Rams star Kobie Turner supports immigrant community via ‘My Cause My Cleats’ campaign

On Sunday night, before taking the field to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Rams’ locker room was filled with the palpable nervousness and anxiety common before kickoff of a National Football League game.

Various items of clothing hung in the locker room, and the music from the player echoed off the walls. Among helmets, bandages, and gloves sat Kobie Turner with a pair of pink cleats resting on a folded towel. The color wasn’t surprising during these two weeks of the “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign, which allows players to personalize their cleats. What stood out was the name engraved across the instep: CHIRLA, an organization that works with immigrants in Los Angeles.

The presence of these cleats offers a stark contrast to the league’s silence. The NFL has more than 1,500 players registered each week. Many have roots outside the country with surnames that don’t belong to the Anglo-Saxon heritage. The list includes surnames from Mexico, Brazil, Samoa, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, and Central America. Even with this diversity, no one else chose an organization that serves immigrant families amidst a surge in federal arrests.

Turner’s story is directly linked to immigration processes. His grandfather came from Jamaica. His wife’s parents migrated from Peru. The player’s family lived with documents stored in blue folders and appointments at government offices. That experience defines the types of organizations he engages with today. CHIRLA is part of that network. Its staff works in Los Angeles neighborhoods where ICE raids left empty homes, closed businesses, and legal processes requiring immediate assistance.

The “My Cause My Cleats” campaign has been running for several years, providing a platform for players to showcase their community commitments. Most choose causes focused on children’s health, educational programs, or initiatives run by their own foundations. Notably absent from this list are organizations dedicated to immigrant civil rights. Turner stands out as an exception in a league that rarely features this issue prominently.

“I really wanted to do something to give a voice to the immigrant community. And I know that CHIRLA does an excellent job providing opportunities and pathways to citizenship,” Turner said in comments reported by The Los Angeles Times.

The campaign will continue in Week 13, which is marked by Thanksgiving. Last Sunday Night Football, Turner invited several young people supported by CHIRLA to watch the Rams’ victory over the Buccaneers. CHIRLA is preparing informational materials for families closely following the raids and deportation processes. Her team believes that Turner’s visibility will help bridge the gap with communities that don’t usually seek legal support due to fear or lack of awareness.

“You look around and see ‘Go Rams.’ The communities we serve are immigrant communities. It’s important to be able to give them a voice and let them know they are being heard,” Turner said.

Turner is part of a rotation that sustains the team’s defensive rhythm. His pink cleats shone with his on-field actions, recording two sacks and six tackles. The player’s activities extend beyond the field. With A Place Called Home, he participates in the distribution of 400 turkeys and food baskets to families on the south side of town. He also rehearses with the program’s youth band for a performance during their main event of the week.

The presence of a single pair of cleats bearing the name of an immigrant organization encapsulates a reality that runs throughout the league. An entire community faces raids and legal proceedings while the NFL continues with its schedule.

“We hope that other players and other teams in Los Angeles, who have been silent during these times, will see Turner and the Rams as an example of what they could do for immigrant families,” said Luis Tadeo, CHIRLA’s director of marketing and public relations.

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