Jeremy Ebobisse: Goalscorer and Trailblazer
Entering his 9th season in the MLS, San Jose Earthquakes forward and 2023 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award Honoree Jeremy Ebobisse (ee-BO-bis-see) has gone above and beyond to use his platform to make change. Ebobisse is the Co-Founder, Executive Board Member, and Vice President of the MLS’ Black Players for Change, and he finds many ways to serve his community.
Ebobisse is a constant scoring threat on the pitch, notching 70 combined goals and assists in his 167 appearances. The former 4th overall pick has even appeared on the US U20, U23 and senior National teams, won the MLS is Back tournament and started in an MLS Cup final.
But Ebobisse’s journey to success has been marked more by his commitment to leveraging his platform for community service. While playing college soccer at Duke University, he spent time with students in Durham Public Schools. After being drafted by the Portland Timbers in 2017, he became actively involved with the team’s community initiative work titled Stand Together.
Ebobisse started mentoring local middle and high school students and using his platform to strengthen the team’s relationship with local small businesses. When COVID hit, he attended a community vaccination site to ensure that all Portland-area residents had equal access to the vaccine.
In addition to serving the community, throughout his collegiate and professional career, Ebobisse has been vocal in advocating for racial equality.
He had always condemned racism in the US, but after a noose was found on Duke’s campus and he saw his classmates brush this act under the rug, Ebobisse strived to use his platform to not ‘Shut Up and Dribble.’
Instead, he became vocal about racial inequalities in American policing and the criminal justice system, using his platform to drive conversation and advocate for change.
In 2020, the horrific murder of George Floyd became the final tipping point for Ebobisse. He co-founded Black Players for Change (BPC), virtually establishing this new organization of over 100 Black MLS players. Similar to the U.S., the MLS had not been equitable for Black players and the too few Black coaches who had been hired. BPC’s goal as an organization was to improve these conditions and make soccer more accessible to Black youth in the US.
“We want to make soccer a sport for Black kids to feel comfortable in. Growing up, for me, there was a lot of talk all over that my place was as a basketball player or football player. I think that that’s due to the lack of engagement that our professional sports world has with the Black community. So we are looking to target investment in education and also specifically in developing the game whether that’s building courts, showing up consistently in these communities to show that … a lot of our teams … care about them.” – Jeremy Ebobisse in All ACC Interview with Dalen Cuff.
With Ebobisse at the forefront, BPC has made soccer more accessible by creating 28 mini-pitches (blacktop soccer courts) across US cities, starred in a national PSA for men of color to prioritize their mental health and Ebobisse himself initiated a GOTV program in 2020 for the election. He also joined the Players Coalition, an organization of professional athletes working together to promote social justice and racial equality at all levels of government.
With the Players Coalition, Ebobisse lobbied to repeal Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences, advocated for HR40 federal legislation, and collaborated with local nonprofits to oppose a ballot initiative restricting affordable housing options in Menlo Park, CA.
After getting traded to the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2021 MLS Season, Ebobisse still found ways to better his new California community. He became a mentor for Oakland Genesis, a nonprofit organization aiming to empower underserved Oakland youth through free soccer and educational programs. Ebobisse frequently works with local middle schoolers in the program both as an assistant coach and tutor.
His consistent efforts with Oakland Genesis landed him a nomination for the MLS’ 2023 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award. The nomination was accompanied by a feature in The Players’ Tribune where he opened up about dealing with traumatic racist experiences throughout his life and in soccer, his passion for Oakland Genesis, advocating for racial equality, and Black representation in soccer.
I realized it’s not about whether I should speak up as an athlete, it’s about the fact that I need to speak up as a human being. It’s just part of who I am, who I’ve been. And I am truly thankful to current and past athletes who have blazed that trail and shown the way.
Jeremy Ebobisse on why he stands up for what he believes in
Jeremy Ebobisses’ impact goes well beyond the confines of the pitch. He serves as a role model for athletes of all levels, demonstrating that sports can be a powerful platform for activism and social change. As he continues to excel in his career, we wish Ebobisse a great start to the 2024 MLS season.