Louisville Father Surprises Son at Football Practice After Seven-Month Deployment

A young boy in Louisville, Kentucky, had an emotional reaction when he was surprised at football practice by his father, who had just returned from a seven-month stint in Africa with the Kentucky Air National Guard.

Dantana Smith, a videographer based in Louisville, captured this footage of Josiah Newby, who was focused on his sport when his father Jordan appeared. When Josiah realizes what is happening, he runs to his dad and jumps into his arms.

Jordan’s wife, Cydnii Newby, told Storyful, “Josiah and Jordan are the best father and son duo, so it was so difficult for his dad to be away because he missed track season, basketball season, and baseball, but he arrived just in time for football season.”

Cydnii added that the emotional reunion made the entire practice field cry, saying, “There was not a dry eye.” Credit: Dantana Smith via Storyful

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- Down, set, go.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

- Let's go. No. No.

[LAUGHTER]

- This ain't no play. Daddy.

[LAUGHTER]

Daddy

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- What was you thinking?

JOSIAH NEWBY: I was going to hit beam, but he moved out of the way.

[LAUGHTER]

- He said I was going to hit beam.

[LAUGHTER]

JOSIAH NEWBY: So then I turned around. So then when he moved out of the way, I tried to turn around and try to find him. But I see-- when I see my daddy.