Earth, Texas is now the hometown of retired pro-football star Manny Ramirez.
After beginning his football career at Texas Tech University, Ramirez was drafted in 2007 by the Detroit Lions. He said playing in the NFL was a goal he felt blessed to accomplish.
“It was hard my Rookie year. I knew what got me there, I know how hard it took to get me there,” Ramirez said. “I thought that what got me there was going to keep me there. And I soon found out that’s not the way.”
Ramirez said being one of the top players at Texas tech played a major role in making it difficult to adjust to the NFL.
“I was never accustomed to being yelled at and criticized, being the one to take all the pressure and the yelling,” Ramirez said. “But when I got to Detroit, I was the youngest. So, the coach wouldn’t yell at the vets, they would yell at the young guy, which was me. And it broke me.”
After that, he said he began to take on a different persona on the field.
“Usually if I get my hands on somebody, it’s game over, cause power on power, it’s me, and I’m gonna try to embarrass you before you embarrass me,” Ramirez said. “But, I was getting bull rushed, I was getting dominated, it was just too much.”
Once he started to figure out the game and its differences from college football, he said things began to change for him.
“I started to make my way back into the started line up and once I felt like I was getting to where I wanted to be, that’s when they cut me,” he said. “And I was kind of broken.”
Ramirez said he was forced to sit out of the game he not only loved, but one that helped take care of his family and so many other philanthropic efforts he was committed to contributing to.
“It really humbled us because even throughout the years when we’re going through those struggles our mindset was always to give back,” Ramirez said. “Every year we’re gonna make this much this year, we’re gonna be able to help here, give our tithes, take care of family.”
But once the NFL lockout was over, Ramirez said he was picked up by the Denver Broncos in 2011.
“Year one, I think I only dressed out one game,” Ramirez said. “But year two, I started playing more. By year three, I gained my starting position as a center.”
Once in Denver, he said he got the opportunity to play with Peyton Manning and be a part of one of the best offenses in the history of the game. He said he also got the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks.
Ramirez’s pro career would continue, but in a slightly different direction. To see more about Ramirez’s journey click on the video above.