LOS ANGELES — Started by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Joe Quezada, the Northeast Lincoln Rams youth football program has made a significant impact in Lincoln and Boyle Heights, combating gang violence and fostering educational opportunities for local teens.

Supported by the LAPD and later the Los Angeles Rams, the program serves as a model for community-based policing and youth engagement.

Quezada, recognized for his efforts, was honored as one of the Rams’ ‘Playmakers’ of 2023, underscoring the program’s success in transforming lives through sports.