Falcons Draft Pick Brings Portrait of His Grandma on Stage and Delivers Most Memorable Moment of Night

UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley made a promise to his grandmother moments before she passed away. On Thursday, he made good on that promise when he was drafted 26th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft.

After being selected by the Falcons, McKinley brought a portrait of his grandmother on stage — and he understandably had a hard time controlling his emotions.

“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 gonna win my dream! I was gonna go D-1; 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, man! Thirty seconds later, she passed away! This is who I do it for!”

McKinley later dropped an accidental F-bomb while talking to former NFL great Deion Sanders.

“I completed the promise. That means every-f***ing-thing to me, man! Excuse my language — fine me later,” he said.

Sanders offered the rookie some good advice, telling him to “harness” his passion and energy in the NFL.

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Photo: Getty Images