Tackling Life After Football: From Linebacker to Lifeline

The power of self-belief transcends sports, careers, and circumstances. Former NFL linebacker Wiley Rayner and his cousin Terrence Edwards demonstrate this truth through their remarkable journey from athletes to community change-makers with their I AM POWER movement.

Growing up in West Charlotte's tough neighborhoods, Rayner manifested his future greatness before he even understood the concept. "I remember sitting on the porch one day and just saying, 'I'm going to be great,'" he recalls. This self-belief, coupled with the discipline of football and the influence of the Police Athletic League, guided him away from neighborhood dangers toward a successful career at UVA and eventually the NFL.

But professional success didn't equate to fulfillment. After eight years in the NFL, Rayner found himself surrounded by material possessions yet emotionally numb from childhood trauma. A turning point came during an impromptu talk with children at a Cleveland Boys and Girls Club. "As I was talking, it was therapeutic," Rayner explains. "I kind of blanked out... I never told my story." This profound moment reopened his capacity for emotion and connection, reshaping his purpose.

Together with Edwards, who provides community-based mental health counseling, Rayner has built the I AM POWER movement on a simple yet transformative principle: words have power. "Every time you say 'I am power,' your molecular makeup changes," Rayner explains. "You become that power—spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally strong." This philosophy guides their work with youth, their mushroom-based energy products, and their community outreach.

Their approach to mentoring transcends physical training to address mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. Rather than fostering divisive competition, they teach young athletes respect and honor—how to be competitive without tearing others down. The results speak volumes: young people from schools throughout Richmond coming together, respecting each other, and embracing their potential.

Ready to experience the power of positive self-affirmation and natural energy? Visit iampwr.com to discover their NSF-approved mushroom-based energy products and join a movement that's changing lives through the simple yet profound power of believing in yourself.

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