Alumni spotlight: Fernando Velasco is flying high
Six years into his NFL career, Fernando Velasco hit his lowest point.
On Nov. 28, 2013, in front of a national television audience, Velasco—then the starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers—ruptured his Achilles tendon in a game against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed the rest of the season, and his career appeared to be in jeopardy.
As he recovered physically, Velasco (B.S.Ed. ’08) spiraled emotionally. While also dealing with the suicide of a close friend, Velasco plunged into depression.
Ray Jackson, the Steelers’ director of player development and a former NFL defensive back, helped bring Velasco back.
“He put his arm around me. He let me know that I was more than a football player,” Velasco recalls. “God had a bigger plan for me. During that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I knew that when my playing days were over, I wanted to get into player development and engagement.”