One of the more prominent things we’ve heard about new Detroit Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader is how big he is on mentoring, and now we’re getting an inside look at why that may be.
In the latest edition of “Beyond,” a series of columns written by players themselves to help fans learn more about what’s going on underneath the helmet, Reader explains in great detail how he became the man he is today.
“If I wasn’t playing ball, I’d be a teacher. Maybe a guidance counselor. It’s what I’ve always done, it’s what I’ve always seen,” he said in the first-person article.
Heck, in his introductory press conference, Reader said he was already looking forward to working with young defensive tackle Brodric Martin. He’d even already watched film on Martin to know how to best mentor him.
One of the biggest reasons for that is his father, Reader says. Losing his dad at just 19 years old, he tells the story of why—on this Father’s Day—instead of focusing on the time he lost, he celebrates everything his father was.
