This article is courtesy of Aric DiLalla, lead writer for the Denver Broncos. The photo is courtesy of Gabriel Christus of the Denver Broncos.
Four days before Nik Bonitto celebrated Jonathon Cooper’s game-winning sack on the turf at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he had a similar reaction to another big defensive play on the same field.
In the second half of a Wednesday night matchup between St. Thomas Aquinas High School — Bonitto’s high school alma mater — and the NFL Academy, a 56-yard defensive touchdown extended Aquinas’ lead.
And Bonitto, who brought teammates Jonathon Cooper and Delarrin Turner-Yell with him to the game, journeyed down the sideline to celebrate with the play-making defender.
Bonitto’s effort to be there for that moment — in the wake of a big win over the Eagles and in the midst of preparing for a game vs. New York — spoke volumes to St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Roger Harriott.
“It speaks of his character and his devotion to the program that helped him evolve into the player, but more importantly, the person that he is today,” said Hariott, who coached Bonitto in high school. “For us, it’s amazing to have one of our own here to experience this evolution of football.”
Bonitto visited with a slew of players, coaches and support staff both during halftime and after the game. Safety Zayden Gamble, who holds offers from a slew of big-name schools like Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan and LSU, holds a strong bond with Bonitto despite their age difference. Bonitto’s father is Gamble’s godfather, and Gamble’s father is Bonitto’s godfather. The two lived together for about a year earlier in their lives, and they’ve remained close as Bonitto has become an NFL star.
“At the end of the day, he’s still Nik Bonitto in my eyes,” Gamble said. “[He’s] still ‘Big Nik.’ I don’t see him as the superstar that everybody else sees him as. I see him as one of my big brothers. It’s cool seeing that he has these cool accolades, but to me, he’s still ‘Big Nik.'”
It was merely a coincidence that Bonitto and the Broncos were in London at the same time as Hariott, Gamble and the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders. But his presence, though unexpected, meant a great deal to those associated with the program.
“It’s literally priceless,” Hariott said. “It really is. You really cannot put any value on that. It’s worth beyond currency. He’s somebody that others look towards. For them to have a direct connection and feel his presence, knowing that he wore the same uniform and is coming from the same area, it’s an inspiration to these young men knowing that someone that walked the same hallways from their community is having an unbelievable experience.”
For several hours, Bonitto was just like any other fan. He cheered for his alma mater, celebrated their big plays and visited with the players after the game. His stature as the NFL’s sack leader, though, made it far from an ordinary visit for the players of both teams. And their reactions to his visit seemed to make a significant impact on the Broncos’ pass rusher.
“It was dope, just going back there,” Bonitto said. “Obviously, they’re a lot younger than me. … It was just kind of fun seeing how much [of] an impact I still have.”
