Advertisement

Falcons' Devonta Freeman stops his jog, helps woman with lawnmower

Eric Edholm

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman was just getting in a nice little evening jog Monday when he saw a woman struggling in her front yard.

Eleanor Szendel, 82, was having trouble unloading her lawnmower, and Freeman decided to veer his workout a little bit. Pretty soon he was offering to step in and mow Szendel's grass for her as she was struggling to empty the grass clippings from the mower, because it was getting dark as afternoon quickly was turning to night.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Freeman's offer was respectfully rebuffed — she was pretty much finished — but he instantly endeared himself to Szendel and her daughter-in-law, Denise Szendel, who was planting rose bushes for Mother’s Day nearby.

Although the famous Falcons and former Florida State footballer didn't initially identify himself, Szendel knew exactly who he was.

“My mom recognized him because she’s had all four of her kids, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law go to FSU over the last 12 years, and so she was like ‘You’re Devonta Freeman,’” said her son, Bryan Szendel.

He was indeed, and Bryan posted the proof on Instagram to point out Freeman's good deed, which has caught the eye of Falcons and Seminoles fans the past few days.

“She was just really touched that he stopped and helped her out like that,” Denise said.

Freeman is known as one of the more charitable young players in the NFL, so this comes as little surprise. This is the same player who found out about his first Pro Bowl selection while delivering Christmas gifts this past years to families in need.

For the Szendel family, it was a chance meeting and just a simple offering, but also a perfect representation of one of their city's best ambassadors and one of their alma mater's finest gentlemen.

“I just really like meeting a young man who was so respectful. I just really liked the way he represented my kid’s school,” Denise said.

- - - - - - -

Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!