Eric Wilson
My name is Eric Wilson, and I live in Chappaqua, New York, about 35 miles north of Manhattan. I work in Sales in the city. I played at the University of Michigan from 1996 to 2000 then went to the Detroit Lions in 2001. In 2002 and 2003, I played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I was then signed by the Miami Dolphins for 2004 - 2006 and played in Hamburg, Germany, in-between in 2005 for NFL Europe. Halfway through the CFL season in 2006, I resigned with Winnipeg. From 2007 - 2012, I played in Montreal for the Alouettes in the CFL. MVP has taught me a few new things physically, I’ve never been in a boxing ring, and we tend to train a lot of MMA striking with punching and kicking movements, which I actually enjoy.
I can’t wait to do it in person. But we also have some training sessions with mindfulness and breathing techniques which help you ground yourself. Mentally I feel good; MVP has taught me to be vulnerable, reflect and discuss my feelings, which I have had a difficult time doing in the past. It’s a group of men and women who understand how to be compassionate and enjoy listening to others, which I believe we find challenging today.
MVP as a whole has reminded me that working out is not just physical but also a massive part of my mental status. I feel focused and loved when I’m involved with my brothers and sisters within MVP. I look forward to Wednesday nights to the share and listen to my teammates on our NYC Zoom call.
I retired in 2012, and my transition may have taken a little longer; it’s been eight years, but I found my next team, my next family, in MVP! MVP has been everything to me since I joined in March. It is a group of intelligent, understanding, and loving individuals that will be friends for life.
I’ll look forward to every Wednesday night at MVP, seeing the people that I’ve built relationships with and the people that I will build relationships in the future. I look forward to feedback and the ability to talk while not be judged. I look forward to discussing with like- minded people in a safe environment.
Coming from the sports side of things, I never really had a relationship or connection with the military. Both of my grandfather’s fought in World War II, but that was the extent of the discussion.
I now have military friends that I’ve met through MVP that I will hold hands with at any time. MVP is a beautiful thing. I really appreciate the platform and look forward to building more friendships through MVP. It’s the huddle like the locker room where I’ve really connected with others. I feel safe discussing my life, and these are people I’ve never met in the real world.
I would absolutely recommend MVP to any professional athlete or any veteran that I come across. I’ve invited a few people here, and I’m working on others, but I do look forward to the day that more athletes join the vets to discuss their history, legacy and indeed be proud of what they’ve done in life. It’s about the community having your back.