New York Jets safety Andre Cisco returned to Valley Stream on July 12 to lead his second annual youth football camp at Memorial Junior High School.
The free camp ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and welcomed local athletes ages 7 to 18 for a morning of football instruction, physical training and personal development.
The event focused on skill building across a range of fundamental areas. Participants were divided into age groups and rotated through drill stations designed to improve agility, speed, endurance and technique. Coaches emphasized effort, focus and coachability as key takeaways for the young athletes, intending to provide them with tools to continue practicing on their own.
Cisco, who recently signed with the New York Jets, grew up in Valley Stream and spent his early years playing for the Valley Stream Green Hornets and the town’s soccer team. He attended Holy Name of Mary for elementary and middle school before transferring to St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington. He later moved to IMG Academy in Florida, where he continued to develop as a football player before playing three seasons at Syracuse University. Cisco was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to New York to play for the Jets.
The idea for the camp originated as a way for him to reconnect with the community in which he grew up. After years of playing football across the country, he viewed the camp as an opportunity to engage directly with young athletes in his hometown.
“When I do come back, I’m hanging out with friends, but being able to connect back into the community, be more hands-on, and kind of over time be a familiar face, that was a goal,” Cisco said. “So, what better way to do it than obviously, doing what I know and what my profession is, which is football.”
This year’s camp, organized with support from Athlete Relations, maintained the same format as the first, though Cisco made small adjustments based on experience. Registration remained open to all interested families, and the focus was on creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Beyond the physical training, Cisco also spoke about mindset, preparation and long-term growth. For the older groups, he encouraged a deeper approach to the game, including studying sports films and understanding how professional players refine their craft. The message was designed to promote critical thinking about how to close the gap between where they are now and where they hope to be, especially through mental discipline and attention to detail.
He also shared personal reflections on the importance of faith, describing it as a source of strength and consistency throughout the ups and downs of his football journey. Participants received a word of encouragement and were offered Bible verses to take home, with an emphasis on gratitude, purpose and perspective—lessons Cisco views as just as valuable as the athletic ones.
“We’re blessed, and we’re lucky to have this opportunity, and so if we handle it properly, then God will continue to give us,” Cisco said. “That was kind of the message I try to spread. I understand not everyone is going to be an NFL player, so I want to kind of speak from a life perspective, more than just on the field.”
His ongoing effort to stay connected to Valley Stream is part of his greater mission to support and inspire the next generation of athletes. For many of the young attendees, the chance to train under a current NFL player who once stood in their shoes made a lasting impression.
This year marked the camp’s second run, and Cisco plans to continue offering it as a recurring event, anchoring his offseason with a return to the community that helped shape his path.
