June 13th is 'Tony Jefferson II Day' in Chula Vista, and His Camp Sold Out in Under 24 Hours!

Alright, you guys, you hear about this? Chargers safety Tony Jefferson, aka "Unc," just had a day named after him in his hometown! Seriously, the city of Chula Vista officially declared June 13th as "Tony Jefferson II Day." This isn't just some backyard barbecue, either. The mayor was there at his old high school, Eastlake High, with Jefferson, his four kids, and his parents, making it official. Talk about a full-circle moment!

"Unc" Keeps it Real and Gives Back

When you get an honor like that, you gotta uphold your name, right? Jefferson totally gets it. He said, "When you get recognition like that, you gotta uphold your name and who you are, your character. It's just another role I believe that I want to keep ascending on that day. I want to make sure that I'm doing something on that day that's still giving back." And he's already walking the talk. He runs this annual football camp, started way before the pandemic, and it just keeps getting bigger. This year? He announced it on Instagram on April 25th, and it sold out in less than 24 hours! Over 500 kids signed up! Can you believe that? He's loving seeing those familiar faces grow year after year, emphasizing that it's all about the kids and teaching them how to compete. That's a real stand-up guy, even if he plays for a rival.

The NFL Calendar Shift That Brought the Crew

So, June 13th was extra special for Jefferson for a couple of reasons. Usually, his camp is after minicamp, when most of his teammates are already back home. But this year? The NFL calendar got pushed back a week because Super Bowl LXI was played on February 14th. Apparently, the league is toying with an 18-game season, which is why the schedule shifted. That was huge! The Chargers' minicamp started June 16th, meaning a bunch of his teammates were still in town and could actually come out and help! We're talking safeties Derwin James, RJ Mickens, and Genesis Smith, plus cornerbacks Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still, and Donte Jackson, linebacker Daiyan Henley, and tight end Oronde Gadsden. "I am just really thankful they came," Jefferson said. During water breaks on that hot afternoon, coaches made sure the kids went up, asked questions, and soaked up all that NFL wisdom. That's how you make a lasting impact, man.

From Undrafted to Inspiration

Every single one of those guys has a wild story. Think about it: James was a projected top-five pick who fell to 17th overall in the 2018 draft. Gadsden started out as a wide receiver before moving to tight end. And Jefferson himself? He starred at Oklahoma but went completely undrafted! That's just wild. He said, "My journey has been up and down and all over the place, so the more I could get in their ear and just share my experiences, that's happened, and the flows of how not everything's going to go your way, persevering through stuff. I think it's a great message and story to be able to pass out to the younger generation." As he walked around camp, he kept hearing "Unc!" being shouted, which he thought was "insane" that his nickname had passed down to the kids. You gotta respect that, even if he's not rocking green and blue. It's about inspiring the next generation, and that's a universal win.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.