Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams is getting a lot of attention after returning his daughter’s sports participation award and taking to Twitter to defend his position.
Williams, who previously played for the Carolina Panthers, played college football at the University of Memphis and returned there Friday to talk to fans at an event.
The NFL player said his daughter was excited about getting a participation ribbon after she finished fifth or sixth at a recent field day event, telling her father that she had won.
Williams said he told his daughter, “No, baby girl. You didn't win, you got one for participating. Give me that, you didn't win anything. I'm taking it back."
Williams said he told the organizer he does not believe in participation ribbons, so he doesn't want his daughter to receive one.
"I, for one, feel like this entitlement age for kids started with us and it has to end with us. I'm going to start ending it by giving back all the participation awards," Williams said in a video posted on social media.
Williams said he told his daughter that if she wanted a ribbon then she had to finish in the top three of her next events, and she did.
Williams said he thinks children today feel entitled, because parents have raised them to feel like they can and should be praised for everything.
In the past, Williams has shown a softer side when it comes to his daughter.
On Twitter, Williams was quick to respond to critics.
Williams doesn't reserve his philosophy just for the playing field. Here's his response to a student asking for luck on a final.
