There is one Denver Broncos player that has many Kansas City Chiefs fans on his side.
Shane Ray, the Broncos 23-year-old outside linebacker was born and raised in KC.
It wasn't long ago his NFL life was just a dream.
"He came out of an area where a lot of kids didn’t have hope and we have instill this back in our kids," said Shane's mother, Sebrina Johnson. "We have to let them know you can dream, and you can be whatever you want to be and he did it. He dreamt."
He was a stand-out athlete at Bishop Miege High School and an All-American at the University of Missouri.
The young player won a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season.
Johnson said her son was excited to play the team he grew up idolizing.
"He grew up a Chiefs fan, we both have. But it’s the point of coming, playing the hometown team, showing his skills, because he knows everyone is going to be watching him," she said.
Many KC fans will be watching him. Some, even rooting for him. For example, his former high school coach, Jon Holmes.
“Shane has really been the guy who has pushed through," Holmes said. "And is the guy we’re real, real proud of here.”
Johnson said friends and family who support Ray, aren't forgetting what's at stake in Sunday night's game.
"They tell me, 'we'll root for Shane, but we don't want him to sack Alex Smith,'" she said. "And I tell them, 'well, he has a job to do!'"
Off the field, Ray is working on building a foundation. It's called Shane's Shoes, and it will help provide cleats and sneakers to young players in need.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
