Canal Street Chronicles
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to speak with New Orleans Saints DE Cam Jordan about his newest campaign off the field, his family, foundation, love of New Orleans, football and more.
TH: Tell us about the new Downy Drop-In campaign and what it was like to have the opportunity work with your mother in the commercial?
CJ: Honestly, what people don’t know is that she suffered a stroke in 2020. So, she has literally been fighting to get back right. Her whole left side went numb, and it’s been an upward battle to get to a sense of normalcy. She is walking with cane now and every day she is getting better. She was able to make the flight last year, and this was her 2nd time in New Orleans since the stroke, and it was for a commercial. So, her spirits were so uplifted, and I’m just forever grateful to have the opportunity to be able to put a smile on my mom’s face. Let alone, for her to start bashing on me about how I used to come in from practice as a kid and how sweaty I was. How many times she had to wash my clothes to get that football funk out or as she calls it “funkalious.” She’s like no, I can’t have my son smelling like hot dog water. So, to be able to use the Downy rinse, because anytime you can have clean clothes especially after a 2.5-hour practice, it’s preferred. Because it takes grit, hard work and it takes sweat, blood and tears to get where you’re at. So, the fact that she was able to come in and use the Downy, which is safe on all fabrics, it was amazing to one, have her be a part of it and two, it just allows you to be with mom.
TH: You began your NFL career with the Saints back in 2011 and have since started the Cam Jordan Foundation to help make an impact the youth community. We see you spend your off days visiting local area schools, you have established a youth camp and scholarship program through the foundation. So, tell me about your connection with New Orleans and what is it about our city and the community that moved you to want to make a difference here.
CJ: The key word is “our city.” When I got drafted by the Saints, I really got adopted by the city not the whole ‘I got drafted by the Saints and then they showed me where to go.’ I got drafted by the Saints in 2011; the lockout year and I didn’t have any connection with the Saints after I landed and got a playbook. It was like next time we see you be ready for football. It was like 5 months of obscurity. Was there going to be a football season? What’s gonna happen? So, my first friends were people in the city. They showed me love and they...
