Browns receiver Concepcion speaks openly about life with a stutter

Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion has had a stutter for as long as he can remember. He went through speech therapy as a child, and he says the hardest part was building confidence behind his words. His parents told him to hold onto that confidence. "My mom and dad just told me to always be confident. Don't let anybody take down any of your confidence," Concepcion said.

He carried that advice into the NFL Scouting Combine, where he faced a room full of reporters and cameras covering the top prospects in the country. Before his turn at the podium, Concepcion said he considered skipping it. "Right before the podium, I was actually thinking about not doing it," he 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 stepped up and spoke.

During the draft process, Concepcion wrote a letter to NFL teams. He wanted them to see his ability on the field, not just how he communicates. "I really wasn't seeing anything about the player, you know, and the value that I could bring to a team," he said.

Now in Cleveland, Concepcion keeps putting himself in front of cameras and microphones. He has heard from parents whose children are dealing with similar challenges. "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 work reaches beyond media sessions. He visits high school football games and schools in the area, meeting young players. He has said he wants to be the kind of role model he did not always have while growing up.

Concepcion also addresses people who feel different because of a speech impediment. "Whatever dreams, whatever aspirations that you guys have, you know, always believe that you can become something in this life," he said. For Concepcion, speaking up matters more than waiting for every word to come out smoothly. His stutter has been part of his story since he first learned to talk, and it does not change what he can do on the field or in front of a microphone.