Troy Vincent

On November 22, 2017 former Wisconsin and NFL defensive back Troy Vincent was honored by the Big Ten Conference as he was named the 2017 recipient of the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award. The annual award recognizes Big Ten football student-athletes who have garnered significant success in leadership roles following their academic and athletic careers. During the week of Super Bowl 51, Troy Vincent received three top honors for character leadership including the Lifetime of Inspiration Award given during the NFL Super Bowl Gospel Celebration held on February 3, 2017 at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Earlier in the week,Vincent received the first annual AllProDad Award presented by Tony Dungy at the Faith and Family Live event. Troy was also honored by Ebony Magazine at their February 4, 2017 Celebration of Champions Super Bowl event, where he received the Ebony Pathfinder Award.

In January 2017,the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award was given to Troy Vincent for his collegiate and professional achievements including his significant dedication to community service. Forbes Magazine named Vincent to its prestigious 2016 list of Most Influential Minorities in Sports. Savoy Magazine again named Vincent as one of their 2018 Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America list. Vincent was first named to Savoy's list in 2016. In June 2016, Troy was named by USA Today as one of the NFL's 100 most important people. Ebony Magazine recognized him as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Sports today and he was named to the 2015 Ebony Power 100 list, honoring those who lead, inspire and demonstrate through their talents, the very best in Black America. Sporting News named him on the 35 or Younger Most Powerful People in Sports.

As part of his role as the NFL's head of Football Operations since 2014, Troy is a member of the American Football Coaches Association; an organization that represents coaches across the United States and is often consulted by the NCAA and the media regarding rule changes and developments occurring in college football. In an October 24, 2017 feature article in The Root publication, Vincent discussed his key role as "bridge-builder" in the ongoing debate about players taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem. In the January 2018 issue of Monarch Magazine, Vincent talks about the "Game of Giving" and his deeply personal commitment to bringing values, passion and character to American football.

A national advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, Vincent shared his family's own story of experiencing domestic violence in a February 19, 2017 guest editorial in the Naples News prior to his February 20 keynote address at The Naples Shelter for Abused Women and Children's annual event. In a March 6, 2017 nbcnews.com editorial, Vincent further advocated for a national conversation to build awareness and to encourage others to stand up, with one voice, to end domestic violence. On April 4, 2017 former Buffalo Bill Vincent spoke at Niagara University, delivering his Call2Lead message; asking students, particularly male students, to lead the way in ending domestic violence. Prior to his keynote at Niagara, AP profiled Vincent's lifelong commitment to ending violence against women in a USA Today article. In October 2018, Vincent delivered the keynote address at the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier. He shared his own story with a diverse audience including students from the area law enforcement academy, high schools, colleges as well as law enforcement, rape counselors, sexual assault teams and area district attorneys. Vincent also shared his calling to end domestic violence in a guest commentary.

Troy has also been recognized as the recipient of the 2016 John Wooten Executive Leadership Award, the Jim Mandich Courage and Commitment Award 2016 for his stance on domestic abuse and the 2016 Call to Men Award for Institutional Change for using his influence to prevent violence against girls and women. In October 2016, Troy received the "Champion of Change" Award from Colorado University Denver's Center on Domestic Violence. He received the 2015 Humanitarian Award for significantly advancing the Peace Over Violence mission of building healthy relationships and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. In 2012, Troy also received the National Jefferson Award for Public Service, considered the Nobel Peace Prize for extraordinary community service and for making the world a better place to live.

Vincent was drafted by the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison with the seventh pick in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He immediately became the Dolphins starting left cornerback, and helped the Dolphins reach the AFC Championship Game his rookie year. During his time in Miami, he intercepted 14 passes and was among the team leaders in tackles.

Troy and his wife Tommi, a cousin to drag racer Antron Brown, have five children – three sons and two daughters. His son Taron Vincent is a defensive tackle at IMG Academy and ranked among the top 15 players of his class by ESPN. Vincent is a Christian.

While playing for the Buffalo Bills, Vincent approached the Wharton School with an innovative idea to create much needed educational programs to help fellow players prepare for life after football, and that it was a life for which they needed to prepare. This vision materialized with the formation of the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, which over the years has educated many NFL players about starting a business, investing and managing money. As the 2011 NFL Draft takes place, Jason Wingard of the New York Daily News spoke to Vincent’s vision and the need for those entering the NFL to be prepared for what comes after their last game on the field has been played.

Vincent was selected as the Vice President of Active Player Development in February 2010. The NFL Players Development organization was renamed the NFL Player Engagement Organization in 2011.

Vincent and his family founded Love Thy Neighbor, a Foundation dedicated to fostering positive change in young people’s lives through character, athletics and academics, serving as a not-for-profit Community Development and Opportunity Corporation. He is recognized for his Philanthropic efforts to build community and increase the overall well-being of humanity. Vincent partnered with Feed The Children to help families in need over the 2010 holiday season. His efforts resulted in Feed The Children supplying one semi tractor-trailer full of food and essentials to Trenton on December 22, 2010. Each identified family was provided with a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of essentials and a box of Avon products designed to help a family for a week. The truck distribution was one of the stops on Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped nearly 200,000 American and military families across the country in cities that have been affected by the nation’s economic downturn in 2010.

Vincent and starting strong safety Matt Bowen suffered injuries during the team's 2006 season opener. In order to clear a roster spot, the Bills placed him on injured reserve on September 10 as he was expected to miss up to two months. Once he was cleared to play, the Bills granted Vincent his release on October 13.

On November 5, 2006, against the rival Dallas Cowboys, Vincent recorded six tackles and had a crucial block on a 35-yard field goal attempt by kicker Mike Vanderjagt as time expired. The block, along with a 15-yard facemask penalty, allowed the Redskins to return the ball into field goal range for kicker Nick Novak and win the game 22-19 with no time. The improbable win is known as the "Hand of God" game. On February 22, 2007, the Redskins released Vincent.

Prior to the 2004 NFL season, Vincent signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills with the departure of cornerback Antoine Winfield. During his time in Buffalo, Vincent transitioned from the cornerback position, which he had played all his career, to free safety. In his first season as full-time safety in 2005, he had 66 tackles and a team-high four interceptions.

Vincent was president of the NFL Players Association from March 29, 2004 until March 18, 2008. He was replaced by Kevin Mawae. On February 26, 2009 the Players Association announced they were investigating whether during his tenure as president Vincent disclosed confidential personal and financial information about a number of player agents. It is alleged Vincent emailed this information to his longtime business partner Mark Magnum for the benefit of a financial services firm co-owned by the two men. However, the Associated Press uncovered no evidence to support the contention that Vincent, by forwarding an NFLPA e-mail to his business partner, used agents' personal information to build his financial services company.

He was The Sporting News' No. 1 Good Guy in 2003, and served as team captain for the last 13 of his 15 years of playing in the NFL.

Vincent signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996, where he spent eight more seasons. Vincent made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1999 to 2003. In 2002 Vincent was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. In 2007 Vincent was named to the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team. Vincent announced the Philadelphia Eagles 2nd Round Draft Pick at the 2011 NFL Draft.

Vincent shares the record for the longest interception in Eagles history against the Dallas Cowboys in 1996; after teammate James Willis intercepted Troy Aikman four yards into the endzone, he ran 14 yards before lateraling to Vincent, who returned the interception 90 yards for a 104-yard touchdown.

Troy Darnell Vincent (born June 8, 1970) is a former American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dolphins with the 7th overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football for Wisconsin, and has been named as a first-time nominee to the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. On September 28, 2011, Vincent was named as one of the Preliminary Nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 in his first year of eligibility, and each year since.