At the beginning of the 2020 lockdown, plenty of public figures flooded social media with at-home workouts, recipes, and safety tips. But Los Angeles Chargers Running Back Austin Ekeler saw another opportunity – use streaming and gaming to create a community of fans and friends with two-way engagement. He launched his Twitch stream and quickly welcomed in a community during a time when in-person connection opportunities such as sporting events, meet and greets, and autograph signings were on pause. Twitch streaming helps him create authentic connections, while providing fans with a unique opportunity to hang out and talk with their favorite player. When Ekeler asked himself the question, “Why aren’t other pro-athletes doing this?”, Gridiron Gaming Group was born. In January 2021, Ekeler officially launched GGG where he helps other athletes set up and run their Twitch streams, while working collaboratively to build streaming infrastructure and creating opportunities for crossover, channel development and brand integration.