NFL star Charles Leno Jr. gave $450,000 to his California high school; his donation helped fund a nearly $1 million athletic renovation
Former NFL offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. has returned to the California high school that helped launch his football career, donating $450,000 toward a new professional-grade turf field at San Leandro High School . The donation formed part of a nearly $1 million renovation of the school's athletic facility at Burrell Field . Leno, who grew up in Oakland and graduated from San Leandro High in 2009, was honoured at the school's homecoming game in October 2025, when he saw the completed field in person for the first time. The new turf is bright blue, a deliberate reference to both of Leno's alma maters, San Leandro High and Boise State University, whose football stadium is known for its blue playing surface. Leno spent a decade in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders before his playing career ended in 2023.
The blue turf connects San Leandro to Boise State
The colour of the new field was not chosen at random. Leno played college football at Boise State after graduating from San Leandro High, and the school is famous for its blue turf at Albertsons Stadium. Leno said he wanted his contribution to leave something lasting at his former high school and saw the field as a way to connect the 2 stages of his football career. When KTVU asked whether blue was simply his favourite colour, Leno joked that it should be, saying he was fully committed to the idea.
The connection was also part of the field's design. Contemporary reporting by the San Leandro Times noted that the new surface was intended to match the San Leandro Pirates' colours while drawing inspiration from Leno's time at Boise State. Leno's college career lasted from 2009 to 2013. He started 39 consecutive games at Boise State and was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He later received a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 before joining Washington in 2021.
His former coach helped put him on the football pathSan Leandro High football coach Brad Bowers, known as Coach Boom, remains involved with the school's athletes. Bowers told KTVU that Leno had been a basketball player before he recruited him to football. That decision became an important turning point in Leno's career. After playing at San Leandro High, he moved on to Boise State and eventually spent 10 seasons in the NFL.
Bowers has remained in contact with Leno, who has returned to the school to speak with current players and has participated in a youth football camp. He told KTVU that Leno's continued involvement has given current students an opportunity to hear directly from someone who came through the same programme. Leno has also described his connection to the school in personal terms. He recalled watching former San Leandro High player Jarrad Page speak to students when Leno was beginning to play football, saying the experience inspired him even though Page did not know it at the time. Leno said he now wants to provide a similar source of inspiration for younger players.
The renovation is meant for more than footballThe new surface is not limited to the school's football programme. KTVU reported that the upgraded facility will also serve sports including soccer and track and field. Students and coaches have also pointed to differences between the new surface and the previous field. Senior Nathaniel Brunson told KTVU that turf burns had been a problem on the old field, while Leno said the new surface felt more forgiving when making cuts and other movements.
The project was completed over the summer before Leno returned for the school's homecoming game. San Leandro High's school district said the donation helped bring new life to Burrell Field, while local reporting described the project as a major upgrade after more than a decade with the previous artificial turf. The renovation also gave the school an opportunity to honour one of its most prominent former athletes. During the homecoming ceremony, San Leandro High announced that Leno's No. 77 jersey would be retired.
Leno has built a record of community giving The Burrell Field donation is part of a broader record of charitable work by Leno and his wife through their organisation, Beyond the Entertainer. The NFL Players Association named Leno its Week 17 Community MVP in 2022 after his annual Leno Claus initiative . During 25 consecutive days of giving that December, Leno and his organisation supported families, schools, patients and charities, with the NFLPA reporting more than $95,000 in donations.
It was not his first Community MVP recognition. The NFLPA said Leno had also received the award in 2020 and 2021. He received it again in 2023 after another 25-day Leno Claus campaign, making him a 4-time NFLPA Community MVP. His return to San Leandro High extends that work to the community where his football career began. For the school, the result is a new blue playing surface that connects Leno's high school and college careers while giving current students a renovated athletic facility.
The blue turf connects San Leandro to Boise State
The colour of the new field was not chosen at random. Leno played college football at Boise State after graduating from San Leandro High, and the school is famous for its blue turf at Albertsons Stadium. Leno said he wanted his contribution to leave something lasting at his former high school and saw the field as a way to connect the 2 stages of his football career. When KTVU asked whether blue was simply his favourite colour, Leno joked that it should be, saying he was fully committed to the idea.
The connection was also part of the field's design. Contemporary reporting by the San Leandro Times noted that the new surface was intended to match the San Leandro Pirates' colours while drawing inspiration from Leno's time at Boise State. Leno's college career lasted from 2009 to 2013. He started 39 consecutive games at Boise State and was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He later received a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 before joining Washington in 2021.
His former coach helped put him on the football pathSan Leandro High football coach Brad Bowers, known as Coach Boom, remains involved with the school's athletes. Bowers told KTVU that Leno had been a basketball player before he recruited him to football. That decision became an important turning point in Leno's career. After playing at San Leandro High, he moved on to Boise State and eventually spent 10 seasons in the NFL.
Bowers has remained in contact with Leno, who has returned to the school to speak with current players and has participated in a youth football camp. He told KTVU that Leno's continued involvement has given current students an opportunity to hear directly from someone who came through the same programme. Leno has also described his connection to the school in personal terms. He recalled watching former San Leandro High player Jarrad Page speak to students when Leno was beginning to play football, saying the experience inspired him even though Page did not know it at the time. Leno said he now wants to provide a similar source of inspiration for younger players.
The renovation is meant for more than footballThe new surface is not limited to the school's football programme. KTVU reported that the upgraded facility will also serve sports including soccer and track and field. Students and coaches have also pointed to differences between the new surface and the previous field. Senior Nathaniel Brunson told KTVU that turf burns had been a problem on the old field, while Leno said the new surface felt more forgiving when making cuts and other movements.
The project was completed over the summer before Leno returned for the school's homecoming game. San Leandro High's school district said the donation helped bring new life to Burrell Field, while local reporting described the project as a major upgrade after more than a decade with the previous artificial turf. The renovation also gave the school an opportunity to honour one of its most prominent former athletes. During the homecoming ceremony, San Leandro High announced that Leno's No. 77 jersey would be retired.
Leno has built a record of community giving The Burrell Field donation is part of a broader record of charitable work by Leno and his wife through their organisation, Beyond the Entertainer. The NFL Players Association named Leno its Week 17 Community MVP in 2022 after his annual Leno Claus initiative . During 25 consecutive days of giving that December, Leno and his organisation supported families, schools, patients and charities, with the NFLPA reporting more than $95,000 in donations.
It was not his first Community MVP recognition. The NFLPA said Leno had also received the award in 2020 and 2021. He received it again in 2023 after another 25-day Leno Claus campaign, making him a 4-time NFLPA Community MVP. His return to San Leandro High extends that work to the community where his football career began. For the school, the result is a new blue playing surface that connects Leno's high school and college careers while giving current students a renovated athletic facility.
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