No matter how committed you are to saving the planet, when your livelihood depends on muscle mass, you can be forgiven a craving for meat. "I tried the vegetarian thing for, like, a day," Ovie Mughelli, the Atlanta Falcons' 245-pound starting fullback, says, chuckling. "It didn't work for me." Beef habit notwithstanding, Mughelli remains the NFL's greenest star, aiming his eco-efforts at underprivileged kids. He hosts a free football camp to draw them in, then conducts an environmental workshop to educate them about sustainable living.

Q: How do you get kids to care?

A: Inner-city kids aren't worried about the environment. They're more concerned with violence, drugs, or getting something to eat that night. They think going green is unattainable and expensive, so I tell them there are ways that actually save money, like using less water and turning off lights. I teach that they can start with practical lifestyle changes.

"I have a little girl. I would hate for her to get older and ask, 'Dad, why didn't you do anything about the rainforests, about the air?'" —Ovie Mughelli

Q: How did your upbringing inform your environmental efforts?

A: My parents are very, very strict. They came over [from Nigeria] with next to nothing, and they understood the value of education, the value of the dollar. I had no choice but to get good grades—it was more important than sports. And several people helped them get to where they are today, so they've always encouraged me to give back to humanity and to youth. They instilled in me the concept that you do what's best for your community, your world, your people, yourself. And doing what's positive for the environment is doing what's best for the world—that's a no-brainer.

Q: What do you do personally to live sustainably?

A: It's a daily process. I want to walk the walk. It's more than just going to the forest and picking up trash. It's about taking responsibility for everything around you, what you do, the lights you leave on. It's making conscious decisions every day to help and not to hurt.

Q: Are your green-living habits rubbing off on your teammates?

A: [Long laugh] No.