Young Buffalo Bills fan surprised by NFL player with similar upbringing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – Forge Martin, 10, is a huge Buffalo Bills fan. The empathetic and energetic boy owns a dozen Bills jerseys, but he recently received a jersey from another team that has priceless meaning.

Forge received a jersey from Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, who, like Forge, has same-sex parents.

“He has two moms and I have two dads,” Forge said. “It’s good to know there’s someone out there, like a good football player, and they’re going through the same situation as me.”

McBride wrote, “I want you to know that it’s cool to have same-sex parents. I’m here for you. We’re in this together, you have a bright future.”

Forge was recorded opening the gift in a video viewed more than 12,000 times.

“He cared enough to reach out to someone he saw himself in, which is pretty powerful,” said Corey Martin, Forge’s father.

Forge even had the opportunity to speak to McBride over the phone and now considers the football player a role model.

“Trey reached out to Forge and connected because of that shared background,” Corey said. “He’s someone when you see him and how he plays, he’s a great player. It doesn’t matter if he has great parents, it doesn’t matter because he works.”

“Football is an aggressive sport, but he doesn’t run away from his family. He’s not afraid of his family. He doesn’t hide it. He makes it a part of who he is,” Corey said. “This is where we see football making a difference and welcoming people from different backgrounds.”

The family doesn’t live in Western New York but considers Buffalo their second home and on Sunday they will march with the Bills again in the annual Pride Parade.

“In the last three years, the Bills have done so much,” said Forge’s father, whom he calls Papa.

They will also be back for the Bills’ home opener against McBride and the Cardinals. Forge said he’ll probably wear his Matt Milano Bills jersey…with his new McBride jersey underneath.

“I want the Bills to win 100-28,” Forge said. “But Trey is scoring all these (Cardinals) touchdowns.”