Chalk Talk Episode #10: Legendary NFL Long Snapper Patrick Mannelly and Bernie’s Book Bank CEO Darrin Utynek Team Up to Share Stories of Unsung Heroes

This dynamic duo met by chance. Now, they’re giving others a chance to “change their story." Find out why – and how – they’re rewriting the stories of so many kids across America (possibly even yours).

Recipients of the 2021 Patrick Mannelly Award

by Adam Petrus

November 23, 2022

There’s a reason why student athletes must keep their grades up to maintain their eligibility. Reading, writing, and arithmetic unlock career opportunities. Not just in an office, but in stadiums and arenas around the world. As legendary NFL Long Snapper Patrick Mannelly put it, “Playbooks aren’t just a bunch of X’s and O’s.” They’re a reading, writing and arithmetic assignment.

That’s one of the reasons why he has teamed up with Darrin Utynek, CEO of Bernie’s Book Bank, to help build home libraries for children in underserved communities. Books are powerful. They help millions of people write better stories for themselves. And the sooner a child starts to read, the sooner they can start to build their (literacy) superpower and find their literal superpower – on and off the field.

The other reason: Patrick loves to share a good story. And, boy, does he have a lot of stories. Not just about how he accidentally became a Long Snapper in the backyard of his childhood home, or how he went on to become the most storied long snapper in NFL history. Rather, Patrick’s stories – the ones he feels we should be telling more often – are the stories of all the other Long Snappers whose steady hands, quiet dedication and selflessness have made them arguably the most valuable members of every football team out there. So, when Patrick was looking for a way to get the stories of these unsung heroes out to the world, he found a “publisher” in Bernie’s Book Bank.

Now, Bernie’s Book Bank hosts the Patrick Mannelly Award dinner* each December to simultaneously share inspiring stories of college long snappers and help fundraise for the book distributions that help inspire elementary school students to one day become a “long snapper” – whether on the football field, the legal field, healthcare, or any profession that calls to them.

Tune into our 30-minute chat now to hear more about the unsung heroes that Patrick and Darrin have come together to honor and help nurture:

Chalk Talk Episode #10: The Dynamic Duo

We also talk about:

How few kids really have access to books, and how Patrick and Darrin are working to change those stats.

What Patrick witnessed at a recent book distribution with Bernie’s Book Bank.
How RFID technology (and the NFL’s Next Gen Stats generated from that tech) can help long snappers improve their game as well as the execution of plays across the entire field, according to Patrick.
What RFID technology is doing for nonprofits like Bernie’s Book Bank and others in the distribution business, according to Darrin.
What Patrick decided to do in retirement and why (besides team up with Darrin and the Bernie’s Book Bank crew).
How you can attend – or volunteer at – the upcoming Patrick Mannelly Award dinner. (There will be a lot of special guests from the sports world, including our friend David Kaplan.)

How you can be a hero to kids and help support Bernie’s Book Bank all year long.

LISTEN NOW

*Zebra is the sponsor of the Patrick Mannelly Award dinner and a philanthropic partner of Bernie’s Book Bank, which you can read about here:

Why We Honor the Long Snapper, The Unsung Hero of Football and Life

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Catch Up on Chalk Talk Now:

Chalk Talk Episode #6: Former NFL Coach Sean Payton Talks about His New Team, as Well as What Excites and Frightens Him about the Next Chapter of His Movie-Worthy Story
Chalk Talk Episode #5: The 2022 NFL Draft Was Proof That Anything Can Happen in Vegas
Chalk Talk Episode #4: Chalk Talk Episode #4: It’s NFL Draft Time, and We Have Some Thoughts on How Things Will Play Out
Chalk Talk Episode #3: NFL Pros Dwayne Johnson, Jr. and Chris Streveler Just Spent Three Weeks Working at Zebra. Find Out Why (and What It Was Like).
Chalk Talk Episode #2: Did You Know RFID Technology Was Used to Track Player Movements During 2022 NFL Combine Drills? Find Out What That Means for This Year’s Recruits (and Future Scouting Decisions).

Chalk Talk Episode #1: Not Sure Who to Cheer for During Super Bowl LVI? These Next Gen Stats May Help with Your Decision.

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Adam Petrus

Adam Petrus is currently the Client Services Project Manager within Zebra Sports at Zebra Technologies where he is responsible for co-managing the game day operation of the NFL’s Next Gen Stats program. Adam has more than 10 years of experience within the sports and technology industry and has been working with Next Gen Stats since 2015. Previously, he worked in the front office of an NFL Football Club and then the United States Intelligence Community supporting business operations.