To be honest, today’s story tugs at the heartstrings a bit! And spoiler alert: You might want to grab a tissue box before you scroll down. With the NFL season just around the corner, a lot of young and talented players have made it to the league this year. To welcome the rookies, the global digital sports platform, Fanatics, did something truly touching for the 2024 NFL rookies.

On Wednesday, Fanatics shared a 4-minute video on their X account, where multiple 2024 rookies sat one by one on a couch and talked about the cities they had been chosen by. The players were in for a surprise when personalized videos from their loved ones and the new team’s fans played on the TV, leaving them all emotional.

Among the group of rookies featured in the videos, three players are from the Carolina Panthers’ draft picks — wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks, and Ja’Tavion Sanders. And while we are happy to see how fans and loved ones brought smiles to the players’ faces, we feel like Xavier is the one who stole the show!

In the video, Xavier’s grandma gave him a heartfelt surprise, saying, “Anthony Xavier Legette, XL, my grandson, little did we know when we were sitting in the bleachers, watching Little League that it would lead to this. I know that your mother, that your father, they are smiling down from heaven. You got this and you better act like you know.” Can it get any more emotional? Well, just wait for Legette’s response.

Replying to his grandma, the Panthers player said, “I got that feeling like I want to shed a tear. I just won’t let myself do it.” The video ended with a touching message: “To the 2024 rookie class, Welcome Home.”

Xavier Legette’s heartbreaking journey to the NFL

Xavier has had a truly tragic life. His mother, Anita, lost a long and painful battle of life to breast cancer. Anita herself was an athlete—a softball player and a track star at Mullins. She dedicated most of her life to helping young kids through the South Carolina Head Start program. It is now obvious that Xavier’s speed and kindness come from his momma.

Does it get any worse? Unfortunately, yes. In March 2019, Xavier’s father, Anthony Legette, died of a heart attack fewer than just two months before the WR graduated high school. Since then, the rookie’s maternal grandmother, Linda Neal, has been her support through thick and thin. The Carolina Panthers selected Xavier with the 32nd pick in the first round of the draft.

Xavier has faced his share of struggles and heartbreaks, but 2024 seems to be his year. With the player’s selection in a team like the Panthers, we can say that the real game begins now!