Seahawks’ Kevin Pierre-Louis draws on tough experiences to help others

Kevin Pierre-Louis has a big opportunity in Sunday’s Seahawks game against the Falcons, stepping in at strong-side linebacker for the injured Mike Morgan. And in a rare instance, he’ll do so in front of his mother.

While that may not sound out of the ordinary, it is in Pierre-Louis’ case. In 1996, when he was just 4, his mother shot his father in the back in a park in Connecticut. His father survived, and Pierre-Louis lived with him for the majority of his upbringing while his mom was in prison.

An experience like that will certainly have an impact on a person, and Pierre-Louis has been opening up publicly about the depression he’s since dealt with, first in a Seattle Times story by Jayson Jenks earlier this month then on Wednesday with 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Danny, Dave and Moore.”

Now 25, Pierre-Louis said he wouldn’t change the things he’s been through because they’ve factored into the man he has become, and his experiences also help him reach out to others who are going through similar trials and tribulations.

“It’s allowed me to learn from situations, and most importantly for me, I have a passion with connecting with people, (and) if someone’s going through something I always want to talk and find out what’s going on,” he said. “It allows me to share a piece of myself so (I) can create a better connection with the person. If they’re going through something then, ‘Hey, this is what I had to deal with. This is what helped me.’ I’m not telling you exactly what to do but hopefully I can help you, as well. I’m really proud of those things I got a chance to learn from.”

He’s moving on from those experiences, too, not dwelling on them. That’s why he will welcome his mother to Sunday’s game.

“I’m not sure, honestly,” he said when asked what he expects it to be like playing in front of his mom. “One of the big things, as I’m getting older now, I’m just trying to leave the past in the past, and one day I’m gonna have kids and regardless of whatever happened in the past, she’s gonna be the grandmother to those kids. I harp on family and communication so it’s my way of leading by example with something like that. I’m excited for her to see this aspect of my life because she’s never gotten to see that as well as meeting some people who are very close in my life.”

For more of Pierre-Louis’ story, you can listen to a podcast of his entire interview with “Danny, Dave and Moore” here.

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