Tommy Armstrong Jr. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Former Nebraska QB saves neighbors from burning house

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/28/22

The overused saying "not all heroes wear capes" should be retired and replaced by "some heroes don helmets and shoulder pads." At least, that's the case for former Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. who saved his neighbors from their burning house.

The former Cornhuskers QB was visiting family in Mississippi over the holiday weekend when the next-door neighbors' house caught fire. Armstrong and his mother, Nadine, reportedly sprung to action and broke the windows with bricks in order to get the family out of the burning house.

Tommy Armstrong, Jr. is a hero. pic.twitter.com/oSpyEvAKrv
— Kevin Sjuts (@kevinsjuts) December 27, 2022

Armstrong's wife, Jaylyn, described the event in a social media post and called her husband and mother-in-law heroes.

@Tommy_Gun4 and his mom are heros. We’re sitting in her living room and the neighbors house burst in flames. We run over and I take care of the young girl who punched the windows out to break free, Tommy and his mom jump into the burning house to pull the remaining people out. pic.twitter.com/SIRgEoX5vP
— Jaylyn Armstrong (@JaylynArmstrong) December 27, 2022

Armstrong, who played for the Cornhuskers from 2013-2016, took to social media himself after the event and asked that the attention be directed toward his neighbors who had just lost their home.

For those checking on me. I’m doing good and appreciate everything. But it’s honestly more important that the family is well. Sucks to lose everything the day after Christmas.
— Tommy Armstrong Jr. (@Tommy_Gun4) December 28, 2022

It has yet to be reported how the fire started.

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