Allen Lazard is serious about his brand!

When did you decide that this was something that you wanted to do long-term? 

Around the age of five is probably when I started playing organized football. My dad, a huge influence on me. He played at Iowa State and played football, there was a team captain back in 1994. And has always just shown an immense amount of love for the game. It changed his life, from his growing up into where he is and everything and it’s helped change my life as well. And probably around, I always knew that I wanted to play professional athletics. I always knew basketball, football,  baseball, whatever. It wasn’t until probably around freshman, or sophomore year of high school when I  realized that I was significantly better at football than the other sports and we were starting to get a lot more traction and get offers. And that’s kind of just when I started to realize that the NFL was something I  wanted to pursue. 

I know the black population of Iowa is not dense, was football kind of an outlet? Give us a  little insight on that and how that was? 

I was obviously in a very predominantly white community. I’m 50/50 So my mom’s white, my dad’s black grew up around white people my whole life, and black people as well. You know, my dad’s from  Louisiana. So I really got the full spectrum of, you know, the Midwest farmers, and then, you know,  down in the south, but you know, I think I think being a mixed kid grew up in Iowa, it, it truly has given me a lot of perspectives, I think a lot more perspective and a lot of kids that maybe they grew up in inner cities, or just grew up in one region, particularly. I was able to travel the country a lot playing  AAU basketball, playing football camps, getting exposed to different cultures, different people, different religions, and personalities. So for me, you know, I think growing up in Iowa has taught me a lot of gratitude and taught me how to be very humble, which taught me the farmer’s mentality of always looking out for your neighbors and those in your community. And something I’m truly grateful for. 

And now you moved on, obviously, from high school, then you went to Iowa State, what was what I always say, like, give us the insight on that. And then obviously, you had a great college career, and to put you in the NFL where you are now. I mean, talk about what I was thinking for you. 

I always do everything, like I said my dad had previously gone there. My brother was on the team that joined as well. So that was a big reason why I went there, just to be able to say that playing collegiate football with my brother was something I was super dope and proud of. But Iowa Ames, there’s not much to do there. You know, it’s a college town, a very small town, maybe a population of 60,000, and probably half of that student body. So a little bit of a different environment and everything. But, you know,  once I got to that I fell and was able to come to explore the cities and get around the world a little bit more. I realized that not too many places are like games.

What was that experience, like when you finally got into the league? 

Like you said, like, I’ll tell you to think about growing up in high school, college, you know, leading up to the draft and everything you think about just getting there. And then you know, once you finally get there, you realize that’s when the work starts because it’s not about just getting there, it’s about staying there. And so for me, when I first got to Green Bay, I was able to look around and reach out to a  lot of veterans, a lot of successful players, and just be able to pull small things from them, you know,  what their habits were? What type of foods they were eating, you know, how do they practice? What were they doing in the weight room and stuff like that?

You’re an NFL player, you’re a league guy, and a lot of people look up to you. But for you personally, what do you want your brand to be? 

Yeah, I just always try to leave, a positive impact, whether it would, whether it’s on the field or off the field, or meeting someone, or if I’m just holding the door open for someone today, to walk into Pita Pit to get some food, I’m, you know, always just putting good energy out there. And then, you know, just going from there, you know, I’m not, I’m not too big on accolades, and, you know, get into so many trophies or all pros or receiving titles, this or that, I think, you know, here and 50 or 60 years from now,  when I am far away from the game that I want my name to still be brought up consistently. And with that, you know, I hope there’s, there’s a good aura behind it as well. And that way, my children, my grandchildren, and anyone that’s associated with me, and my family, you know, have something that they can fall back on. That’s very positive, it can help them.

I’m a football player, but one day, I want to be an entrepreneur. And  I just want to be able to affect the world as much as I can so I can put myself in different facets and the different outlets that are going on to be able to expand my horizon as far as my resume and everything. It’s something I look forward to and hopefully do a few more photoshoots in the future as well.

Styling by Lady Maximo
Photography by Deondre Zink