NFL star gives up airline seat for Marine

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams paid it forward on Monday morning and surprised a Marine on his flight with his business class seat.

Williams tweeted a picture of the Marine and his ticket while he was waiting for the plane to board.

“I always give up my seat to military if my seat is better! I truly appreciate our troops #flyingtherightway,” he wrote.

Williams went into more detail about his surprise for the unnamed Marine when he posted the picture to his Facebook page.

“He just doesn’t know it yet but he will be sitting in this seat when he boards the plane I always give up my 1st class seat! #isalutethetroops!” Williams captioned the Facebook post.

Social media both praised Williams and were upset with him over the move - some saying the Marine he posted a picture of wasn’t a real Marine, but a fake because the man was wearing his cover indoors.

But Williams stuck to his story.

“I always do that and for those of you that are saying I shouldn’t have posted keep calm and enjoy my page and happy 4th of July (it’s called being patriotic for life),” Williams commented in response to fans.

Contact Kira Terry at kterry@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kiraterry