Former Bear Seeks to Motivate Students

Students at had a visit from a former Chicago Bear Thursday when Donnell Woolford stopped by to offer students encouragement. 

The students were celebrating the school’s Project P.E.A.C.E. student service and leadership program, which helps students learn to lead and develop skills to proactively prevent bullying.

A friend of Woolford's lives in Naperville and she asked him to visit the school and talk with students. All of the classes met with Woolford during the day.

Principal Karen Udell asked him to be at the school at 6:30 a.m., to which Woolford said: “I felt like I was at training camp again.”

Students may think of football players as rough and tough, but Udell said, “What I like and respect about Donnell is he is a very spiritual man.”

A Bear from 1989-1996, Woolford retired in 1999 and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, but keeps his connection to Chicago and Naperville. 

He told the students that playing in the NFL was a dream come true, but took a lot of hard work and dedication. When he was about 9 years old a friend’s mother took him to a football game to watch the San Francisco 49ers play the Atlanta Falcons, he said.

“When the game was over she looked down at me and said, ‘One day I’m gonna see you on the field,’” Woolford said.

That was when he started to focus and work hard, he said. People began to say he was a good player. 

Then he made a connection with one of his coaches in high school who became his mentor. His coach took him on tours to different colleges, he said.

“You have to pay attention when people come into your life,” he said.

Students asked Woolford questions about who his favorite player is today: Cam Newton. What team is his favorite today: Baltimore Ravens. And, which team is his favorite that he played on: The Chicago Bears.

One student asked Woolford for advice for someone who wants to play professional sports. 

“Follow your dreams,” he said. “Work hard, be disciplined. Keep working, eat right. … There are going to be set backs so you have to keep getting up.”