New England Patriots’ recent addition, K.J. Osborn, fondly recalls his heroic act of saving a man’s life from a burning car in Austin, Texas, exactly a year ago. The incident made headlines last March when Osborn, riding in an Uber, spotted the burning vehicle and sprang into action. Alongside a few others, he rescued the man, Nelson Thomas, and carried him to safety.
Reflecting on the event during his first interview with New England reporters after signing with the Patriots, Osborn described the intense moments: “Myself and three or four others, we end up going down, we pulled this man out the car. And then I picked him up, I walked him maybe 20 yards away from the car because the car was on fire by the time that all happened, which maybe it was two or three minutes, but it felt like 15 minutes.”
Thomas, a reality TV personality, recently had to undergo a foot amputation due to lingering effects from the crash. Osborn expressed relief that Thomas survived and shared, “I’ve been following his journey and things like that, I’m obviously happy that he still has life… He’s still recovering from that, so he’s definitely in my prayers.”
Osborn, who spent four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Patriots on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, emphasized that saving Thomas was a group effort. He also recounted hosting Thomas and others who aided in the rescue at a Vikings game last season, calling it a “really special” experience.
Looking ahead, Osborn expressed eagerness for a reunion with Thomas, remarking on how quickly a year has passed. He believes his experience and versatility will benefit the Patriots’ receiving corps, and he’s excited to embark on this new chapter in his football career.
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