Earlier this week, NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw was the subject of surprising reports claiming that he had come to the rescue of a group of passengers stranded on a flight from Texas to Pittsburgh.
According to the reports, the 76-year-old former quarterback had stepped in to help open a stuck door after the plane had arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport.
The door was reportedly jammed for nearly 30 minutes, leaving passengers trapped.
Bradshaw Sets the Record Straight on the Flight Incident
However, the NFL legend was quick to clarify the situation. In a post shared on his Instagram, Bradshaw addressed the rumors and set the record straight.
He stated, “Just to set the record straight, I did nothing to open the door on the plane! The maintenance crew had it open in 15 minutes.” Bradshaw’s version of events sharply contrasts with what some of his fellow passengers had claimed.
Fellow Passengers Share Their Versions of the Story
According to passengers who were onboard, there were suggestions that Bradshaw played a significant role in getting the door open. One passenger, Selah Gamble, shared that the pilot made a comment that seemed to credit Bradshaw for the door’s eventual opening. “You could kind of hear he was chuckling as he said it,” Gamble explained.
“He said, ‘Thanks to the strength of one of our passengers, we were finally able to get the door open,’ and I think we all knew he was alluding to Mr. Bradshaw.”
Another passenger admitted to being surprised by the situation.
“The guy next to me had made the joke that they should have him bust down the door, and I was like, ‘Well maybe he could a few years ago,’ so I’m definitely eating my words,” they said, admitting that Bradshaw was more than capable of helping in the moment.
Bradshaw’s Pittsburgh Visit and His Upcoming Retirement
Bradshaw was reportedly flying to Pittsburgh for a special event—the Mel Blount celebrity roast, which also marks the celebration of the Steelers’ first Super Bowl victory.
As the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Bradshaw continues to be a beloved figure in Pittsburgh, where he led the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories during his time as quarterback.
Now a popular personality on the Fox Sports broadcast team, Bradshaw also revealed plans to retire by 2029, acknowledging that it’s a “young man’s game” and saying, “Everybody wants the new.”
He seems to be ready to step back after decades in the spotlight.