Chris Rodriguez is Bench Pressing for Charity at the NFL Combine

by:Nick Roush•02/23/23•

RoushKSR

Chris Rodriguez is using the big stage at the NFL Combine to raise money for an organization that hits close to home.

The former Kentucky running back is accepting pledges for every bench press rep he completes at next week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He is showing his strength against lupus to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America.

It’s a fitting tribute to his mother, who lived with the disease. During the early stages of his NFL Combine prep program, his mother passed away unexpectedly. He’s now dedicating his performance to her memory, against the disease she fought against valiantly.

“She was my No. 1 supporter, she’s my why, my everything,” he recently told KSR.

To join the fight with Chris Rodriguez, the Pledge It page is now open. It will remain open until he takes the stage in Indianapolis March 6. He currently is projecting at least 14 bench press reps. Rodriguez has set a fundraising goal of $2,400 for the No. 24 he wore when his mother saw him play at Kentucky.

Chris Rodriguez Opens Up on the Loss of His Mother

Stephanie Thornton passed away Jan. 11, in-between the conclusion of his historic Kentucky career and the Senior Bowl. He honored her in the bowl game by wearing a purple facemask, the color for lupus awareness.

“Honestly, it was tough and it started before that. After I did lay my mom to rest I had to come back to Texas. I started training again and it was hard. At that point I started to feel alone. I talked to my family and it kind of helped me get through it; my sisters, it’s brought me and my sister even closer. I will say when I got to the Senior Bowl it was hard just not being able to call her and let her know everything that’s going on. Once those interviews did come in and start to get rolling, somehow she got brought up. I didn’t excuse myself, but I just got choked up about it. It’s hard,” he told KSR.

“People always ask what kind of relationship I have with my Mom and Dad. My Dad’s like my brother. My Mom’s like my best friend. Everyday we would call each other, even if it was her making me mad or upsetting me, we would talk. Then call me later and we would talk about it, apologize to each other. Whenever she needed something I would be there for her. Whenever I needed something, she would be there for me.”

Now he’s going to be there for her again, by raising money in her name behind the bench press bar at the NFL Combine.