“I try to be everything that my parents instilled in me,” says Wimbley. “I definitely try to be a man of my word. I think I’m a hard worker, and that’s very admirable. My peers look up to me, as a leader, especially with the field that I’m in, as far being an athlete. I know that makes me a role model to kids.”
Wimbley hails from Wichita, Kansas, and this Midwest transplant has taken the sports community by storm. He started his successful career at Florida State University, where he was considered to be one of the top defensive ends in the nation, and was awarded All-ACC and All-American honors by Pro Football Weekly in his senior season.
“We like to go and explore wherever we’re at — especially with the kids,” says Wimbley who is married with two daughters, ages 4 and 8 months. “We try to get them out to different parks and places and we go on a lot of play dates. I really enjoy going to my daughter’s sporting events.”
Wimbley has worked tirelessly in an effort to give back to the community, and is excited to develop his own foundation in 2012. This year, he hosted his first annual “Shop with a Jock” event in Oakland, California, where he brought out 50 children in need to a local WalMart, and took them on a shopping spree.
Wimbley is entrepreneurial at heart. “I love studying how businesses operate and how to make them better,” he says. “I actually opened a barbershop in my hometown, and the second one is about to open here shortly. I really enjoy going out and reaching out to the community, and I want to provide more jobs to the community I come from as well as provide good service.”
“I look up to all of my coaches, starting from little league all the way up through the NFL,” says Wimbley when asked about his influences. “My father was really influential to me growing up. He also coached our baseball team. He got a lot of the kids in the community to come together and taught us teamwork.”
Wimbley also works as an advocate for dogs, donating money to ensure safe breeding in Florida and California. "I’m really passionate about dogs,” says Wimbley. “I personally own an American Bully and I also run a kennel. I’ve been really into them since I was a little kid.” Wimbley owns Gold Label Kennel in Florida, where they have 20-30 American Bullies that are safely and responsibly looked after and bred.
“My job is very demanding, but when I come home, my daughter still has to play, so rest is out the window,” says Wimbley. “Her excitement rubs off on me. It gives me the energy I need to be involved and active with my kids. I think daughters should have a great relationship with their fathers. It really plays a role in how they’ll interact with men.”