During pregame warmups at Empower Field at Mile High on Monday Night Football, LB Khaleke Hudson sported a pair of custom cleats. On them was the name Karli Short, his childhood home of Harrison Village in McKeesport and the hashtag #endgunviolence painted on the cleats.
They were carefully crafted to represent a cause bigger than himself, and a cause Hudson is personally familiar with.
Hudson tragically lost his childhood friend, Karli Short, due to gun violence in 2021. The two grew up in the same housing complex in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He keeps in touch with her father and is close with her family, offering his support as the family works to honor her name through The Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation.
When Hudson learned of the NFL's league-wide initiative My Cause My Cleats, he wanted to support the organization created in her honor.
"It was like a no brainer for me to support them and bring awareness to ending gun violence, because that's something that my city, just in general, deals with a lot of gun violence and a lot of bad things happen," Hudson said. "So, for me to be able to support her and her family, and the things they got going to end that cycle and make our city and make our world a better place, I'm always down for it."
Hudson was one of 35 Browns players, head coach Kevin Stefanski and three assistant coaches who participated in the NFL's league-wide initiative My Cause My Cleats during their Week 13 matchup against the Broncos.
On Monday Night Football, CB Martin Emerson Jr., RB Jerome Ford, CB Greg Newsome II and Hudson all sported uniquely designed cleats in support of organizations focused on ending gun violence. Newsome's cleats supported DNA Level C Boxing Club, which is a local boxing club in the Northeast Ohio area that holds a mission of unlocking potential by strengthening youth in at-risk communities through boxing-fitness, vocational and out-of-school programs.
Newsome, who lost a cousin to gun violence, said the experience shifted his perspective on life. Through his efforts with DNA Level C Boxing Club, he wants to positively affect the youth in the community. Newsome said it was the first year he wore his cleats during the game because of how personal the cause is to him.
Emerson and Ford both chose to support the organization Everytown, an organization with a mission to end gun violence and build safer communities by advocating for common-sense gun safety measures, educating the public, supporting survivors and driving grassroots movements for policy changes at local, state and national levels.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2023, while there was a three percent decline from 2022 to 2023, gun violence claimed 46,728 lives in 2023, marking the third-highest number of gun-related deaths ever recorded in the United States.
There was also an 8.6 percent decrease in gun homicides in 2023, according to the CDC, but certain communities are affected disproportionately. The Black community continues to face gun homicide rates that are 13 times higher than those of their white counterparts.
"Everyone comes from a lot of different places in the world, but it's kind of crazy how us in that community, and really, the Black community, gun violence is so big," Newsome said. "It's a part of it, which is not a good thing. So, it's good to see a lot of us starting to shed light on that."
As part of the NFL's league-wide initiative, during Weeks 13 and 14 of the 2024 NFL season, players across the league had the opportunity to pick a cause important to them and represent that organization on a pair of custom designed cleats as a part of the league-wide initiative My Cause My Cleats.
My Cause My Cleats was first launched in 2016, creating a connection between the NFL and players and allowing them to create their art and represent philanthropic organizations, passions and movements through individual designs. This year, those participating on the Browns wore their cleats in Week 13 when Cleveland faced the Broncos in Denver.
For Emerson, choosing to participate in My Cause My Cleats also has a personal tie. Emerson said he lost two childhood friends to gun violence while he was in college.
"I lost one in 2021, and I lost one the next year in 2022," Emerson said. "So, it was just a rough time for me in my life. And to be honest, it was like, wrong place, wrong time, not intended. So, I just want to raise awareness for (ending) gun violence."
Emerson found Everytown through the Browns and has represented them through My Cause My Cleats in his three seasons in Cleveland. Their work includes efforts to implement background checks, promote responsible gun ownership, support victims, and reduce gun violence through legislation and community-based initiatives.
"That's why I go back every single year, because just raising awareness for gun violence and learning, like, they reach out to me every year, and they're happy that I come back and support their cause," Emerson said. "And it's my cause too, because it's very near and dear to my heart. I know I'm not the only one that has gone through this or been through this situation. And just let people know, like you're not alone. And violence is never the answer for anything, especially not gun violence."
Ford also discovered Everytown through the Browns and is in the process of becoming an ambassador for the organization. Ford said he wanted to be a part of spreading awareness about gun violence not only in his local community in Tampa, Fla., but also across the United States.
For him and Emerson to represent the same organization and have teammates who are representing other organizations working towards the same goal was important to Ford. Not only do they share a common goal on the football field, but also off the field.
And Hudson agreed.
"I know what it feels like to be in their shoes. I try to be the best person I can and try to inspire the kids around the world, the kids in my city, inspire family, inspire grown folks. I feel like I'm here for a bigger reason than just myself," Hudson said. "I just want to be that person to build that bridge to a better world, a better city and better people."
