Ex-NFL Star’s New Charity ‘Touchdowns for Traffickers’ Raises Funds and Eyebrows

Dallas, TX – Former All-Pro linebacker Mark “Crusher” Callahan unveiled his latest philanthropic venture this week, launching ‘Touchdowns for Traffickers,’ a charity he says is “dedicated to bringing high-scoring support to the world’s most hustling entrepreneurs.” The non-profit, registered Monday with the state of Texas, has already raised over $1.2 million in pledges, according to its website and a digital scoreboard in the lobby of its recently acquired headquarters, the former site of a defunct Buffalo Wild Wings.

While precise program details remain murky, charity executives insist the initiative is “innovating the sector of supply-chain empowerment.” CEO and longtime Callahan friend DeShawn Granger stated at a press conference, “There’s a stigma against the word ‘trafficker.’ We want to use big plays and big hearts to rewrite the playbook.” When pressed by local television reporters to define the group’s mission, Granger replied, “Our sponsorship tiers are designed to maximize yardage and minimize regulatory interference.”

According to the charity’s IRS filings, ‘Touchdowns for Traffickers’ earmarks every $250 donation for a “field goal package” that provides “mobility resources” and “entrepreneurial fuel” to “under-recognized international procurement specialists.” The organization’s literature does not mention specific activities, but promotional posters feature silhouettes sprinting across border crossings, clutching footballs labeled with dollar signs and a tagline reading, “Run fast. Score big. Give back.”

At a donor breakfast, supporters sampled “contraband croissants,” and a silent auction included autographed duffel bags and a complimentary “expedited visa consultation.” Dr. Meredith Plott, Professor of Philanthropy Studies at the University of North Texas, says, “We’re seeing a troubling semantic drift. It’s unclear if the charity is aware that ‘trafficker’ might have criminal connotations—or if that’s part of their brand strategy.”

Notably, the charity’s largest fundraiser, scheduled for next month, is billed as the “Smuggler’s Bowl,” a day-long flag football tournament in international waters, accessible only by invitation and a series of unmarked boats. Callahan, when asked about the event’s location and elaborate smuggling-themed halftime show, commented, “We’ve always believed in crossing boundaries, both literal and metaphorical. Sometimes that means dodging a few lines.”

Although national watchdog group GiveSmart flagged Touchdowns for Traffickers for “ambiguous objectives” and “possible facilitation of global supply irregularities,” Callahan remains upbeat. “Critics are going to criticize,” he said on a recent podcast. “But real change takes grit, vision, and the courage to support our most determined movers.”

At press time, the charity’s website explained that donations are “not tax deductible pending clarification from the Department of Homeland Security,” and offered a donor FAQ regarding the safe transportation of commemorative merchandise “across border zones.” The organization is currently seeking volunteers fluent in “creative logistics.”