We're all from somewhere. Our home, our heritage, it shapes us, for better or for worse, and no matter where life takes us, that tether holds; sometimes faint, sometimes like a siren, but always present.

The NFL invites players to celebrate that heritage with flags on the back of their helmets, representing countries where they were born, if other than America, or have ancestors tracing back two generations. They are a reminder that players come from all around the world, with threads of stories that circle the globe. And as the NFL continues to grow its brand in new countries, sharing the sport with the world, it's crucial to remember that with each new country ventured, the world is also sharing itself with us. It's vital we listen.

The Carolina Panthers boast 11 players who display their history with the Heritage Helmet stickers. These are their stories.

"I mean it means a lot, man," he says, memories and pride tinging every corner of his voice. "I was born and raised there, stayed there 13 years of my life, so I just experienced it all pretty much. Just from my upbringing and knowing what this flag represents, and it means a lot, you know."

Incoom's family hails from the West African nation, but came to the States when he was a teenager.

"Better life, better education," he says as to what led to the move from Ghana to Georgia. "My dad wanted the best for us."

It's a decision that seemingly played off, with a son now in his third year in the NFL.

But for the man who spent the two halves of his life in two different places, he's finding ways to marry his two selves. He has a tattoo on his right leg, an adinkra symbol for strength and courage. Adinkra symbols are from the Akan people of Ghana and represent vital aspects of life. It's a small outward symbol of what fuels Incoom.

"The culture, man, you know, the people, how close we are, the music, the food, the dances," he waxes poetic. "There's a lot you can say about it, you know."

And then come Tuesdays.

Tuesday's are off days in the NFL, giving players time to catch their breath and reset their minds. For Thomas Incoom, Tuesdays are a day to reconnect with himself. He ties it together on Sundays with a pre-game look that proudly displays his heritage.

"I try to cook Ghanaian dishes pretty much every day we have an off day," he says. "So, pretty much Tuesdays, trying to make it, and also trying to put on the fit like game day sometimes, just trying to keep it alive."

The most visible way Incoom combines the two parts of himself, though, the heritage and the present, is by honoring the flag. And whether it's in the upcoming 2028 Olympics, where Incoom could have a chance to represent Ghana in Flag Football on the world stage, or simply by proudly wearing it on a small scale on game days, the linebacker hopes those watching see the colors and know what it means.

"The resources we have, the natural resources, the minerals, the gold, the cocoa; basically, the resources we have in the culture. We're very good people, we're tight, family, very family oriented, and I want everybody to know about Ghana," Incoom passionately offers as to what it means to wear the flag on his helmet.

"Just showing the people around the world, we're capable of doing the same thing. Just showing the kids back home what it means and showing them the meaning of football so they can understand and know they can do it too."