Every NFL team wants players who are willing to go the extra mile. There are few players that are willing to go an extra 500 miles. For the Buffalo Bills, that’s exactly what they have in veteran cornerback Shareece Wright, who after being cut by the Baltimore Ravens and wanted to make a good impression with his new team.
When Wright’s connecting flight from Chicago to Buffalo was cancelled Sunday night, he was unable to find another flight. He could have thrown in the towel (since Organized Team Activities are voluntary), but instead, Wright got creative. He contacted a former teammate to ask for a ride, but to no avail. So, Wright turned to Uber.
The 30-year-old NFL journeyman struck gold with the driver, 26-year-old Hadi Abdollahian. Abdollahian doubled down to help get Wright from Illinois to New York by 7:00 a.m. the next morning.
Over a grueling eight-hour drive across four states, the duo shared stories about their families and developed a budding friendship.
When Wright arrived at One Bills Drive, he showed his gratitude to Abdollahian, giving the college hopeful a $300 tip on top of the $632 fare.
— Shareece Wright (@ShareeceWright) June 6, 2017
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To reward Wright’s commitment, BlueRock Energy, a Buffalo Bills sponsor, offered to reimburse him for the pricey Uber ride. However, Wright asked BlueRock Energy to help him pay it forward, sending the money to Abdollahian.
“Anyone’s who’s that passionate and focused about what he’s doing, I’m more than willing to help anyone who’s putting that foot forward to be successful,” Wright told CNN.
Wright’s generosity left Abdollahian at a loss for words.
“I am honestly shocked right now and unfortunately do not know what to say,” he said in a statement. “I was just doing my job and wanted to have Mr. Wright get to his destination. I’d like to thank both Mr. Wright and BlueRock Energy for their generous offers. This will go towards paying off my school loans once I am done.”
In a statement, Wright reiterated his appreciation.
“It may seem crazy to request someone to drive anywhere more than 10 miles, but to have Mr. Abdollahian drive me more than 500 miles to get me to my job, it truly means a lot,” said Wright. “I’d like to thank Mr. Adbaollahian for stepping in and making sure I wouldn’t miss OTAs as I begin my first year as a Buffalo Bill. The payment of $932.08 is a testament to his character and commitment to helping others.”