CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young hosted 300 campers at a youth football camp in Charlotte last week as part of his Young 9 Foundation, which puts a focus on mental health.
Young was joined by several Panthers teammates and Panthers Chief Administrative Officer and co-owner Nicole Tepper, for the event on Saturday. The camp was a huge success, with 300 campers filling every available slot. Young took individual photos with every kid who attended and spoke to the group throughout camp.
For Young, it was another opportunity to become familiar with the Charlotte community and teach kids about the importance of prioritizing their mental health.
"It's something that's very near and dear to me and my heart," Young told Ashley Stroehlein.
Several of Young's family members are psychologists, including his father, so understanding mental health has been a big part of his life since he started playing sports, but you don't need to be a star athlete to recognize the benefits of self-care.
"It's something that's universal," Young said. "No matter what background you have, your occupation, prioritizing mental health is something important for all of us."
Young faced multiple obstacles during his rookie year. Head coach Frank Reich was fired after just 11 games and Carolina finished with the worst record in the NFL at 2-15. Young says a strong support system off the field helped him cope with on-field frustration.
"I'm grateful to have people around me that I can talk to, that I can go back and forth with and be able to gauge things off of so I'm able to be in the best position to have success on the field and all other aspects of my life," Young explained.
One technique dates back to Young's childhood when his dad taught him to control his breathing. Young said it's a skill that he learned to remain calm while playing but also uses it in everyday situations, something his foundation is focused on teaching to kids at football camp. Young said the goal of Saturday's camp was to "plant the seed" of prioritizing mental health.
"It's OK to get help, it's OK to not be OK," Young said. "It's OK to do whatever you need to do in order to get your mental health in a better spot, especially at a young age. It's not something a lot of people grew up hearing and being part of their belief system."
As Young prepares for his second season as the face of the Panthers' franchise, he's also preparing to work with a new head coach. Dave Canales was hired by the team earlier this year after successful stints in Seattle and Tampa Bay. He now brings his quarterback expertise to the Queen City to revive Young's NFL career.
"It's been great," Young said of his first practices under Canales. "I've been able to just sit there and be a sponge. I've been learning so much from him in the meeting room and on the field. It's my job to learn as much as I can and it's been great being able to work with Coach Canales and the staff."
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