Many players have a message they want to send during the NFL's annual "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative, whether it's to raise awareness for a certain issue, like Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin did by supporting The Lupus Foundation of America, or to support their foundation, like wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

Sam Cosmi's message is simple this year: "You always have a buddy in me."

This year, when the Commanders square off against the Tennessee Titans for Week 14, fans will notice Cosmi sporting a unique pair of cleats designed to support Best Buddies, an organization dedicated to serving and supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDD). The cleats will feature two people with their arms around each other -- the Best Buddies logo donated to the organization by pop artist Keith Haring -- to symbolize that people in the IDD community will always have the help they need.

"I want to focus on them and their importance in our communities and our day-to-day lives," Cosmi said.

Best Buddies has been dedicated to serving the IDD community for more than five decades, giving people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome and other undiagnosed disabilities employment opportunities, leadership development, family support and more. Their vision, according to their website, is to "build a world where people with IDD are so successfully integrated into schools, workplaces and communities that its current efforts and services will be unnecessary."

Since 2003, Buddies has had participants in 50 states and on six continents. The organization has gained support from several influential figures over the years, including quarterback Tom Brady, Boston Celtics center Al Horford, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis and NFL insider Adam Schefter. Now, Cosmi has added his voice to the number of athletes as one of support for the IDD community.

"Best Buddies means you have a buddy in me, so no matter what, I want to be the avenue to...have friendship," Cosmi said.

To accomplish that, Best Buddies wants to increase their number of chapters up to 7,000; develop 3,800 jobs for people in the IDD community; and train 15,000 Buddy Ambassadors. Through these goals and more, Best Buddies hopes to impact "over 4 million people -- all working collaboratively to help individuals with special abilities form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills and feel valued by society."

Best Buddies' Virginia and D.C. chapter has provided several events for the IDD community this year, including trips to Washington Nationals and Washington Spirit games, bar trivia, rock climbing events and movie nights. They are also organizing a "Friendship Walk" in 2025 along with the other Best Buddies chapters for people who want to show support and raise awareness for the IDD community.

Best Buddies also has a one-on-one friendship program, which allows people to build relationships between people with and without intellectual and developmental diseases. The program spans from elementary school through college and even has an "e-Buddies" chapter, where people can attend virtual social events.

Anyone interested in joining Cosmi in his support for Best Buddies can go to their website for information on how to donate or join a chapter.