When snow blanketed the area near Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of Saturday’s NFL playoff match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts, the inclement weather caused major headaches for fans and players alike.
They were all trying to get to the game on time.
Fortunately, Jeff Allen, the Chief’s offensive lineman (shown above right), had more than a little assistance from a good Samaritan.
A man named Dave Cochran (above left) dug out Allen’s car, a new BMW, from the snow — not knowing the person he was assisting was a professional football player.
A grateful Allen tweeted about the incident after the game, expressing his deep appreciation to the Chiefs fan with kind words — and some free tickets to Sunday’s American Football Conference (AFC) championship match.
“My car got stuck in the snow before the game & a nice guy named Dave help pull me out without knowing I was a player. I want to give him tickets to the AFC championship game for helping but don’t have a way to contact him. He drove a ’97 or ’98 Black Suburban. Pls RT #ChiefsKingdom.”
My car got stuck in the snow before the game & a nice guy named Dave help pull me out without knowing I was a player. I want to give him tickets to the AFC championship game for helping but don’t have a way to contact him. He drove a 97 or 98 Black Suburban. Pls RT #ChiefsKingdom
— Jeff Allen (@JeffAllen71) January 13, 2019
After that message, a field full of people changed their name to “Dave” in the hope of scoring tickets — but ultimately, social media also helped the player get in touch with the Good Samaritan.
By allowing Allen to get to the game on time, Cochran, a homeless man, now should be partially credited for the Chiefs’ huge 31-to-13 win against the Colts — the team’s first playoff victory in more than two decades, according to USA Today.
“My old lady is always mad at me, because I help everybody before I help myself, but I told her one day it would pay off,” Cochran told WDAF, a Fox-affiliated television station that serves the Kansas City metro area.
.@Chiefs OL Jeff Allen got some help in the snow from a stranger ahead of Saturday's game.
Through the power of social media, he was able to return the favor with tickets to the AFC championship game. pic.twitter.com/wjCHlEkAxU
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 13, 2019
Homeless man in #KansasCity was repaid for his act of kindness helping @JeffAllen71 get his stuck car out of the snow.
Details on @WNDU: https://t.co/9HWDbPcVxd pic.twitter.com/c5tgKvflnM
— Newswire Indiana (@newswireIN) January 14, 2019
I love this story! Do something kind, just to be kind. https://t.co/grXhegMSGO via @KAGSnews
— Molly Garrity Adams (@MollyGarrity) January 14, 2019
Homeless man helps Kansas City Chiefs player make it to playoff game, rewarded with tickets to AFC Championship game https://t.co/9210ZRt9Dr pic.twitter.com/L07OvldYSO
— WPTV (@WPTV) January 14, 2019
Those are prescient words from Cochran — who is now looking ahead to the game on Sunday between the Chiefs and the New England Patriots.
He added, “That man he kept his word. He did something for me. He said, ‘I’m going to do something for y’all’ when he took my name and stuff, and I wasn’t expecting anything, but he did.”
Cochran, who lives in his car, also said, “I started crying … I started bawling. I’ve never been to a football game, ever.”
Elizabeth Economou is a former CNBC staff writer and adjunct professor. Follow her on Twitter.
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