Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has a new good luck charm in the stands.
For the first time in his six-year professional career, one that has spanned 92 games, Thomas had his mother watching in person for the first time.
Katina Stuckey Smith, decked out in a customized jersey, watched her son and the rest of the Broncos advance to the AFC Championship after they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-16 Sunday evening.
For more than eight seasons, Smith was forced to watch her only son play on television.
Smith was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2000 on a drug trafficking charge.
She was arrested when Thomas was just 11 years old.
Smith was accused of being the banker of the operation and was arrested with her mother (Thomas’s grandmother) Minnie Pearl Thomas. If she had pleaded guilty and testified against her mother, she would have served just two to fours years.
She chose to plead not guilty instead, and was sentenced to her term in 2000.
She’s spent Thomas’s entire college and professional career rooting him on from federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida while serving 15 years of her sentence.
In July, President Barack Obama reduced the sentences of 46 federal prisoners serving for non-violent drug offenses, including Smith. She was released to a halfway house on Nov. 10, but couldn’t travel for 60 days due to strict travel restrictions.
The viewing almost didn’t happen, as the trip was initially held up due to Smith not being allowed to be in a drug environment.
Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012, creating a slight issue with travel terms, but her parole officer allowed the trip.
“Yeah, she can travel now, so we’re working on that,” Thomas said after Wednesday’s practice, per ESPN. “It would mean a lot. It would be her first game. I would be excited. I know she’ll be excited. It would mean to see her first game live.”
After the final kneel down to secure the Bronco’s victory, quarterback Peyton Manning turned to his star wide receiver and while handing him the ball could be seen mouthing “Give this to your mom.”
Here’s to many more.
