Last September, Bills legend and Hall of Famer Andre Reed was honored as Buffalo’s Legend of the Game during their home opener. Over his 16 seasons with the team, Reed stacked up over 13,000 yards, 86 touchdowns, and made it to four Super Bowls—an incredible run. But just because his resume sparkles doesn’t mean he had it easy.

Reed started as a quarterback at tiny Dieruff High School in Allentown, a place so off the radar most folks can’t find it on a map. After switching to wide receiver in college, he was drafted in the 4th round of the 1985 NFL Draft. That journey from overlooked to legendary gives Reed a real appreciation for players from small schools. That’s why he shared a story on Instagram featuring Demetrius Knight Jr., the Cincinnati Bengals’ rookie.

Knight, who played at Charlotte, opened up about the grind of struggling to pay rent, driving a beat-up Jeep Compass, juggling classes, football, and fatherhood just to survive. He said, “We were not making very much at Charlotte, being a smaller school, so everything we were getting was going directly to our rent on a 3rd-floor apartment.”

He even disclosed, “We had a small Jeep Compass that got us around, got us to and from, and we needed some extra, extra funds just to be able to survive to get to the next month…And there’s no easy, quick ways to make money when you’re playing football, going to class, and also trying to raise a baby.”

There were no shortcuts, no quick cash for him, even when you’re giving everything to the game. Now, with a chance in the NFL, Knight’s finally able to lift some of that financial weight off his shoulders. And for Reed, who’s been in those shoes, watching that kind of rise makes him nothing but proud of him. That’s why he shared his video, and wrote: “Welcome to the rest of us pre NIL (laughing and thumps up emojis), roughing it.” The rookie is now about to start his NFL career with the Ohio State.

Like Andre Reed, Demetrius Knight Jr. fought against his problems!

“Back when I was in school, I’d tell people I was going to play in the NFL and they’d say, ‘Yeah Reed, sure, you’re going to the NFL. What you’re going to be doing is bagging groceries’.” Being from a small school, no one believed in Andre Reed’s potential and faith. Many thought he would be lifting groceries for the league, but his determination to prove them wrong helped him to overcome his challenges. He got drafted by the Bills and made his legacy as a legend. That’s what he sees in this new player—Demetrius Knight Jr.

Knight Jr. was sitting in a meeting room in South Carolina when the Bengals called. He was finally getting his chance. And hence, the emotions spilled out. He couldn’t help but think back to Charlotte, where two years ago, he was grinding through games, then delivering DoorDash at night just to keep his family afloat. He and his wife, Jensy, had a tiny apartment, a little girl to feed, and another baby on the way. Some nights, they’d lose a game, and he’d still throw on his DoorDash bag to make sure there was food for the weekend.

Now, standing in that NFL locker room, he choked up, thinking about it all: his daughter Kamilla, his baby boy Malachi, and the woman who stood by him through every tear and late-night delivery. He didn’t even get a chance to fully thank her in that moment, but his heart was full. Because now, he finally gets to take care of them the way he always dreamed. And that’s why he gives everything on the field, at home, all of it. He even makes sure that he gives this inspirational message to his kids: “Finish what you start.” Now, the NFL is calling him, and who knows he might shine like Andre Reed and other legends in the league!