“I am not comfortable with talking about stuff like that.” That’s what Javon Kinlaw said in 2020 before the Niners drafted him. And by “stuff,” he didn’t mean the usual pre-draft jitters. He was talking about growing up in a world filled with things no kid should ever face—addicts, g-nshots, and m-rders. Not exactly a smooth path to the NFL, but Kinlaw didn’t just survive it; he thrived. He made it to South Carolina and then became an All-Pro defensive tackle.

But football wasn’t always his focus. What changed? The birth of his daughter, Eden Amara, in March 2019. She became his reason to push harder. The 6-foot-5, 324-pound star suddenly had a new goal: to give his daughter the life he never had. Can you imagine that kind of motivation? Kinlaw’s future in football sharpened into focus the moment Eden entered his life.

Jim Nagy, executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, saw it firsthand on Sept. 14, 2019. Kinlaw, who used to be a 340-pound mountain of a man, had transformed. Nagy recalled how the defensive tackle showed up for pregame looking like a completely different player. “He just came out in pants and a cutoff t-shirt, and his body looked totally different,” Nagy said. What sparked this transformation? You guessed it—his daughter.

According to Nagy, “Having a baby can usually make guys go one of two ways. It really focused Javon.” Kinlaw shed 20-25 pounds and came into his senior season on a mission. His coach, Will Muschamp, noticed it too. Kinlaw was working harder than ever, driven by the responsibility of taking care of his family. That kind of focus earned him first-team All-American and All-SEC honors.

The thing is, the birth of Eden showed Javon that it’s not just about him anymore. But it’s also about the life that he would be giving his daughter to lead. He sees that in her. Along with many other things. “I just want her to have a fun childhood, not have to worry about things she shouldn’t have to be worrying about as a kid,” Javon told ESPN back in 2020.

Javon Kinlaw had faced a lot growing up and now he just wanted to be a dad to his daughter, whom he did not have as a kid. Isn’t this motivation enough? Now, as he is part of the Gang Green, his aim is b-lined only towards making a name for himself and in return earn enough so that Eden Amara could have a lifestyle he dreamt of as a kid.

Javon Kinlaw’s pre-football life

Javon Kinlaw’s journey started in an apartment in Washington, D.C., with his mom and brother. Life was manageable until their landlord sold the building. Forced to move, they ended up in a house falling apart, with a roof that eventually caved in. Moving again, Kinlaw experienced the harsh reality of living without electricity or running water, filling totes from a neighbor’s hose just to get by. But for Kinlaw, it wasn’t as bad as it seemed—at least, not to him.

Kinlaw didn’t complain. Even though he wore the same clothes year-round, he never asked for more because he knew the answer. “I didn’t care about that stuff,” he said. Despite the tough conditions, he found ways to make it work, boiling water on a gas stove just to take a shower. For most people, this would be a nightmare, but for Kinlaw, it was just another day. He believed, “It wasn’t really that bad.”

But trouble came knocking. Skipping school due to bullying, hopping Metro turnstiles, and avoiding class became routine. Something had to change, and football became his ticket.

Fast forward, and Kinlaw, now in New Jersey, has a chance to shine under former 49ers defensive coordinator and current Jets head coach, Robert Saleh. Kinlaw has already shown his potential; could this be the breakout he’s been waiting for? Let us know.