Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku was joined by teammates and celebrities Thursday evening at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio for a home run derby and charity softball game. Njoku has taken stewardship of the event after Jarvis Landry started it during his tenure with the team.
The event featured several familiar faces, including Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Martin Emerson Jr., Grant Delpit, and Shedeur Sanders, all taking the field to help raise money for youth baseball programs, supporting the next generation of athletes.
Njoku said his passion for giving back is rooted in his connection to Cleveland.
"It mainly comes from the love I have for this city," he said. "I've been through a lot here, I've grown up here, I've seen a lot, and I just love to give back."
Coming off a disappointing 3–14 season in 2024, Njoku is focused on moving forward rather than dwelling on the past.
"It's just like anything else—you've got to acknowledge what happened and then work harder to be better," he said.
With training camp about a month away and the team wrapping up mandatory minicamp and Organized Team Activities, Njoku believes the Browns are trending in the right direction.
"A lot of work still needs to be done, but I feel like we're in a good place," Njoku said. "I think the key is just working really hard. As long as we keep doing that, we're going to be just fine."
One of the most notable changes this offseason was the promotion of Tommy Rees from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator—a move Njoku fully supports.
"Tommy is a great guy and very, very smart," he said. "He's putting us in the right positions to be successful, and that's all you can really ask for in a coach."
As the team prepares to return to head coach Kevin Stefanski's preferred offensive identity—featuring wide zone runs and play-action—Njoku isn't getting caught up in the hype.
"Words are just words," Njoku said. "We've got to put in the work and go get it."