Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali took some friends and family out to dinner after his team’s win over the Houston Texans last weekend. There was plenty to celebrate with Kansas City improving to 7-0 on the season and claiming sole possession of first place in the NFC West, but it was the wait staff who may have had the most exciting evening.
According to KCTV5 in Kansas City, Hali and roughly 15 friends and family members enjoyed dinner at the Fogo de Chao restaurant. They racked up a bill of more than $1,800, and $300 in gratuity was automatically added to the tab. Restaurant employees said Hali picked up the bill and gave the wait staff an additional $1,000 tip.
“It made our day. Hands down, it made our day,” server Joshua Roan told KCTV5. “The staff was over the top. He was the last guest in the building. There was a lot of shouting and hollering after he left. We had to wait until he left. We had to keep it professional.”
The staff split the tip, as they do with all of their gratuities. Hali said that he was uncomfortable with the attention he has received for leaving the tip and he only did it to help others out.
“He is having, I would say, his best year,” Roan said. “Other players are holding up their end of the bargain just as much. It was definitely a celebration for him to come in and enjoy. When I talk to him, I tell him great game, but he is super humble.”
Once KCTV5 aired the report, a woman revealed on Facebook that Hali gave her $400 for a car wash in Johnson County earlier this week. Apparently making a person’s day is nothing new for the Chiefs star.
“I have been helped all my life to this point. However, I can give back I try to do that,” Hali said. “I do this all the time when I go out because these people work hard. I’m just fortunate to be in this position.”
In a world where we’re typically used to hearing bogus stories about NFL players that try to make them sound like cheapskates, it’s refreshing to hear tales of generosity.
H/T Shutdown Corner
