Dax Raymond, a rookie for the Chicago Bears, says he wouldn't be where he is today without his mission, and the Bears want to celebrate that.
As part of new video series that highlights the new rookies on the team, the Bears highlighted Raymond as he explained how his mission to Russia shaped his life.
"On a [Latter-day Saint] mission, you commit everything," Raymond shares in the video. "All your concentration is on the Lord. From the second you wake up to the second you go to bed, it's, 'What can I do to help the people?'"
That attitude of continual service has stuck with Raymond beyond his mission as he played football at Utah State University. His first year playing with the Aggies after his mission, Raymond says he was training as hard as he could and began putting on muscle, but his back "wasn't quite ready for it."
Though unable to play that year, Raymond remained devoted to his team, supporting them in any way he could. And this devotion to being a team player didn't go unnoticed.
"This is an individual who is smart, he's competitive, and versatile," Chicago Bears area scout David Williams says. "Guys at Utah State, you want to see them stand out relative to the rest of their Mountain West competition."
Watch the full video below:
.@dax_raymond is not one to back down from a challenge. #MeetTheRookies pic.twitter.com/qIxEI5lGeJ — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 27, 2019