Falcons Draft Pick Takkarist McKinley Dedicated An Interview For The Ages To His Grandma

The Atlanta Falcons traded up to create one of the best moments of the NFL Draft’s first round on Thursday. Takkarist McKinley was drafted 26th overall by Atlanta and basically exploded in an emotional tribute to his grandmother. McKinley promised the woman who raised him that he would make the NFL shortly before she passed away.

McKinley carried a large photo of his grandmother with him around Philadelphia all Thursday night. You can see it with him as his name is called for the first time.

He carried the picture of his grandmother on stage then spoke directly to television cameras, telling the audience at home that he had done everything he could to make the NFL in honor of his grandmother.

https://twitter.com/FanSportsClips/status/857794742427369472

Eventually Deion Sanders got a microphone near him and the whole audience got to hear him speak, but here’s what he told the cameras.

I made a promise to her and I stuck to it. I made that promise, man. I told her before she passed away I was going to live my dream. I was going to go D-I. I was gonna get out of Richmond. I was gonna get out of Oakland. I was gonna go to the NFL. I made that promise to her. Thirty seconds later she passed away. And that’s why I do it for her. This is who I do it for, man.

McKinley gave an interivew on NFL Network that included a pretty solid swear as well.

https://twitter.com/FanSportsClips/status/857794872849215488

McKinley later quoted fellow Oakland native Marshawn Lynch and gave an emotional interview with ESPN that expanded on his excited initial speech, speaking of the allure of crime and drugs that trap many talented people in cities like Oakland and elsewhere around the country.

There’s a lot to like about McKinley all around.

Touching moments aside, this man is ready to play some damn football for the Falcons.

You know it’s gonna be great television when Deion Sanders has to be the voice of reason.