Champ Kelly paced back and forth on the Raiders practice field channeling his inner defensive backs coach.
Several times while moving station to station at C.H.A.M.P Camp – his annual youth football camp – on Saturday, the Raiders assistant general manager stopped in his tracks to give instruction on drills. The usually soft-spoken man displayed a different side of himself. He could be heard from several fields away, coaching up the young players in attendance.
"Switch your hips. Change direction. Don't look for the ball."
With his hands-on approach and attention to detail with each camper, it seemed there was nowhere else Kelly would rather be at that moment.
"Growing up, I didn't have the means or the funds to go to some of the best football camps, but I loved the game of football," said Kelly, with his wife, Stephanie, and their daughters by his side during the event.
"Me and my wife, we always talked about it, if we were ever in a position to give back to the youth who are in search or in need of encouragement [or] support – then we would provide that. Using the avenue that I've been blessed with, the knowledge to be a part of this game of football, to be able to give it back is a benefit to myself and it's what we love to do."
Nevada is the sixth state in a decade that Kelly has hosted C.H.A.M.P Camp in. This year's two-day event at Intermountain Health Performance Center brought out over 200 local middle schoolers and high schoolers to develop their skills on and off the field with individual drills, 1-on-1s and 7-on-7 team periods.
"The Raiders have been great when it comes to our community and involving themselves with our high school," said Deumaine Reeder, head football coach at Clark High School. "They've always reached out for different opportunities for our young men. And now the knowledge that I've gained, I get to opportunity to impart that upon our high school kids at Clark High School. What a great thing to be a part of. ... Champ is a great, great guy. I can't speak anymore highly of him."
Kelly had a full army around him assisting the campers in drills and activities, including members of local high school coaching staffs and the Raiders' 2023 rookie class that Kelly played a hand in evaluating and bringing to Las Vegas.
"I'm excited for our rookies to have the opportunity to show their face, and they're loving what they're doing right now," Kelly said. "They're coaching and they're investing in kids what they've learned over the last few months and the last few years of their life."
Not only was the camp a great opportunity for the aspiring youth football players, but it was another chance for the Silver and Black newcomers to build chemistry with one another and learn more about the community they are now in.
"Coming up as a little kid, I went to a lot of camps like this thrown by former NFL players, other schools and colleges. But this is the first one I've been to thrown by an assistant GM. That's what's really special about this," said Chris Smith II, the Raiders' fifth-round pick from Georgia. "That just attests back to Champ Kelly's character. And being able to give back to the community is so special, to be able to give back what was given to me when I was a little kid."
Nearly 10,000 kids have attended Kelly's camps throughout the years, and several of his former campers have made their way into the NFL as well. While Kelly's job duties involve him growing the developing the Raiders roster, his life goals remain helping young men become leaders of men.
"The C.H.A.M.P doesn't stand for Champ Kelly," he explained. "C.H.A.M.P stands for 'commitment, humility, attitude, motivation and poise.' I think those five principals [are] what we're hoping to instill into the campers here. Hopefully we teach them something about the game of football, but they also learn about the game of life."
The Las Vegas Raiders football staff, in collaboration with Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly, hosted C.H.A.M.P. Camp, a weekend event for athletes to develop their skills on and off the field.
C.H.A.M.P. Camp attendees pose for a photo at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders strength and conditioning intern Daniel Jameson works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders player personnel assistant Nick Papagno works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (89) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Dalton Wagner (78) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (42) works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Drake Thomas (57) works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett (29) works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive assistant Fred Walker works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) huddles with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders director of pro personnel Dwayne Joseph speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders director of college scouting Brandon Yeargan speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive quality control coach Mitch Singler works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jaydon Grant (40) works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (42) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Azizi Hearn (48) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders director of football research and strategy Matt Sheldon speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders director of performance nutrition Ricky Ng speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive quality control coach Matt Feeney works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard McClendon Curtis (63) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes participate in a flag football game during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes participate in a football game during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes participate in a football game during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive quality control coach Matt Feeney works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive assistant and pass rush specialist Matthew Edwards works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Athletes work through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders player personnel assistant JaLun Morris speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders football administration analyst Julia Ayres speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders strength and conditioning intern Daniel Jameson works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) works with athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive assistant and pass rush specialist Matthew Edwards works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
CFL Hall of Famer Henry Burris speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight ends coach Jerry Schuplinski works with an athlete during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
An athlete works through drills during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
11-year-old and under players and coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders special teams coordinator Tom McMahon speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) speaks to athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly poses for a photo with top performing athletes during C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Valley High School players and coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Bonanza High School players and coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Clark High School players and coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Durango High School players and coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders staff members, coaches and visiting coaches pose for a photo after C.H.A.M.P. Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
