Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton proved to be a hero off the field after their nail-biting 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Following a game-winning field goal by Spencer Schrader, Wharton was heading towards the tunnel when a young fan, sporting a Nick Bolton jersey, tumbled over the barrier.
The incident unfolded as Bolton seemed to be approaching the fans to gift his gloves to the young admirer. In a heart-stopping moment captured on video, the child leaned too far and fell over the barrier. Wharton reacted swiftly, rushing over and catching the child before he hit the ground.
While it's uncertain if the child sustained any injuries, Wharton lifted him back over the barrier seemingly unharmed, with a glove clutched in his hand. A stadium staff member immediately urged the crowd back to their seats, emphasizing the child's fall.
Wharton later recounted the incident on "The Pat McAfee Show," explaining he was on his way to give his gloves to fans when he saw the child fall. He described grabbing the back of the child's shirt to soften the impact, "kind of push[ing] him into the stands a little bit to make sure he didn’t hit [the ground] too hard." He expressed his hope to invite the young fan to a future game.
This heartwarming display of quick thinking and care from the two-time Super Bowl champion came after the Chiefs' bounce-back win against the Panthers, following their first loss of the season the previous week against the Buffalo Bills. Wharton contributed two tackles to the victory.
