NFL Hopeful Freddie McGee III Stands Outside Lions' Field All Day Asking for '1 Shot' to Make Team

Freddie McGee III
Credit: CBS Evening News/Youtube

NEED TO KNOW

• Freddie McGee III, an NFL hopeful, went viral for standing outside of the Detroit Lions' facility asking for a chance to make the team
• McGee appeared on Good Morning Football on Wednesday, April 15, and he said he's had agents reaching out since going viral
• McGee said he's overwhelmed by the support, but "ultimately, the job's not done" without getting the chance to do a trial workout

An NFL hopeful is doing whatever it takes to get a chance to live his dream.

Freddie McGee III, a Defensive Player of the Year in the Arena Football League, went viral after he was seen standing outside of the Detroit Lions' facility on Monday, April 13, asking for a chance to make the team. McGee stood outside, hoping to "get the attention of some scouts," with a sign that read, "This is grit/ No agent/ 124 int/ 25 PBU / DPOY in AFL, need 1 shot," as seen in viral photos.

On Wednesday, April 15, McGee was a guest on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, where he shared his story. The former Eastern Michigan defensive back, 27, said he "didn't get a shot coming out college" and "had to take the Arena Football route" to continue playing.

"God put it on my heart that morning," McGee said of his decision to stand outside the facility Monday from roughly 8:45 a.m. until 5 p.m.

"That was my 9-5 for the day," he added on Wednesday's show. "Initially started out closer to the gate, but as I expected, security told me to bump down a bit so I moved down closer to the street and still pleaded my case there."

As he stood with his sign, McGee had "a bunch of cars driving past me and a couple fans honking their horns saying they were rooting for me," he recalled on GMFB.

McGee said he's "had this dream" of playing in the NFL "since I was about 5 years old, and I always knew I had what it took to get to this level."

"Just need that one shot, that one opportunity, and wanted to get some more exposure, so why not take matters into my hands?" he said.

Since going viral, McGee hasn't heard from anyone at the Lions organization, but said Monday on GMFB his "inbox has been crazy" with sports agents reaching out. He said he's "still trying to navigate through those messages" on Wednesday.

"It's been overwhelming, the amount of encouragement I've gotten and support I've received, and people are definitely in my corner rooting for me," said McGee, whose parents were both student-athletes at Eastern Michigan, where his mom played basketball and his dad ran track.

"I don't know what's gonna come about from it, but just hopefully the right pair of eyes can land on me, get to know me and take a chance on me," he said on the show, describing the last 48 hours since going viral as "the craziest past 48 hours of my life."

"I went out there expecting to just get the eyes of some coaches, maybe some scouts, and I've been overwhelmed by the amount of support I've gotten nationwide," McGee added.

McGee said it's "been a blessing" to see the support from fans as he chases his dream, "but ultimately, the job's not done."

"Still haven't gotten that workout that I'm looking for, so maybe I do have to go back out there," he joked.

Read the original article on People