In the heart of war-ravaged Liberia, a story of hope, resilience, and the American dream was about to unfold. Picture this: a humble cinder block house, standing unchanged for over two decades, becoming the backdrop for a moment that would bridge two vastly different worlds. As Gus Edwards, the Baltimore Ravens’ star running back, dialed his father’s number to share life-changing news, he couldn’t have scripted a more poetic scene.

Born in 1995, during one of Africa’s civil wars, little baby Gus didn’t know that his family’s desperate flight from their homeland would set the stage for an extraordinary journey. While his father Sackie recently stood among old neighbors who still remembered their family name, Gus was making headlines in a country that had given them a second chance at life.

Who is Gus Edwards’ father?

“I’ll come for you, Gus. I promise I won’t forget you.” This is what Edwards heard when Edwards Sr. let his home country and family behind, all in the name of survival. Sackie Edwards, his wife, and their three kids lived in a tiny one-room apartment when Gus was born.

They stayed there until the surrounding danger escalated. After Edwards’ birth, the violence in their country surged, and Sackie realized he had to move to keep his family safe. He moved a few miles from Monrovia to stay with his mother. However, the new place was small, and since Sackie needed to find work in the city, it wasn’t a long-term solution. So, Sackie sought refuge at the U.S. Embassy’s Greystone property.

Edwards Sr. knew the risks of moving through the city. In 1994, just a year before Gus was born, he joined the front lines of the rebel army to search for his family. Unfortunately, he got captured and thrown in jail. But his old classmate saves him. During seven months at the Greystone compound, Sackie was apart from his family.

The presence of beggars and erupting violence made him realize the location’s dangers, prompting his decision to leave Liberia. His older sister Sara Togba, a Liberian shopkeeper with multiple US visits, had maintained contact with an American woman since 1988. Following Sara’s arrival in America, their mother urged her to remain and care for her child, leading to her permanent relocation with family.

Through Sara’s help, Sackie connected with LIRS, a prominent Christian organization assisting US immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Upon reaching Staten Island, he secured employment at White Castle.

Financial pressures forced him to abandon his self-funded community college education to support his family in Liberia through remittances. And while Sackie was busy making money, his wife was no less than a superhero as she stepped up in her husband’s absence!

Who is the Ravens’ RB’s mother?

A few years after Liberia’s first civil war started, Sackie met his wife, Mamie. They both went out to grab dinner on Newport Street in Monrovia, near the city’s central park—a cemetery. Soon after, they welcomed their first child, a son. Mamie then gave birth to two more children, a daughter named Johnetta and a son, Gus, making them a family of five. And Mamie took charge of the household in Sackie’s absence, even though managing so many hungry mouths was no easy task.

Finally, when Gus was 6 years old, the whole family moved to America. One day, while Edwards and his friend Barnes were playing football, Barnes invited Gus to join the football team he had coached.

Even though Edwards was more into basketball, he jumped at the chance to play football. Mamie was worried about Gus getting hurt, so she hesitated about him playing. But Edwards believed he could excel at it, even if he wasn’t very experienced. Well, he did end up joining the Staten Island Hurricanes, Barnes’ pee-wee team. Since its inception in 2002, the team has snagged seven national youth football championships.

Due to his childhood experiences, Edwards understands what it feels like to be without a home and far from his roots. He recently bought a new house for Sackie and Mamie, or as he calls it, ‘home,’ because home is where his family is, especially after his contract extension with the Ravens.

This family story isn’t just another NFL success story. It’s a testament to the human spirit, a reminder that sometimes life’s most challenging beginnings can lead to the most remarkable destinations.