Inside photo albums, you’ll find yellow, fading photos and articles from one of the most spectacular high school football careers in Dearborn.

“Football is the greatest time of the year,” Brian Mosallam said.

In his four years at Fordson High School, Mosallam earned four letters, the first to do so in the history of the school’s program, which dates back to 1928. He also earned All-League and All-State honors, as well as scholarship offers from 50 Division 1 schools.

Mosallam ended up at Michigan State University, playing football for the Spartans all four years. Eventually, that’s where his football career came to an end.

But it paved the way for him to do something even more impressive with his life: Mentoring kids.

“They’re our future,” Mosallam said.

Mosallam came from a home devoted to giving back to the community. So, it only seemed natural to him to give back to the place it all started: Dearborn.

“When you’re raised in that environment, it becomes part of your life,” he said.

Since he graduated with his college degree in 1996, Mosallam stayed true to his athletic roots and co-founded the Dearborn Youth Football Association. He also serves as the chairman of the Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money for Dearborn Public Schools.

Spending time with kids from his hometown allows Mosallam to get away from the rigors of his job and see these kids be just as successful as he was on the field and in the classroom.

“To get the kids on the same page, buying into the same message, and believing your philosophy is extremely exciting,” Mosallam said. “Giving back to the community is the greatest accomplishment. And athletics has allowed me to do that.”

Thanks to his passion, diligence and dedication to seeing children succeed, the Dearborn Recreation Commission recently awarded Mosallam its Sports Legend Award, proving it takes more than a chin strap and shoulder pads to be a legend.*