Chad Greenway, a former linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, has always emphasized the importance of family and community. His marriage to Jenni Capista Greenway, a former track and field athlete at Iowa, exemplifies these values. Together, they have built a life centered around their four daughters and a shared commitment to giving back.
Chad Greenway with his family. Source: globegazette.com
The Foundation of Family
Fighting off his emotions during his retirement speech, Chad Greenway thanked his mom, Julie, and his late father, Alan, for what they meant to his career and his marriage to Jenni. He also thanked them for his fatherhood to his young daughters Maddyn, Beckett, Blakely, and Carsyn. Chad Greenway said his "No. 1 job" is as father and coach to his four daughters.
Greenway's upbringing on a South Dakota farm instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for family. These values extend into his role as a father and husband. He often speaks of the importance of being present for his children and supporting their endeavors. For Greenway, his time at Iowa was incredibly successfultwo All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors and two co-Big Ten Conference titles. He's proud to help other Hawkeyes find success.
Together, Chad and Jenni created a home filled with color and warmth, reflecting their vibrant personalities and love for family. Jenni wanted to stay away from anything too fancy or formal, and the couple stayed true to their farmhouse aesthetic, adding sliding barn and Dutch doors in a few spaces and using chicken coop wire in the pass-through serving area between the kitchen and dining room. The house has a great inside-to-outside flow for plenty of fun when this family is off the clock.
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A Commitment to Community
In 2008, Chad and Jenni Greenway started Chad Greenway's Lead the Way Foundation. This foundation provides daily support and life-changing experiences to seriously ill and physically-challenged children throughout the Midwest. In 2018, through the foundation’s Chad’s Locker program, the Greenways donated a mobile entertainment cabinet packed with iPads, laptops, movies and video games intended to lift the spirits of patients and their families at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
It's also been important for Greenway and his wife, Jennifer Capista Greenway (05BBA), a former UI women's track star, to give back. The Greenways have also given back to Hawkeye athletics through the Greenway Family Athletics Excellence Fund, which provides yearly support to a Hawkeye athletic program or initiative of their choosing.
Greenway, who received the Big Ten Conference Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award in 2017, believes it’s important to serve others and give back. Chad Greenway used his Lead the Way Foundation to win Vikings Community Man of the Year four times. Only Matt Birk, with seven, won that honor more times.
Chad Greenway said he'll stay in the Twin Cities and gave a shout out to Vikings Director of Community Relations Brad Madson, saying, "I hope you know you're not done working with me and our foundation for the next 15 to 20 years."
Minnesota Vikings and Chad Greenway's Foundation Surprise Lymphoma Survivor With Super Bowl Tickets
Life After Football
When Chad Greenway (05BA) announced his retirement from the NFL in 2017, he wasn't sure what was next. He had just finished a successful 11-year career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he earned two Pro Bowl selections and helped the Vikings to three NFC North titles. When former Hawkeye great Chad Greenway retired from the NFL in 2017, his focus was on being a parent.
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Chad Greenway: From the Football Field to the Vodka Industry. Source: grayduckvodka.com
But when former Hawkeye football teammate Sean Considine (04BBA) connected Greenway with a group of investors in the Twin Cities who were starting a vodka company, it proved to be too good to pass up. That's why Greenway decided to join the ownership group of Gray Duck in 2018, where he handles marketing, public relations, and community events. He's proud to be the public face of a company that keeps everything local.
Through it all, Greenway has used his experienceswhether it be on the farm in South Dakota, at the University of Iowa, or with the Minnesota Vikingsto learn and grow. "What I lean most into from my life is forming relationships and relationship building," says Greenway.
Lessons in Life
Today, Greenway shares the lessons he has learned throughout his journey with his presentation, “Hunt Greatness,” which inspires audiences to pursue excellence by staying true to time-honored values.
Here are some of the lessons Greenway shares:
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- Watch and learn: Growing up on his family’s farm taught Greenway the value of hard work and resourcefulness.
- Character counts: Integrity, responsibility, self-discipline, and teamwork impact your professional and personal life.
- Accentuate attitude and enthusiasm: Embrace a positive attitude, and project enthusiasm-two things that draw people to you.
- Develop grit: Talent is not enough to succeed. Persistence, determination, resilience, and a willingness to do what it takes are essential.
- Accept accountability: Raise your hand when it’s your fault. Say, ‘it’s on me,’ and move on.
- Realize how much relationships matter: “Show me the five people you hang around the most, and I’ll show you who you are,” Greenway said.
- Remember that iron sharpens iron: Little details mattered more than ever. All that hard work paid off.
- Lead the way: It’s important to serve others and give back.
- Never forget where you came from: Without those seven guys, I never could have lived out my dreams.
- Keep things in perspective: It’s important to find your why-the motivation behind what you do and how you do it.
Chad Greenway’s journey from a small farm in South Dakota to the NFL and beyond is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and strong family values. His partnership with Jenni Capista Greenway has been instrumental in his success, both on and off the field. Together, they continue to make a positive impact on their community and inspire others to pursue greatness.
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