Dwayne Johnson Gives Powerful Pre-Game Speech to Apalachee High Football Team After School Shooting: 'It's Beyond the Game'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dwayne Johnson, Apalachee High School football team.Photo:Dwyane Johnson/Instagram

Dwyane Johnson/Instagram

Dwayne Johnsonis continuing to support and uplift students and families at a Georgia high school in the midst of tragedy.Earlier this month, the 52-year-oldBlack Adamstar visited Apalachee High School in Winder, where he gave an inspiring pre-game speech to members of the school’s football team before meeting with survivors of a Sept. 4mass shootingat the educational institution that left four people dead.The Oct. 4 game marked the team’s first home game since the tragedy, perFOX 5 Atlanta.In a clip from his pre-game locker-room speech, which was shared on Instagram on Saturday, Oct. 12, Johnsaid said, “You guys know there’s a big crowd out there waiting for you.““It’s emotional. I heard coach talk about it, that other team’s talking about how emotional it’s going to be. But as coach said, it doesn’t matter, because we’re here to do one thing. What’s that? Play ball, right?” he continued in his speech, which was captured ahead of the team’s25-6 lossagainst Jackson County.“It’s what we love. But here’s the other thing. It’s beyond the game. You’ve already won the game. You already won. You’re undefeated. I told coach that first time we met. That’s the beauty of this moment right now. And that’s the higher calling. I love you guys. Get out there and do what you do. Wildcat football,” added Johnson.In the caption of Johnson’s clip, the WWE great wrote that it was an “honor” to speak with the team “after these incredibly brave kids endured a tragic mass shooting.““These players & coaches all play now with a higher purpose and greater intention,” he continued. “Win or lose, they’re all undefeated in the game of life. It was my honor to be in this room. It’s beyond the game.“Johnson then shared afollow-up post, which featured images of himself shaking hands and hugging members of the school community and speaking one-on-one with survivors and the families of victims, as well as delivering his remarks in the football team’s locker room.Dwayne Johnson attends a ‘Black Adam’ photocall in Madrid on Oct. 19, 2022.Pablo Cuadra/WireImageStudents Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed in the shooting last month, as were teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, per the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.Apalachee studentColt Gray, 14, has been charged with four counts of felony murder. His fatherColin Gray, 54, has also been charged, which authorities confirmed stemmed from “knowingly allowing his son Colt to possess a weapon.”“Inspiring (and emotional) to spend time with the kids of Apalachee High who were shot and survived — they were all in very good spirits which made my heart sing,” Johnson also wrote in his Instagram caption. “They all shared their incredible stories and were even proud to show me their new bullet wound scars they’ll carry for life. These kids are heroes.““I also spent time with families of the kids, who passed away from the shooting — which made my heartache deeply for them,” he added. “But they all feel they need to stay strong in the spirit and mana of their loved ones who have passed.“As Johnson put it, everyone he “shook hands with and hugged” was the “living, breathing example of strength, resilience” and “love.““Stay strong and thank you for sharing your time with me,” he concluded.TheJumanjistar previously offered a hand to the students of Apalachee last month, when he invited the football team to visit him while he wasfilming a movie in Atlanta.He shared at the time that he was in contact with head football coach, Mike Hancock, and would be in attendance at the first home game back after already meeting students.

Dwayne Johnsonis continuing to support and uplift students and families at a Georgia high school in the midst of tragedy.

Earlier this month, the 52-year-oldBlack Adamstar visited Apalachee High School in Winder, where he gave an inspiring pre-game speech to members of the school’s football team before meeting with survivors of a Sept. 4mass shootingat the educational institution that left four people dead.

The Oct. 4 game marked the team’s first home game since the tragedy, perFOX 5 Atlanta.

In a clip from his pre-game locker-room speech, which was shared on Instagram on Saturday, Oct. 12, Johnsaid said, “You guys know there’s a big crowd out there waiting for you.”

“It’s emotional. I heard coach talk about it, that other team’s talking about how emotional it’s going to be. But as coach said, it doesn’t matter, because we’re here to do one thing. What’s that? Play ball, right?” he continued in his speech, which was captured ahead of the team’s25-6 lossagainst Jackson County.

“It’s what we love. But here’s the other thing. It’s beyond the game. You’ve already won the game. You already won. You’re undefeated. I told coach that first time we met. That’s the beauty of this moment right now. And that’s the higher calling. I love you guys. Get out there and do what you do. Wildcat football,” added Johnson.

In the caption of Johnson’s clip, the WWE great wrote that it was an “honor” to speak with the team “after these incredibly brave kids endured a tragic mass shooting.”

“These players & coaches all play now with a higher purpose and greater intention,” he continued. “Win or lose, they’re all undefeated in the game of life. It was my honor to be in this room. It’s beyond the game.”

Johnson then shared afollow-up post, which featured images of himself shaking hands and hugging members of the school community and speaking one-on-one with survivors and the families of victims, as well as delivering his remarks in the football team’s locker room.

Dwayne Johnson attends a ‘Black Adam’ photocall in Madrid on Oct. 19, 2022.Pablo Cuadra/WireImage

Pablo Cuadra/WireImage

Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed in the shooting last month, as were teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, per the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Apalachee studentColt Gray, 14, has been charged with four counts of felony murder. His fatherColin Gray, 54, has also been charged, which authorities confirmed stemmed from “knowingly allowing his son Colt to possess a weapon.”

“Inspiring (and emotional) to spend time with the kids of Apalachee High who were shot and survived — they were all in very good spirits which made my heart sing,” Johnson also wrote in his Instagram caption. “They all shared their incredible stories and were even proud to show me their new bullet wound scars they’ll carry for life. These kids are heroes.”

“I also spent time with families of the kids, who passed away from the shooting — which made my heartache deeply for them,” he added. “But they all feel they need to stay strong in the spirit and mana of their loved ones who have passed.”

As Johnson put it, everyone he “shook hands with and hugged” was the “living, breathing example of strength, resilience” and “love.”

“Stay strong and thank you for sharing your time with me,” he concluded.

TheJumanjistar previously offered a hand to the students of Apalachee last month, when he invited the football team to visit him while he wasfilming a movie in Atlanta.

He shared at the time that he was in contact with head football coach, Mike Hancock, and would be in attendance at the first home game back after already meeting students.

source: people.com