)
Malcolm Mitchell
Author, Literacy Advocate, Former NFL Champion & Inspirational Speaker
Malcolm Mitchell
Author, Literacy Advocate, Former NFL Champion & Inspirational Speaker
Biography
Mitchell Jarod Mitchell is an accomplished author, literacy advocate, and former professional football player with an extraordinary story of resilience, passion, and purpose. A wide receiver for the New England Patriots, Mitchell achieved the pinnacle of professional football by winning Super Bowl LI. His journey began as a standout Under Armour All-American in high school and continued at the University of Georgia (UGA), where he became one of the top ten all-time receivers in school history.
Mitchell’s promising NFL career was cut short due to knee injuries, but his transition from the football field to the world of literacy advocacy has inspired millions. In 2015, he published his first children’s book, The Magician's Hat, and launched the "Read with Mitchell" initiative, igniting a passion for reading among young people. As the Founder and CEO of the Share the Magic Foundation, Mitchell has transformed the literacy landscape by placing books in the hands of over 350,000 young readers and engaging more than 1.3 million students through his innovative programs. His Foundation's initiatives, including virtual literacy platforms, are making an enduring impact on Title I schools and under-resourced communities.
A celebrated author, Mitchell’s works, including My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, have earned him multiple accolades, such as the Children's Author of the Year by the Georgia Writers Association. His inspirational journey has been featured on CBS, ESPN, USA Today, CNN, and in Sports Illustrated Kids, among others. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of literacy, resonating with audiences from classrooms to boardrooms.
Mitchell’s advocacy extends beyond his books and Foundation. He has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Promise Hero Award from Colin Powell, the Pinnacle Award from the International Dyslexia Association, and the Champion of Children Award. In 2023, he was appointed to the Georgia Council on Literacy, where he works to improve literacy outcomes for students statewide.
Through his keynote speeches and appearances, Mitchell inspires audiences to overcome challenges, embrace the power of learning, and lead with purpose. Whether addressing corporate teams, educators, or students, he combines his experiences as an NFL champion and literacy advocate to deliver powerful messages about determination, leadership, and the transformative potential of reading.
Among his many accolades, Mitchell considers discovering a love of reading one of his greatest achievements—a passion he continues to share with audiences around the nation.
Speaker Videos
TEDx: Be the Coffee Bean: Lessons on Adversity from a Super Bowl Champion
Life is Good Stories
Reading is My Passion
Malcolm Mitchell and Book Clubs
I Had to Work to Read
The Importance of Reading
I Beg You To Be The Coffee Bean
Speech Topics
Read to a Better Future
Children who struggle to read are subjected to harsh consequences including poverty, incarceration, and failure to complete high school. Malcolm Mitchell grew up with similar challenges, but during his freshman year of college, a newly developed love of reading changed his trajectory. Initially, reading was a challenge, however, through perseverance, books became an avenue for expanding his curiosity, creativity, and learning. In 2015, Malcolm became an author. In 2016, he went on to establish a 501c3 organization, Share the Magic Foundation with a sole purpose: to transform children’s lives through literacy. Malcolm had his life re-directed by reading, and went on to win a super bowl. In this presentation, Malcolm focuses on the transformational power of reading through his personal story and literacy based research. Central to his message is self empowerment, cultural relevancy, and reading as a super power.
Adversity Equals Opportunities
In this presentation, based on his real life experience in athletics and entrepreneurial endeavors (High School All-American, University of Georgia Wide Receiver, Super Bowl Champion, Author and CEO), speaker Malcolm Mitchell shares invaluable lessons and leadership strategies that can be used by teams and organizations to navigate challenges, overcome adversity, develop growth mindsets, and inspire members to reach for new heights. Central to his message is adaptation, redemption, and aligning your focus to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Servant Leadership
Malcolm Mitchell’s unique combination of leadership experiences translate into a powerful message emphasizing self exploration, growth, determination and community. Central to his message is service to others, sacrifice, and hard work. Whether you are a student, athlete, or business professional Malcolm’s mission is to help you identify untapped potential. This presentation is designed for growing leaders and customizable to your organization’s specific culture challenges based on pre-calls, interviews, and research.
Illiteracy: A Public Health Crisis
Among former NFL superstar Malcolm Mitchell’s numerous awards and accomplishments both on and off the field, he considers discovering a love of reading one of his greatest achievements. Reading, Malcolm says, truly changed his life. He saw first-hand the struggles illiteracy brought his own family members. Those with poor reading skills are not easily recognized, since most try to hide this information from others, including healthcare providers. The inability to read and understand basic medical instructions is an important barrier to receiving proper healthcare. Not only that, but studies have shown those who have lower reading proficiency rates are more apt to drop out of school and need government assistance, abuse drugs and overdose. In this inspiring presentation, Malcolm focuses on the transformational power of reading through his personal story and literacy-based research.
)
)
)
)