Vietnam refugee Dat Nguyen finds American Dream on the gridiron; with family

[@secondamazonprime-kv5xo]

He was definitely a player I rooted for even though he played for Dallas. I was disappointed with NFL teams not picking him in the 1st round like other previous defensive players who had half the accolades or awards Dat had coming out of college. Dat truly worked for everything he earned on the playing field! Dat is a true role model for everyone not just the Vietnamese community.

[@f430ferrari5]

Yup that’s for sure. This particular vid didn’t highlight his situation at Texas A&M. Yes he got a scholarship but there were at least 5 guys battling for 4 spots but 3 already taken by upperclassman and Dat said he was up against the top ranked linebacker. All through camp, Dat was a back up and then if I recall that top ranked LB happened to get injured and that’s when Dat got the spot and never gave it up. 👍

[@chucklee2507]

“Rooted”

[@STxFisherman]

Great story. What a phenomenal player that Dat was. Thanks!!!

[@ciarankelly4338]

He was awesome and I was a fan of Dat as the odds were against him to make it as a player and then the pros with Dallas! What a athlete and person! Greetings from Ireland!

[@HungLa817]

thanks for this video. Dat has been our hero for the viet community in texas. I met once and he was a super nice dude.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

As a Longhorn, I respect Dat Nguyen. Dat's how it's done!

[@NOcanDoification]

As an asian american who never played football before in my life. Dat's story inspired me to give it a try in high school.

[@hydrocryptogen50]

Go Dat!

[@rks5457]

Texas legend. Friday night lights in HS, leading the famous Wrecking Crew of Texas A&M to playing for the Dallas Cowboys at the tail end of their legendary run. I have no doubt that if he were playing during the Cowboys peak with Jimmy at the helm, he would be more of a household name outside of Texas. That 3-4 defense was not ideal but him and Coakley dominated on the field as smaller linebackers. Loved watching those two run around and smother play after play.

[@Khanh.Nguyen369]

Love your story man. Really enjoyed watching you play.

[@MinhTran-ol9wg]

I am Vietnamese and so pround to have a Vietnamese player is on a roster of the NFL. It's sad that Dat Nguyen playing timeswas short due to injury , he was good and active . Wishing him the best life after life in the NFL 🤗

[@RickyVang-ql9zz]

❤it's about time thanks to everybody

[@supremeguru2753]

My dad was U S Marine Medivac pilot in Vietnam then he was stationed in the Philippines in 1970 thats where he met my mom at U S Subic Naval base in Pampanga Philippines my mom was a Nurse at the hospital treating injured U.S military soldiers . They got married in the Philippines my mom was pregnant she followed my dad to the U.S .

[@figurinechamp6881]

Dat is a Legend!

[@zyxwut321]

He could've had an even bigger NFL career if he had stayed healthy longer. He was just hitting his stride in 2003 and 2004 when the injuries began to pile up. At his brief peak, though, he was one of the best linebackers in the NFL, a smaller version of Ray Lewis in terms of reading offenses and making plays. A longer peak and he could've literally been a Hall of Famer. Best wishes to him and his family and I hope his nephew is able to succeed on and off the field and have fun in college, even if the NFL might not be in the cards for him.

[@georgeinfante1106]

The American. Dream

[@Lawomenshoops]

UCLA had a WR in the 80’s named Mike Nguyen, they aren’t related.

[@fvhitman4hire]

What a story... :)

[@rbermea]

Day Nguyen, was he the first Vietnamese NFL player?

[@wanderngchopstcksii1078]

There were others but didn’t make it as far as Dat did.

[@kim.jong.skillz]

He's the only Vietnamese NFL player still.

[@wanderngchopstcksii1078]

@@kim.jong.skillz Patrick Chung of the New England Patriot. He’s Vietnamese-American via his maternal side.

[@mwp446678]

Yes.

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

​@@wanderngchopstcksii1078 I thought he was Jamaican, with Chinese ancestry on his father's side, hence the name Chung.

[@fremanhuachucalamarchahta1882]

Believe you should research the 1972-73 Rockport Fulton Pirate (Aransas County High school).

[@JiggingTV]

Dat was borned in Arkansas, he wasn't a refugee.

[@thhdhn2]

It was a refugee camp. I was there in 1975.

[@JiggingTV]

@@thhdhn2 If I'm not mistaken, if someone is borned on US soil, they're American citizen at birth.

[@ElectricGlider2016]

He was in his mom's belly while she was escaping Vietnam. So for some people, that counts as a refugee.

[@kim.jong.skillz]

​@@JiggingTVdoesn't make him any less of a refugee.

[@tomdemay6147]

@@JiggingTV his parents were refugees it's pretty simple.

[@jobturkey7418]

Lmao that’s on a diet of fish and rice. If he has some beef he would have been more sturdy and lasted longer

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

Fish and rice is goated.

[@TreatCandy]

Go back 🏠 we are running out of room

[@mrjforall]

Shut up fool. You're just jealous cause he was better than any other WHITE or BLACK linebacker.

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

Take your own advice and stop invading everywhere.

[@LovePeace2025]

american propaganda

[@mizrahimjew9351]

God Bless Dat Nguyen✝️🇺🇸♥️🦅

[@treeman_mj]

Dat is a living legend, a certified killer on the field. He played on the rival team but I always had the upmost respect for him. 🫡