the campaign with some NFL legends. "So many players, even those that I've coached, own firearms," the former Denver Bronco said. "Colorado, big hunting state, big outdoors state. Access to different states is different. But everybody should train properly and know how to handle a firearm responsibly if they're going to exercise their right to own them. I'm a big believer in them, and I think people may be surprised at how many people own firearms. "They are a right to own. A lot of hunters own them. People own them for protection. Whatever your reasoning, if you're going to own one, you have to learn how to operate them safely and responsibly. You owe it to yourself and friends and family. That's why I'm really impressed with what Colt is doing. They've spent a lot of time and money to create awareness to allow gun owners and firearm owners to be safe and responsible." Colt is also giving away $100,000 if there is a safety in the Super Bowl Sunday. McCaffrey also has advice for those who own or want to own guns. "Take a course on gun safety. I would recommend, if you're a first-time owner of a firearm, take a course. … Don't just listen to a couple of tips from your buddy. Take a course, be responsible," McCaffrey said. He compared the process of learning responsible gun ownership to learning football at a young age. "In football, I went to camps and clinics that taught me how to play the game," he said. "If you're going to own a firearm, you need to go take a course and get your license and make sure you're reading everything on how to properly operate a firearm." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Ex-NFL star Clay Matthews discusses responsible gun ownership as a father, raising sons to be hunters
Ever since he retired, Clay Matthews has spent plenty of time on the field - just not the gridiron. The Green Bay Packers legend is not only part of a legendary football family, but he was raised a hunter and is doing the same for his children as well. Matthews was one of four ex-NFL players nominated for Colt's Safety Impact Award, designed to elevate and amplify nonprofit organizations that are pushing the envelope in firearm safety and education. Matthews has backed Project ChildSafe, a charity that he says hits close to home as a father of three children all under the age of 10. "This was a natural fit to work with Colt to come together on something that means a great deal to me, to give back and promote this education of firearm safety," Matthews said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "[Project ChildSafe does] such an amazing job at this comprehensive education, from providing free locks for firearms to actual safes, working with local law enforcement, it was just a no-brainer… Project Child safe just really designated with me." Fans can vote for their favorite player until Friday on and for every vote cast, Colt will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to the winner. Plus, if a safety happens in Super Bowl LIX, fans will have a chance to win $100,000. "This is a competition after all, so I'm asking you to vote for my charity," Matthews quipped, as he is up against Fletcher Cox, Joe Thomas and Adam Vinatieri. Matthews said his soon-to-be 10-year-old son wants to go deer hunting soon, while his 5 year old "wants to sit in the blind for turkey hunting season this upcoming year." The kids also get dressed up in "camo and blaze orange" quite often, he admits. "People can guess what type of family we are," he joked. However, with that comes a lot of responsibility, and Matthews gave advice to his fellow firearm owners on how to keep everyone safe. "First is have them locked up at all times. My kids from a young age have been brought up around firearms, whether it be hunting, recreational shooting, clinking, whatever it may be, but they understand dad's in charge of that. You don't have free rein. They're completely locked up. I'm in charge of that," Matthews said. "And just the attention to safety, really, knowing where the barrel is pointed, finger off the trigger, stuff that seems easy for most gun owners, but when you're raising children to be in that lifestyle to shoot firearms, you've just gotta teach and ingrain at a young age. "My father did a fantastic job with me. I know I was the kid, 'Dad, can I see this? Can I see that?' 'No, no, no.' But when I got out there, there was a responsibility that I felt I had growing up in that environment, and hopefully my kids will have the same." Ahead of their deer hunting day, Matthews said he will be taking his oldest son out for practice - likely after a flag-football game. "I was raised in Southern California, so I didn't have the opportunities to be out in the field all the time, but I've always had this drive to the outdoors and firearms," he said. "So for me, I love sharing this with them." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
