Former NFL player Michael Clayton will return to the place he credits with making him the man he is today to sign his first self-published book at the University’s bookstore from 5 to 7 p.m.
Clayton, who grew up in Baton Rouge, played football for Christian Life Academy and went on to play for LSU before beginning his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants.
His book, “Chasing My Rookie Year,” details the challenges, achievements and divine interventions in his life as an NFL and even a United Football League (UFL) player.
“The people of Louisiana and my supporters here are the reason why I am the man that I am today,” Clayton said.
He said it’s an honor to be welcomed back to campus and to be shown so much love more than 10 years after graduation.
The former NFL player’s inspiration for his book came from his belief that the best teaching point is helping others learn from his mistakes.
He said he always wanted to write a book because he knew he was on this journey for a great reason; but not knowing how he would end it postponed any writing.
“I never had the ending, so it was just a thought until God took me on a spiritual journey,” Clayton said. “It was life changing for me, and he gave me an ending: winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants.”
Leading up to writing the book, Clayton said there was a definitive turning point in his life, which he attributes to his godmother. He said she has always been his liaison to God.
“She called me one day after my rookie year crying, and she said to me, ‘Michael you are about to go through hell. You’re going to go through the fire,’” he recalled. “She warned me about the fire, but she also warned me, ‘Find your purpose in life, stick close to God and he will see you through.’”
Clayton said he spent seven years in a fire stoked by ridicule and media attention.
“I knew God wasn’t going to leave me,” he said. “I wanted to get back to the glory of the numbers and the touchdowns and I wanted people to love me again. Experiencing the fire was the turning point.”
Clayton said his book highlights what he had to do to find his purpose in life and encourages readers to let obstacles propel them.

“Football ends one day, and football was my comfort zone. That million dollar paycheck was my stability, but once I began to be obedient to that call to be a vessel, I had a joy that no national championship could ever give,” he said.
“The people of Louisiana and my supporters here are the reason why I am the man that I am today.”