Former NFL Player Jovan Haye on Dyslexia and Bullying

Former NFL player Jovan Haye made his mark on the football field with the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive lineman. Now the Jamaican-born Haye is making tracks as an education advocate. He is promoting his self-published book, Bigger Than Me: How a Boy Conquered Dyslexia to Play in the NFL.The book is about his struggles with dyslexia, poverty and bullying.

After retiring from football, Haye had to work hard to get his book published. Publishers were skeptical that he wasn’t enough of a celebrity for his memoir to be a big seller. But Haye has proven otherwise. His book has made him a popular spokesman for awareness. Now he’s on a mission to encourage parents to get their children evaluated early if they suspect dyslexia.

“I want people to understand that they are not alone,” Haye says in a press release about the book. “We all have challenges. But with faith, forgiveness, determination and perseverance, success is inevitable!”

Did you know that many successful people like Haye have learning and thinking differences? Take our quiz and test your knowledge.

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About the author

About the author

Geri Coleman Tucker is a freelance writer and editor and a former deputy managing editor for

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