South Charlotte Today

CANTON, Ohio — One week from today, Julius Peppers is set to deliver a speech he never imagined giving. The occasion is his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during enshrinement weekend.

Peppers, known for being subtle and soft-spoken, finds writing speeches almost second nature. "It's not necessarily an everyday journal or anything like that," he said when asked about his little-known hobby. "At times I just go through and write down what happened during the day or, go back and look at things from the past. Or just creative writing sometimes, or songs."

He revealed that his interest in writing began in his youth. "When I was little, one of my good friends, we used to write rhymes all the time," Peppers said. "We used to listen to a lot of late '80s rap and hip hop when it was first coming up, and so we used to make our own songs."

Peppers' affinity for reading complements his writing. It was common to see him carrying reading material on road trips. He'd often pack works by James Baldwin alongside football playbooks.

The upcoming speech represents a significant task for Peppers: summarizing a brilliant career in ten minutes while balancing his roles as husband and father. "I've been busy, but anytime when I get on a plane or if I have downtime, I write," he noted.

His former teammates have confidence in his ability to deliver an impactful speech. Defensive end Mike Rucker shared insights into Peppers' character: "I believe that he will be humble... He's very articulate in that he will say the right things." Former teammate Muhsin Muhammad also expressed high expectations: "I think it's going to be pinpointed and precise; clean, really good, really thought-out."

As Peppers prepares for this momentous occasion, those who know him best anticipate a thoughtful and eloquent address.