SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: NFL Rookies Brought to Tears by Heartwarming Video Messages from their Football Heroes

Several high-profile NFL rookies received quite the surprise in moments captured by heart-warming video released by Fanatics Thursday.

In the four-minute video, top rookies like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson and Anthony Richardson are welcomed to the NFL by custom video messages from players they grew up looking up to. Richardson and Titans QB Will Levis received messages from Tom Brady, while Young heard from Aaron Rodgers and Anderson’s message came from Ray Lewis.

Then, players were instructed to look under their seats to find a box with a signed throwback jersey from their idols. Their reactions, predictably, were priceless.

That’s quite the “Welcome to the NFL” moment. And while most of the players that sent in videos are already retired, some, like Rodgers and George Kittle, may actually play against rookies who grew up idolizing them. That might create yet another heartwarming moment like this one…