It has been close to a year since LeSean “Shady” McCoy hung up his cleats, but the Harrisburg native continues to make a positive impact in his community.
The two-time Super Bowl champ and 12-year veteran returned home Friday to host the Tyrell Harris Memorial Scholarship Program event.
“It’s always good to come back home,” McCoy said. “It’s where it all started at. I remember years ago when we were trying to start the foundation, and I was so happy to play ball. The meaning behind the foundation and what it means, it’s all giving back.”
But the meaning of the scholarship is much more than what a sport can offer.
Harris, McCoy’s childhood friend, died in December of 2014, and in remembrance of his good friend the former NFL running back created the program to instill positivity in the youth of Harrisburg and offer financial support for college.
“(Harris) lost his life unexpectedly and was a cousin of mine,” McCoy said. “Growing up together, we would always hangout. He wasn’t always a ball player, but turned into a superstar when I went and came back from school. He really worked hard, had a great personality and his mother is an aunt to me. It was tough and it was sad, but to honor his name, we think of a person who was a great person, kid, super-smart, talented and intelligent. To have a scholarship to honor someone like that, I know he’s looking down on me smiling.”
And McCoy believed action was needed to inspire the next generation that you can excel beyond the playing field.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I get so much enjoyment from speaking about sports. But breaking it down to my foundation and what we do for these kids going to college, it’s not just about finances. We offer other services of helping kids find jobs, fill out applications for jobs, finding different grants to help them out. And, being away from school, they need words of encouragement. So, we provide all those services.”
But, while McCoy is continuing to influence the city he came from, he is looking forward to seeing how his alma mater Bishop McDevitt do this fall.
“I think we’re gonna be championship-like contenders,” he said. “Stone Saunders is really good, Marquese Williams just committed to Minnesota, and we have a lot of players. I’m always in contact with Coach Weachter and text him on how they’re doing. But, I think we have a good shot this year. It’s gotta be the year.”
McCoy last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which included seven-time champion Tom Brady in 2020.