Ahmed Hassanein’s NFL dreams came true on Saturday, April 26 — and he made sure the day became even more unforgettable.
Just moments after hearing his name called in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, the Boise State defensive end dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Payson. The special moment unfolded in front of a cheering crowd of loved ones and quickly made waves across social media.
In footage shared online, Hassanein, 22, is seen wearing a sharp black-and-white pinstriped suit as he presents a sparkling diamond ring to Payson. She wore her hair down and rocked a sleeveless black top with leather pants as she embraced her future husband with a huge smile and tears of joy.
“Ahmed Hassanein made his draft day about him and his now fiancée ❤️🏈,” ESPNW captioned a collage of the sweet moment on Instagram.
The video clip captured the emotional scene — the roar of family and friends filled the room as Payson said yes and threw her arms around Hassanein.
Fans were quick to praise the heartwarming gesture, with one commenter writing, “Super nice, perfect way… romantic surprise. Unselfish, joyful day with fam & friends there already.” Another added, “He sacrificed one of the biggest days of his life to make it about their life together. Beautiful.”
Boise State, where Hassanein starred during his college career, also shared their congratulations, posting: “THE DAY KEEPS GETTING BETTER. 💍 Congratulations to Ahmed and Payson! 💙”
The proposal came just after an emotional phone call with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, where Hassanein made a heartfelt vow. “Coach, I will die for you. I just want you to believe in me,” he said. “I will die on that field for you guys. I promise I would.”
It’s safe to say Hassanein’s draft day became a once-in-a-lifetime celebration — for his career and his heart.
Ahmed Hassanein Turns Draft Dreams into a Double Celebration with Sweet Proposal
