This is real impact!

LeSean “Shady” McCoy is proof that going back home never goes out of style—especially when you’re bringing a $16.7 million gift with you. The two-time Super Bowl champ and former Philadelphia Eagles star just cut the ribbon on JMB Gardens, a fully affordable housing community in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Black Enterprise reports. 

The June 24th ribbon-cutting ceremony wasn’t just about buildings, it was about turning vision into value for families in his hometown. What used to be a cluster of empty lots is now a thriving housing development named in honor of McCoy’s late grandparents, James and Maryann Branch. JMB Gardens is made up of 41 stylish townhomes across four buildings, including units that are fully ADA-accessible and one specifically designed for residents with hearing or vision impairments. There’s even a community center nestled at North Sixth and Emerald Streets.

“I do these things to bring everybody closer,” McCoy said. “People can’t see the things that I’ve seen and do the things I’ve done, but you can still impact the community.”

And impact is exactly what he’s doing. State Senator Patty Kim, who first met McCoy a decade ago at a Thanksgiving turkey drive, called him “a hometown hero,” adding, “He’s giving out the same joy and getting back to his community. And we are so grateful for you.”

McCoy saw a need and stepped up to help with one of the most urgent needs in cities across the country. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro made it plain: “We need to vote to build more affordable housing. And we need to be able to target investments in our aging housing stock to allow people here to stay in their homes.” He also shouted out the state’s $1.3 million investment in the project as a model for how government and private visionaries can come together to make real change.

McCoy, who spent most of his NFL career with the Eagles before heading to Buffalo, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay (and collecting two Super Bowl rings along the way), has smoothly transitioned into sports media life as a co-host of FS1’s The Facility. But it’s his off-the-field plays that are building his legacy—literally.

This isn’t just a feel-good story; it’s a blueprint. A reminder that success means more when it circles back. Whether you’re stacking wins in sneakers or in suits, LeSean McCoy is showing us that real wealth is measured in impact—and Harrisburg is better because of it.

Cover photo: Retired NFL Player LeSean McCoy Launches $16.7M Affordable Housing Community in His Hometown/Photo credit: LeSean McCoy/Instagram