Johnathan Abram remembers waking up before the crack of dawn and watching his mom leave for work before anyone else was on the road, and he revealed what that was like in his Players’ Tribune piece released Thursday.
The Las Vegas Raiders safety "was raised on burgers and fries" and he's proud of it. For as long as Abram can remember, his mother worked at Wendy's to put food on the table for him and his brother, often spending more time at work than at his little league games, but Johnathan admired her for that.
Determined to make ends meet, Johnathan never saw his mother complain or whine about the circumstances of which they lived, and she went above and beyond to give him a chance to play football.
"She never let us see her stressed," he says. "I only understood it when I got older. I caught her in a vulnerable moment. I think I was in high school, and it was real late at night. I was supposed to be asleep. I went into her room to ask her something, and she was sitting on the bed … just crying."
In the year Johnathan's been a Raider, he's made sure to give back to the woman who gave him every chance she could to help him succeed in life, gifting her a car and a new home.
Abram's upbringing is about more than perseverance, it's about giving essential workers around the country the respect they deserve.
You can read his full piece here.
Take a look at exclusive photos from the Raiders' walk through and workout at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and tight end Jason Witten (82) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Jason Witten (82) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and offensive lineman Andre James (68) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) and defensive backs coach Jim O'Neil on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Nick Usher (59) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Sam Young (70) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Dylan Mabin (37) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner (29) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Nick Usher (59) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O'Neil on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) and wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Jason Witten (82) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Jason Witten (82) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) and safety Erik Harris (25) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
A Las Vegas Raiders player on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard John Simpson (76) on the field for a walk through at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) and long snapper Trent Sieg (47) following a workout at 2020 Training Camp.
