KANNAPOLIS, NC — It was a special night for the Northwest Cabarrus High School community as the Trojans retired the jersey of a school legend.

NFL punter Bradley Pinion had his number 92 jersey commemorated in a ceremony between the Trojans’ home varsity basketball games against Robinson.

“It’s a huge honor,” Pinion said. “I’m pretty sure it’s the third jersey retired in Northwest history. It’s me and the Seager brothers (Kyle and Corey). It’s a really cool honor and something I don’t take lightly. I’ll hold it near and dear to my heart.”

The Northwest community came out in droves to see Pinion’s big moment.

“It’s crazy, I feel like nothing has changed,” Pinion said of his old stomping grounds. “It’s really cool to be back. To see some of my old teachers, coaches, and everything. So it’s just really fun.”

Currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Pinion won Super Bowl 55 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The class of 2012 high school graduate was a multi-sport athlete during his time as a Trojan. He played football, of course, but was also a standout goalie for the soccer team and a varsity basketball player.

“It helps with discipline,” Pinion said of taking the multi-sport approach in high school. “Playing in multiple sports, you have to be disciplined in what you do. And just honestly it keeps you in shape. Playing multiple sports, multiple positions, it’s something that you have to stay in shape for.”

“It taught me to have fun doing it and really kept me from specializing too early, to be honest. My parents did a really good job pushing me to play all of the sports I wanted to play.”

Pinion went on to attend and play football at Clemson University.

He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

A two-time nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Pinion has lifted the less fortunate by working with child development and survival organization Compassion International and his “Punts for Purpose” initiative, which leads to donations of $1,000 for every punt he lands inside the 20-yard line.

Over his NFL career, Pinion has punted 686 times for an average of 44.5 yards per punt. He has landed 237 punts inside the 20-yard line and averages 39.8 net yards per punt.

The athlete is also a kickoff specialist in the NFL. He has a career touchback percentage of 78.6% on 761 attempts.

Despite all of his acomplishments, the most important things to him are his relationships with his family.

“My family’s got to be one of the things I’m most proud of,” Pinion reflected. “Just being able to live out my dream of playing in the NFL but also becoming a father, a husband, you can’t beat that. All of the football stuff will eventually fade and go away. But having a family, having the ones around you who you love is what really matters the most.”

Bradley is married to Kaeleigh, who plays a big role in the charitable efforts. They have a daughter, Lilleigh Grace Pinion.