Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward will star in a new documentary called SEC Storied: “Becoming Hines Ward.”
The documentary reveals the untold story of Ward’s upbringing. The film, directed by Jeremy Williams, debuts Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
**“**This isn’t just a football story,” director Jeremy Williams said in an ESPN press release. “Underneath the Super Bowl wins and NFL career was a really personal story about identity, family and belonging. The more we dug in, the more we realized how much he had overcome – not just as an athlete, but as a biracial kid growing up between cultures and later becoming an unexpected symbol of hope in South Korea.”
The documentary captures Ward’s return to South Korea with his family, confronting the culture he once resented and the sacrifices his mother made to give him a chance.
“The best sports documentaries aren’t really about sports – there’s often a story within the story,” Williams said . “Hines’s name carries a lot of weight in the sports world, and his jersey still sells today, but I realized most people didn’t actually know his full story.”
ESPN public relations released a short clip of the documentary on X.
“I was the first Korean-Asian American to win Super Bowl MVP, but I never forgot where I came from,” Ward said. “I was a biracial kid, just trying to fit in. [My] safe haven was sports. … It wasn’t about being Black or Korean. It was like he’s Hines.”
Ward’s 14-year NFL career was spent carving out a role as one of the most physical players on the Steelers, even as a wide receiver. Ward won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh and was the MVP of Super Bowl XL after his game-sealing touchdown reception. Ward was named to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time All-Pro and is on the Steelers’ All-Time Team. He is currently serving as the wide receivers coach at Arizona State.
Ward is the only receiver with more than 12,000 career receiving yards and two Super Bowl wins that has not been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Legend Hines Ward to Star in New Documentary
