Alec Ingold revealed that he was adopted, which was why he’s partnering with AdoptUSKids to raise awareness about the urgent need for more foster and adoptive families for children and youth.
Alec Ingold, a Bay Port native, returned to his hometown with the Miami Dolphins to play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving.
Highlights
- Around six, Alec Ingold began to wonder about his origins and asked his parents if he had done something wrong.
- As a biracial child with both Black and White heritage, he looked different from his parents, Chris and Pat, and his sister, Sydnie, who were of European descent.
- While he didn’t know his biological father, he kept in contact with his biological mother.
Alec Ingold was named the state player of the year at Bay Port High School, where he played as a dual-threat quarterback.
After high school, he initially committed to Northern Illinois but eventually played at the University of Wisconsin, where he switched to fullback at the start of his sophomore season.
Ingold was the only fullback invited to the 2019 Senior Bowl. In the NFL, Ingold went undrafted in 2019 but signed with the Oakland Raiders as a rookie free agent.
Over his career, Ingold has started 38 games, scored two rushing touchdowns, and caught four touchdown passes. In the first half of a game against the Packers, he had two receptions for 15 yards.
Alec Ingold’s Journey Of Acceptance And Love in His Adoptive Family
When Pat Ingold and Christine Ingold could not have children, they adopted Alec at birth. For them, the chance to become parents was memorable.
Around six, Alec Ingold began to wonder about his origins and asked his parents if he had done something wrong.
As a biracial child with both Black and White heritage, he looked different from his parents, Chris and Pat, and his sister, Sydnie, who were of European descent.
He was scared of being rejected and abandoned, believing that adoption meant someone didn’t want him.
Over time, Alec became more closed off and hesitant to express his emotions.
His parents, especially his dad, Pat Ingold, wished they had found a way to communicate better with him then.
They wanted Alec to know that they loved him unconditionally and that his adoption was an act of love, not rejection.
With the haste of time, he was comfortable with his adoption and never struggled with his identity.
For him, his parents were simply mom and dad, and that’s what mattered most.
While he recognized that he looked different from the rest of his family, it never caused him any issues. It was just something he was aware of.
Alec Ingold Stays Close To His Adoptive Family And Partners With AdoptUSKids
Alec Ingold had remained close to his adoptive family, staying in touch with his parents and sister through text messages, phone calls, and FaceTime several times a week after moving to Las Vegas.
While he didn’t know his biological father, he kept in contact with his biological mother.
The Ingold family was very close-knit, and their strong bond of love and support played a huge role in his decision to partner with AdoptUSKids on July 14.
I’ve been blessed with the decisions people made to step out of their comfort zone and make that adoption decision from my biological parents to my (adoptive) parents. There’s so much in this world that we can offer one another. Any difficulties or adversity that I’ve been through, I’m going to try and share it with others so that they can get through their own adversities. If it’s relatable, great. If they can take one thing away from whenever I’m speaking, awesome. But at the end of the day, it’s just opening my heart up and letting people do what they need with it.
Alec Ingold
“Hopefully, we can all be better because of it.”
Ingold understood firsthand that many kids were going through similar experiences, whether they had been adopted at a young age or more recently.
He knew how challenging it could be to come to terms with those feelings of self-realization, and he wanted to help raise awareness for other children who might face similar struggles.
Additional Information
- Ingold graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2019 with a degree in personal finance.
- He married his wife, Alexa, on June 24, 2023.
- He played three seasons with the Raiders before joining the Miami Dolphins as a free agent in 2022.
