Steve Smith’s NFL reputation is that of an extremely competitive, somewhat arrogant wide receiver who loves to run his mouth. Away from the field, though, he’s proved he has a commendable soft side.
The Baltimore Ravens wideout made the night of an 18-year-old high school senior who has autism. According WBTV, Aubrey Bridges saw some of Smith’s dance moves and thought the 37-year-old veteran wideout would make a good prom date.
As part of WBTV anchor Molly Grantham’s “Molly’s Kids” segment and with the help of “Dream On 3,” Bridges eventually got her wish granted.
Smith was more than willing to return to North Carolina — where he played 13 years with the Carolina Panthers — to take Bridges to her prom.
“I thought it was a pretty simple answer, which was yes,” Smith said. “She wanted to go to prom with me, so I thought, like it’s supposed to be, is the guy asks the girl. So I sent the video and asked will she go to prom with me.”
The whole thing is terrific and can be seen in the video below.
“We see a new confidence we didn’t see before,” Aubrey’s mom, Linda, said, according to WBTV. “She has always been a really hard worker. She works from the time she comes home until bedtime on her studies because she’s very challenged with them. But tonight is the reward. Tonight is the validation. Tonight her story is being told because he is willing to share who he is with her. We couldn’t be more proud.”
H/t to For The Win
