BALTIMORE (AP) - Mohammed Khan saw Derrick Henry running toward him, slapping high fives to Titans fans in the front row of M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday night (Jan. 11).
In Khan’s hands: a party crown purchased on Amazon for $8 that he had worn during the Titans’ 28-12 win over the Ravens. Now, Khan wanted to crown Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher in the 2019 season.
Henry had rushed for 195 yards in the win over the Ravens.
“I don’t even know if he’s going to make it to us,” said Khan, 36. “On the sidelines were some boxes. I thought he might curve around those boxes and go back to the sidelines in front of us.
“He made it right by and was giving fans high fives. I was like, ’He’s definitely going to take my crown.’ I want to crown Henry. And sure enough, he took and he wore it.”
Khan videoed Henry taking the crown but noticed it quickly come unlatched when he put it on his head while walking toward the locker room.
“The crazy part of it is just as I was thinking, ’Man, the crown didn’t go any farther, but then this dude wears it in the locker room,” Khan said. “He’s dancing in the locker room with it on. I feel great. I feel amazing. It’s awesome. It made it all the way there.”
Khan is a Titans fan who has been living in the Washington, D.C., area since 2013. Originally from Kuwait, Khan and his family moved to Tennessee in 1995. Khan is a 2005 Middle Tennessee State graduate with a degree in finance.
He is a capital planning and investment control analyst and works for the Department of Transportation.
With the Titans playing in Baltimore, Khan knew early in the week that this was his best opportunity to see his favorite team in the playoffs. He began searching for a ticket on Ticketmaster, StubHub and other apps.
“I had my eyes on one particular ticket,” he said. “I was looking for a single ticket, which is pretty hard to find.
The ticket was for Row 1, Section 100, Seat 19. It’s located at the 50-yard line behind the Titans bench.
“It’s a $1,000 ticket,” Khan said. “I’ve been talking this up, maybe getting a dab from Derrick Henry, or maybe Ryan Tannehill runs up and gives me a pat – or anybody.
“Luckily a couple days later that ticket went down to $800. I still had my eyes on it. There were other tickets in the end zone front row.”
But he wanted to sit behind the Titans, so he continued to wait for the right ticket. Eventually, the ticket on the 50-yard line dropped to $600.
“Bam! I moved on it,” Khan said.
Khan arrived at the game in full Titans gear. His face was painted silver and blue. He had Titans tattoos on his left and right cheeks. He had a Henry jersey on and wore a Titans commemorative flag – with Steve McNair’s No. 9 and Eddie George’s No. 27 – as a cape. He even had Titans socks on.
And, of course, he had the crown on his head during the game.
Khan has ordered another crown and hopes to wear it in Kansas City on Sunday if he can find a reasonable ticket for the AFC championship game with the Chiefs.
“That crown made it to him and may end up in Kansas City,” Khan said. “And, I’m hoping I’m going to show up in Kansas City, too.
“I’ve already ordered another (crown), and I’m on the look for a ticket. Hopefully I can make it there again.”
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