Carolina Panthers

Game On: Greg Olsen Plays 'Madden 17' for Charity

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen reaches semi-finals of the Microsoft Xbox NFL Player Charity Challenge…

Traveling to the west coast for two games against the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks won’t keep Greg Olsen from his charitable obligations. Entered into the Microsoft Xbox NFL Player Charity Challenge, Olsen is competing against seven other NFL superstars for the title of Madden NFL 17 Champion.

Playing for his charity, Receptions for Research, Olsen advanced to a semi-final matchup with Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The winner of the tournament is to be awarded $51,000 in honor of Super Bowl LI along with a Surface Pro 4 and Xbox One S device awarded to the charity of their choice.

Before advancing to the semi-finals, Olsen defeated Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller back on November 8th. “I told him, I said, ‘I’m tired of losing to you.’ So I’m glad I was able to get him a few weeks ago,” Olsen admitted. Obviously, Miller has been tormenting the Panthers since the Super Bowl and finally Carolina returned the favor. Even if in the form of a virtual field.

Up next is Donald, who defeated Dolphins’ quarterback Ryan Tannehill. “I think he’s pretty good, I got my work cut out for me,” Olsen admitted of the upcoming game. “Guardedly optimistic” was the approach before playing Donald for a spot in the championship opposite Seahawks’ wide receiver Doug Baldwin.

Nov 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) catches a pass prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Both Olsen and Baldwin will be facing off on Sunday for real as the Panthers visit Seattle for a Week 13 matchup set for Sunday night. “That would be great, I would love for that to work out and come through. I’m going to give it my best shot tonight to try and make that happen,” Olsen said of possibly meeting his championship opponent prior to their virtual game.

The Carolina’s tight end charity Receptions for Research currently has two programs. ‘The HEARTest Yard‘ and ‘Receiving Hope‘ as both address issues that hit home personally in the Olsen household. Both Greg’s mother, Sue, and son, Trent Jerry (T.J.), are inspirations for his foundation. T.J. was born with a very rare congenital heart condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS.

Olsen spoke confidently about the impact of his foundation’s work. “We’re trying to use our platform and resources to help the families lives of people born with congenital heart defects … We provide a wide array of health care needs and resources to come into the home of the baby and provide them with that level of care that’s needed. Completely free of charge to everybody and entirely privately funded from our family and our foundation.”

Well, it was a good run in the #XboxCharityChallenge. Thanks for hosting me, @MicrosoftStore! Hope you enjoy this video, @AaronDonald97… pic.twitter.com/4SGVENrrDU

— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) November 30, 2016

Unfortunately, Olsen lost to Donald on Tuesday and failed to reach the finals of the Microsoft Xbox NFL Player Celebrity Challenge tournament, but his foundation is a definite winner. For more information visit www.receptionsforresearch.org and make a contribution to this wonderful cause.