It was not easy for Aaron Kampman to watch his old team, the Green Bay Packers, go on to win the Super Bowl – without him. Back in 2002, the Packers drafted him in the fifth round and he went on to become a leader in sacks, a Pro Bowl player, a leader in the community and a fan favorite.

But the Packers changed to a 3-4 defense in 2009, which was a transition for him. And then a torn ACL in his left knee landed him on injured reserve midway through the season. Kampman signed with Jacksonville as a free agent in March of 2010, took out an ad in this newspaper to thank Packers fans and began a new chapter in Florida.

He was rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl even when he missed not being with them himself.

“Obviously there were some bittersweet moments,” said Kampman. “Those are all teammates that I worked really hard with and had a relationship with. I was really happy for the guys, particularly some of the older veteran guys that I had been there with, Donald Driver and Cliff (Chad Clifton), they’ve been at it for quite awhile and know how hard it is to achieve that.”

Kampman knows. Another knee injury – this time an ACL to his right knee ended his 2010 season in November, making the season away from Green Bay even more challenging.

“Again, just a freak deal,” said Kampman. “So I now have two new bionic knees. It was difficult. Obviously they’re major surgeries, major rehabs and recoveries, but I’m training like normal right now.”

Kampman said the last two years and injuries gave him a chance to grow stronger, mentally and physically.

“Hopefully I’m done,” he said. “I went through 16 years without and injury, and then back-to-back seasons. I’ve had my fill.”

Kampman likes the prospects of his Jacksonville team now. They missed the playoffs last year, but a young team gained experience, he said.

“I’m pretty excited about the Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert who obviously has a lot of tools but isn’t going to have to be rushed in to things,” said Kampman. “Much like Aaron Rodgers was eased in to things, I think that’s healthy for quarterbacks.”

One of the friendships he kept from Green Bay was with Jordy Nelson. The men and their families were set to travel to El Salvador with Compassion International, a Christian-based program that sponsors children abroad living in poverty.

But Nelson’s leg injury in the Super Bowl prevented him from going in February. So Kampman took a picture of the Green Bay wide receiver to give it to the 13-year-old boy sponsored by Nelson.

“His name was Rudy. And the crazy thing was, he had no idea what the Super Bowl was,” said Kampman. “There’s a picture of Emily and Jordy and the ticker tape stuff on the field – and he had no clue. All he wanted to know was, you know my sponsor?”

Kampman, 31, has long been interested in a life outside of football, back when he took seminary classes and started traveling the world.

He hopes to be an example to other NFL players and show them that their identities don’t have to be wrapped up entirely in football.

“It’s always a calibrating experience to travel to a third world environment, particularly when you are working with children,” said Kampman. “Many times, as athletes, we’re simply identified by what we do, rather than who we are.

“We want to be help guys have an identity outside of what they do, so when football is all over, they’re a part of something much bigger than themselves. It’s really a journey towards becoming outward centered. In a ‘me’ centered sports culture, that’s sorely needed.”

Lori Nickel wrote: