Former Tennessee Vol and two-time Super Bowl Champion Trey Smith was much more than a football player on television to a young Kansas City Chiefs fan on Wednesday afternoon.
He was a hero and friend.
After a mass shooting took place during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade that killed one mother and injured 22 people including 11 children, chaos broke out in the streets of Kansas City as spectators and fans tried to wrap their heads around what was unfolding.
Trey Smith, trying to make sense of the events taking place himself as the players were being moved off of the stage, found shelter in a utility closet as he helped guide fans around him to safety. Along the way, Smith ran by a kid on the street, whom he picked up and started carrying to safety, wherever that might be.
“You’re hopping in here with me, buddy,” Smith said to the kid, trying to comfort his fears.
During an interview with Good Morning America on Thursday, Smith recalled more than 20 people inside the storage space seeking shelter.
Once given the green light that it was safe to walk around the streets again, Smith, KC players, and the massive crowd that was scattered about looked to find buses or transportation of some form to leave the parade area. During that time, Smith noticed the frightened emotions on the kid that he had been with.
“He’s panicked, he’s scared, he doesn’t know what’s going on,” Smith explained, nearly holding back tears during the interview.
Smith, carrying the Kansas City Chiefs-themed WWE World Championship title, used that item as a source of comfort and stability for the kid and his father.
“I had the WWE belt on me the entire parade,” Smith said in the interview with Good Morning America. “And I was thinking about what I can do to help him out. So I just handed him the belt. ‘Hey buddy, you’re the champion. No one is going to hurt you. No one is going to hurt you, man. We’ve got your back.'”
In the few minutes the two shared together, one half of the duo a Super Bowl champion and the other half a newly crowned WWE champion, found common ground in the worldwide sport. Smith and the young fan shared stories of their favorite wrestlers, favorite matches, and other nearby topics to “take his mind off of [the shooting].”
“Hearts go out to guys, we’re thinking and praying for you,” Smith said after the tragedy. “At the end of the day, Kansas City – as a community, as a city – we’re going to stand up together. We’re going to be strong.”
Trey Smith needed strength to battle blood clots in his lungs during his time at the University of Tennessee, just like how the young fan on Wednesday needed strength to get through the shooting that unfolded before his eyes. And, fortunately for the city and the community, former Tennessee Vol and Tennessee native Trey Smith was there to give strength and hope on a dark day.
Smith’s actions exemplified being a Volunteer.
Trey Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII last weekend in Las Vegas.
To check out the full news clip and interview from Good Morning America, check out the clip below.
