Garett Bolles was selected by the Broncos with the 20th pick in the first round, but his speech after being taken is proof that the entire NFL is gaining someone special.
Garett Bolles used his post-draft interview to reach out to kids who need help
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The Utah offensive tackle brought his infant son onto the stage with him, and in his post-draft interview he delivered one of the best speeches we’ve heard in a long time when he was asked, “How are you here?”
“I’m here by the grace of God -- and the Freeman family who took me in. I love my biological dad and the Bolles family, but I love the Freemans and they’re my family too. I’ve been blessed — you know that’s my family right there, those cleats. I write on my cleats for motivation and like I said before: Those kids that struggle with anything, I’m reaching out to those kids and saying you know what — It does not matter where you start, it matters how you finish. Find what you want, find what you believe in and dig deep and get through it, and if you ever need anyone to talk to you can hit me up on anything and I’ll make sure I’ll be there for you and walk you through.”
Bolles’ path to the NFL has been difficult. He learned a lot about life and found himself after being kicked out by his family following battles with addiction and behavioral problems that caused Bolles to characterize himself as “a lost kid.” Now he’s already looking to take his experience and help kids who are in his position.
