Andre Collins

Andre Collins of the NFL Players Association delivered an inspirational keynote speech on their Sleep Health Program and the Health Initiative for former NFL Players at the Sleep & Wellness 2021 conference held this weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. Mother nature delivered an unprecedented rainstorm that couldn’t dampen his message. Andre explained that since he has implemented the VA sleep program into the NFLPA, there has been only one death of a former player in 13 years. Before the program, they had been losing several ballplayers each year. This result is because this program quickly addresses the sleep issue. Dave Gergen states this program puts partners back together in the bedroom, which saves lives and relationships; that is a good feeling. Dave has helped dentists get started working with the NFLPA in different regions of the United States. Andre and Dave are looking for more dentists to treat the former players suffering from sleep apnea.

Andre took questions and posed for pictures on both days of the conference. He made an impression on everyone he shared his time with and repeatedly asked if he would come back next year. It has been said that Andre’s job is “saving peoples’ lives.” After spending some time with Andre, the twelfth child of nineteen, this isn’t a job, but his passion for life showing. He parted some wisdom with me, saying, “When you are on your death bed and flipping your last dime, did you wring it dry?” It sunk in immediately that he was not talking about a bucket list but to give every last drop during your life.

Andre shared that he plays the trumpet and paints, and his philosophy is observable when he described his passion for jazz music and art. His “Smocks for Jocks” program is an annual jazz brunch and art auction that raises money for charities and the NFLPA programs. His personal touch is accented by this event as it is “wrung dry” because it highlights paintings created by former players while fundraising. We certainly hope to see Andre at the next event.