Team Edwards

The road to Sunday has not been an easy one.
Three NFL teams in 12 years in three different cities.
Three moves with an ever growing family to settle into new schools, new surroundings, new friends.
Out-of-town guests as often as every other weekend during football season who come to watch Columbus High School graduate Dwan Edwards play for the Carolina Panthers.
And the constant labor of love that all marriages and relationships require.
“But it has been worth every minute of it,” said Edwards’ wife Kelsey from the family’s home in Charlotte, N.C., earlier this week.
Edwards is a defense tackle for the Panthers who this Sunday, will play for the title of Super Bowl champion against the Denver Broncos. No one is more pleased for him than Kelsey and their children.
“Our children have been on this crazy roller coaster with us and they are so excited about this incredible opportunity, to watch their dad finally get to play in a Super Bowl,” said Kelsey. “This is a dream come true for Dwan and we are just so proud and so excited for him.”

High School Sweethearts
The high school sweethearts both grew up in Columbus and have been together for more than 15 years.
Their oldest daughter, Kaitlyn, will turn 16 next month. Kelsey’s parents are Phyllis and Wally Walter. Edwards’ Columbus family includes mom Cass Hense-Hegg, stepfather Dennis Hegg and sister Chelsea Wilks.
The couple proved to be a strong team early on, starting their family when Edwards was a freshman on a full-ride scholarship at Oregon State University.
For five years Edwards was a full-time student, athlete and father. He took summer classes to get ahead and finished school early in his senior year to train for the NFL combine, while still receiving his degree.
Kelsey credits the couple’s success to God, prayer and being positive.
“The biggest credit to our success in marriage has been keeping God at the center of everything,” said Kelsey. “And prayer, lots and lots of prayers, as well as surrounding ourselves with other positive, influential couples. Dwan calls our family ‘Team Edwards’ and I think we make a pretty good team.”
In addition to daughter Kaitlyn, the remainder of that team consists of 11-year-old DJ, 7-year-old Ava, 2-year-old Kai and 7-month-old Kingston.
The support the family has received from the Columbus community during the past few weeks has amazed the couple as well.
“It’s been so fun to see pictures of all the local businesses painting their windows and hanging up banners rooting for Dwan. He’s received so many messages from former teachers and classmates, and it means so much to our family,” said Kelsey. “Some of my favorite messages are the ones coming from those who are Broncos fans at heart, but are choosing to root for Dwan and his team this game. Those people know how incredibly hard he’s worked for this for so many and just how much this means to him.”