CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - For Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion, confidence is about more than making plays on the football field. It is also about standing behind a microphone, answering questions and refusing to let a stutter define his story.
Concepcion, who has lived with a stutter for as long as he can remember, is now using his platform in the NFL to encourage others facing similar challenges.
“My stutter has pretty much been here since I can remember talking for real,” Concepcion said.
He went through speech therapy as a child, but building confidence was not always easy. His parents encouraged him to believe in himself and never let others take that confidence away.
“My mom and dad just told me to always be confident. Don’t let anybody take down any of your confidence,” he said.
That advice followed Concepcion as he made the jump from college football to the NFL.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, he faced a room full of reporters and cameras, with attention focused on some of the top prospects in the country. But before stepping behind the podium, he considered walking away.
“Right before the podium, I was actually thinking about not doing it,” Concepcion said. “And I just sat down and, you know, I thought to myself, like, this is another great opportunity to show your confidence, to stand up for people with a speech impediment.”
He ultimately decided to speak.
As questions surrounding his stutter became part of the conversation, Concepcion wanted teams to understand that his ability on the field should not get lost in how he communicates.
During the draft process, he wrote a letter to NFL teams to make sure they understood the player and the value he could bring to an organization.
“I really wasn’t seeing anything about the player, you know, and the value that I could bring to a team,” he said.
Now with the Browns, Concepcion continues to put himself in front of the cameras and microphones, showing young people that having a stutter does not mean they should shy away from opportunities.
He said the response has been meaningful, particularly messages from parents whose children are navigating similar experiences.
“I had got, like, a lot of DMs from, like, moms who may have younger sons who may be going through some of the same things,” Concepcion said. “And just seeing them say that I was inspiring to their children, you know, it just meant everything.”
His impact also extends into the community. Concepcion visits local high school football games and schools, connecting with young people and serving as a role model he said he did not always have growing up.
For those struggling with a stutter or facing challenges that make them feel different, Concepcion wants them to keep believing in what is possible.
“Whatever dreams, whatever aspirations that you guys have, you know, always believe that you can become something in this life,” he said.
For Concepcion, the journey is not about waiting until every word comes easily. It is about having the courage to speak, even when it doesn’t.
A stutter may be part of his story, but it does not define his talent, diminish his voice or determine how far he can go.
And sometimes, the biggest impact an athlete can make has nothing to do with a play on the field. It comes from being himself and showing someone else they can do the same.
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