Browns' KC Concepcion opens up about stutter in letter to NFL GMs

KC Concepcion isn't worried about the pressures of the game. He's been living with anxiety his entire life.In a letter to NFL general managers, the Texas A&M wide receiver and 24th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft made a point to put the elephant in the room back under the carpet.AdvertisementConcepcion has a stutter. And he made it clear he will not let that define him.Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion is selected by the Cleveland Browns as the No. 24 overall pick during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."By now you’ve probably heard that I stutter," he said in his letter. "Everyone has. And look, I get it. It’s a good story. I’m not mad at it. And I appreciate the love. But every time I’ve sat down for an interview that’s where we start, and that’s where we end. The stutter. The stutter. The stutter. My stutter is part of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am. So, I figured … since I’ve got the pen this time, let me tell you the more complete story."Here’s who I also am: I’m the best receiver in this draft. Period. I run crisp routes. I catch everything thrown anywhere near me. I work my tail off every practice, every drill. I get in and out of my breaks fast. And I will outwork ANYBODY you put in front of me."Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion taunts the UTSA Roadrunners bench after an altercation Aug. 30, 2025, in College Station, Texas.KC Concepcion was forced to grow up fastThe newest Cleveland Brown mentioned his father being in and out of prison in the letter and talked about having to pick up responsibilities that no one should at his age.AdvertisementLike his stutter, he didn't let him define him.In fact, he embraced it all."I wouldn’t change any of it, though," Concepcion said. "Because all of that has built character and compassion and fearlessness within me. It’s made me into someone I’m genuinely proud to be. Someone who doesn’t quit. Ever."His dad put a football in his hands in Charlotte when he was in elementary school, and it never left.As you can imagine, it beat him down, but again he didn't let it define him."My mom, she would do her best to comfort me," he said. "She’d tell me to keep my chin up, and she would always remind me that, no matter what anyone tried to say … there was nothing at all wrong with me. She’d do everything she could to boost my confidence. And tell me that tomorrow was another day."Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) runs after a catch against the Auburn Tigers on Sept. 27, 2025, in College Station, Texas.KC Concepcion finds solace in Saturday, Sunday and footballWeekends became Concepcion's nirvana.Advertisement"Weekends meant I got to wake up early and go into my stealth mode," he said. "I’d tiptoe down the steps before my mom and my little brothers got up. Then I’d open up the pantry all quiet and pull stuff out and be grabbing different things from the fridge. It’d be like: pancake mix — check, bacon — check, eggs — check, those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that come in that weird cardboard canister that pops when you open it — check."I’d do the pancake mix first, get that all ready. (It’s pretty easy to mess up pancake mix, btw. Especially when you’re like 8 or whatever.) Then I’d put the bacon in the toaster oven. When the bacon was ready, I’d swap in the cinnamon rolls and make the pancakes on the skillet. I’d have another skillet going with scrambled eggs. Then, when I had everything ready, I’d plate it all and trudge back upstairs and yell out to my family…. 'Goooooood morning, everybody!!!!!!!!! It’s that time again!!!!!! Breakfast in bed!!!!! Get it while it’s hot!!!!!!!!'"Football became his sanctuary."When I put on those cleats and that helmet, none of the other stuff followed me out there," he wrote. "Not the overdue bills, not my dad being away, none of it. Out there it was just — what can you do? And what I could do was run.Advertisement"I’d basically run wild on whatever team we’d be playing. But since I was the quarterback, I had to be giving the plays to our offense in the huddle. And I remember at one point, when I was really little, I noticed that I’d sometimes have trouble getting the words out, or the numbers. My teammates would be looking at me like…. “Hurry up! Hurry!! Just say it!!!”KC Concepcion's summer of bliss and fall of frustrationThere was a summer when his stutter went away.Unfortunately, as soon as school started it came back, and it's been there ever since."I’d love to tell you I had a bunch of teachers looking out for me, or other grownups at school who would help me deal with all the teasing, but that wasn’t really the case," he said. "There also wasn’t anyone I knew or could look up to who was dealing with anything similar. So I basically just kind of figured things out on my own. And back then, how I would deal with my situation is, a lot of times … I’d basically just not talk. Especially around people I didn’t know. And when I did have to speak up, I learned how to clap back. I had those comebacks ready, man!"AdvertisementOn the field no one cared, so that's where Concepcion concentrated his efforts.When he saw the high-fives in the crowd and the smile on mom's face, it made him even more determined.It's also why he has no worries about excelling in Cleveland and becoming the wide receiver the Browns envision.Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion is selected by the Cleveland Browns as the No. 24 overall pick during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The role model KC Concepcion intends to beConcepcion has been fighting his whole life, so let the doubters doubt."I know that this letter is supposed to be meant for GMs, but I also know who else might be reading it," he said. "So, to any kid out there who is carrying something heavy right now — a stutter, something that makes you feel different, anything that’s ever made someone look at you sideways … just know this: My success … it is your success, too. I want you to come along on this journey with me. Because you and me? We’re not weird. There is nothing wrong with us. Whatever makes you different — that’s not the thing holding you back. That’s your thing. Own it. Be you, fully. Without apology.Advertisement"I had to grow up fast and fight hard to get here, for sure. And I’d do it all again. You can do the same thing and reach whatever goals you set for yourself. I’m living proof of that. Before I get out of here, I do want to say, once again, for all to hear, that I’m the best receiver in this draft. But, at the end of the day, I’m so much more than just a football player. And any team that picks me is going to realize that immediately. So if you’re a GM out there reading this, put me on your team, and let’s get to work."You’re not going to regret calling my name. Never. And I mean never."Did I stutter?"Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.AdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns pick KC Concepcion wrote letter to GMs about his stutter, past