Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison traded football plays for storybook pages Tuesday, October 13, during a special reading event with Myakka Elementary School students at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton.
The visit was part of the Buccaneers’ Tackling Reading initiative, which encourages literacy and promotes a love of reading among children throughout the Suncoast region.
Morrison read to students, shared his enthusiasm for books and encouraged them to spend time reading rather than relying solely on phones and social media. He also emphasized how reading can bring families and friends together.
The event held personal significance for Morrison, whose mother was a teacher during his childhood. He acknowledged feeling more nervous about reading to the students than playing in a football game.
Students were excited to meet the NFL player and participate in the reading experience.
As part of the literacy initiative, each student had the opportunity to select a book from the Early Learning Coalition’s book bus, helping encourage continued reading at home.
The Buccaneers’ Tackling Reading program is part of the team’s broader commitment to supporting education and community engagement throughout the Tampa Bay region.
For more information about the Buccaneers’ community initiatives, visit www.buccaneers.com.
