Blaine Gabbert was just having some fun jet skiing, when he was suddenly sprung into action to help some strangers.
AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman
Being a backup quarterback in the NFL means you always have to be ready when called upon to take action at a moment's notice.
After Tampa Bay backup Blaine Gabbert helped rescue some passengers from a helicopter crash while on his jet ski Thursday evening, the Buccaneers can rest assured that they have a good one.
The rescue effort began Thursday evening after a helicopter pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in the waters off Davis Islands in Tampa, Florida with a family of three on board.
At the time, Gabbert was out jet skiing along with his two brothers, who had just arrived in town. As Gabbert was showing his brothers around the waters, the trio noticed that something was amiss and went to check out the site of the emergency landing.
"It almost looked like a crew boat that had broken up in the water into about four pieces," Gabbert told reporters on Friday. "It looked like they were in duress. We raced over there."
After arriving at the scene, Gabbert made contact with one of the passengers, who had surfaced out of the water, and called 911.
"It all turned positive. They were healthy, scared, nervous, but it was a pretty crappy situation that turned good in the end. I was just right place, right time, I guess. The credit really goes out to Tampa PD, the fire department, the sheriff's department, because they were there within five seconds."
Gabbert and his brothers took the passengers up onto their jet skis while they waited for authorities to arrive, and regrouped with them once everyone was back safely on the shore.
—Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 30, 2022
Throughout the experience, no one involved knew Gabbert's identity or his status as an NFL pro until the authorities got his information in the aftermath. Word spread quickly, though, as Gabbert soon received a text from Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.
—Sports by Tampa Bay Times (@TBTimes_Sports) December 30, 2022
"I was doing the right thing," Gabbert explained. "You guys would do the exact same thing that I did, I just happened to be in that situation. And thankfully, it all turned out positive.
"I honestly wanted to just stay anonymous, I was just doing the right thing at the right time," he said. "I'm not much of a guy to be in the limelight, I just want to stay under the radar, but I just said, thankfully you guys are okay and I'm glad I was there."
On Twitter, fans praised Gabbert for his actions.
—Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) December 30, 2022
—Sir Lob Rowe (@dolkthoughts) December 30, 2022
—Greg Vorse TV (@GregVorse) December 30, 2022
The Hupp family, the passengers aboard the helicopter, were also thankful for Gabbert's help.
"We exchanged pleasantries upon reaching flat ground," Hunter Hupp, 28, told Fox Sports. "They were really an asset to helping us out, because we were the only ones out there for a while. It was a handshake and a hug and 'Thank you so much.' They went out for a nice afternoon ride and just happened to come upon a stranded helicopter family."
"My mom said she was hoping to meet [Buccaneers starting quarterback] Tom Brady while we were down here," Hupp said. "I think she came pretty darn close."
