Former NFL Player Warns Wayne Kids Of The Dangers Of Substance Abuse

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — One play. That was all it took to end Matt Mayberry's professional football career.

Mayberry is a recovering addict who turned to football to escape the pain of addiction.

Mayberry was a national-recognized player at Indiana University and was signed by the Chicago Bears in 2010. He suffered a career-ending ankle injury during the team's first preseason game.

Rather than have the injury destroy him, he turned it into a positive aspect of his life. He became a motivational speaker and founded Matt Mayberry Enterprises, a training and consulting company.

Mayberry visited all three Wayne middle schools to try and motivate students into making positive life choices.

During the assembly at George Washington Middle School, officials said there was silence as students heard how substance abuse tore apart Mayberry's life and the impact it had on his family.

The Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse co-sponsored Mayberry's appearances.

Students were given homework assignments of planning goals for each day and to be careful and mindful of the choices they make, which Alliance director Robbin Gulino said "was great."

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Photo, from left: George Washington Principal Jack Leonard, Danny McCabe, Matt Wilderson, Jack Freed, Matt Mayberry, Tammy McNutt, Jennifer Kruszewski, Ariel White, Assistant Principal Kevin Smilon, Kerrian Palmieri, and Laura Stinziano from the Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Photo courtesy of Wayne Public School District