Montclair Teen Shows Gridiron Guts: Heart Of Giant Awards

MONTCLAIR, NJ — There are some people who step up when a role model is needed. And Sebastien Fortune, a football player at Montclair High School, doesn’t hesitate to answer the call.

Fortune was recently named as one of the nominees for the 2019 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and the NY Giants. It's an award that can net his school $10,000 if he gets enough support from online fans. (Vote for Fortune here)

While growing up, Fortune pitched in for his household, taking on a mentor role for his younger brother and helping his mother with daily tasks. The offensive lineman has brought this mindset to the gridiron at Montclair High School, where he has been named captain of his team.

“I always try to hang out with them after practice or on our days off just to have a deeper connection and for them to understand that I always have their backs through thick and thin,” Fortune said of his teammates. “As long as I have them in my corner, it makes me want to become an even better leader to them every day.”

Ironically, the teen didn’t always want to play football. According to Fortune:

“After my freshman season of playing football, I was moved up to the varsity level and became a starter. At the time, I was questioning whether I actually wanted to play football. I talked with my coaches and they opened my eyes to a future that would benefit me. They talked about how many college coaches were interested in me and made me realize how many opportunities I would be giving up. I also didn’t want to let down my friends because I’ve gone through a lot with them, and to throw it all away just wouldn’t sit right with me. I got a better understanding of how much of an influence I was to my teammates and how much I meant to them. I grew to love the sport even more and I started to become a leader not only for myself, but also for others. Ultimately, football has helped me with my personal development and also become a better person.”

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