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Fresh off an incredible Olympic performance in Rio, Aly Raisman has already booked a date for September.
The 22-year-old gymnast, who helped the U.S. team capture gold and earned silver medals in the all-around and on floor, recently accepted a date from Oakland Raiders tight end Colton Underwood.
Here’s everything you need to know about Underwood:
1. He Asked Raisman Out on Video
Saturday evening, Yahoo! Sports posted a video titled, “Dating Aly Raisman.” During the on-camera interview about Raisman’s dating requirements, the gymnast was shown a video from Oakland Raiders’ Colton Underwood. The 24-year-old tight end plays on the same team as 2008 gold medalist Shawn Johnson’s husband Andrew East.
After congratulating Raisman on her Olympic achievements, he says “if you’re ever in San Jose and want to go on a double-date with me and Andrew and Shawn, let me know.” Raisman watched the video and smiled, then said, “He’s very cute.” She also added that she’d go out with him. Raisman, who is friends with Johnson, said she has told her about Underwood before.
Good news for Underwood: Raisman along with the other Final Five gymnasts will make a stop in San Jose on their post-Olympic tour on Sept. 18.
Raisman followed up with a tweet to Underwood saying, “Thanks for the sweet video….looking forward to meeting you.”
Underwood wasn’t expecting to get a reply from Raisman so quickly, according to the Journal Star.
“She’s a very busy lady right now, so I wasn’t expecting to hear from her immediately,” Underwood told the paper on Monday. “I sure wasn’t expecting it to go viral and be as public as it is, but that’s what comes with the territory of being an athlete, I guess.”
2. He Owns a Restaurant in His Hometown
Underwood recently opened 4th & Goal Grill, a sports bar in his hometown of Washington, Illinois. He worked with his father, Scott, on remodeling the interior of the restaurant, according to the Journal Star. He told the publication he was interested in the restaurant industry because, like sports, it’s a “fast-paced environment” and “a high-pressure situation.”
The restaurant’s slogan is “for fans without tickets,” and features a large-screen TV surrounded by multiple other televisions in the main dining area.
The idea behind the venture was to create an “industrial, modern, rustic sports bar,” Underwood told the Journal Star.
3. He Was 1st Signed to the Chargers in 2014
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After playing for Illinois State University, Underwood was signed as an undrafted free agent in May by the San Diego Chargers in 2014. However, by the end of August, he was waived. The Philadelphia Eagles picked Underwood up the next month, but then released him from their practice squad after six days. The Chargers picked him up for the second time two weeks later to their practice squad, but he never played in any games. The following September, he was waived from injured reserve.
The Oakland Raiders signed Underwood to their practice squad in December 2015. The 6’3″ athlete has an estimated net worth of $1.1 million, and earns around $450,000 a year.
4. He Is an Advocate in the Fight Against Cystic Fibrosis
In 2015, he founded the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation, a non-profit that encourages youth participation in athletics and provides resources for people living with Cystic Fibrosis, a life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system.
It’s a cause that is close to his heart, Underwood’s 3-year-old cousin, Harper Hawksworth, was diagnosed with the illness at birth.
Underwood held his inaugural Colton Underwood Football Camp last summer to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research. The camp raised $50,000 according to the Journal Star.
“I want to keep that hometown mentality, make a difference in lives of kids where I used to live,” Underwood told the publication.
Ever the advocate, he is a frequent visitor at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, and has also hosted galas to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research and awareness.
5. He Works Closely With the Champaign, Illinois Humane Society
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Underwood appears to be quite an animal lover. The NFL football player works closely with the Champaign, Illinois Humane Society to help animals get adopted. He frequently posts photos of adoptable animals to his social media accounts to help them find a loving home.
He’s also participated in a variety of fundraising efforts to help support animal adoption agencies, such as “Huddle Up to Cuddle Up” to benefit the San Diego Humane Society.