Former NFL player praised for leaving IHOP server $1,000 tip on $14 bill

Football legend Chad Johnson might have been a wide receiver, but off the pitch he's a giver.

The former NFL player enjoyed a modest meal at an IHOP restaurant in Tennessee on Saturday (October 29) when he decided to leave an incredibly generous tip for the servers.

Despite the bill coming to just $14 (£12), Johnson, often referred to as Ochocinco, left the staff an extra $1000 (£870), a 7,100% tip.

The 44-year-old explained that he was visiting Knoxville for the first time, having gone to the IHOP for breakfast ahead of the Tennessee Volunteers game against Kentucky Wildcats later that night.

Twitter

On the bill, he wrote: "It’s my first time in the Ville. Going to the game tonight but I don’t know the Rocky Top song."

For those not in the know, the song he's talking about has become an unofficial fight song for the University of Tennessee's football team.

Sharing a picture of the receipt on Twitter, Johnson also cited Proverbs 11:25 from the Bible, which reads: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Spoken like a true legend.

Dozens of people have praised the athlete for his generosity, with one writing: "You are the goat for blessing ppl like this."

"Man that's why people love 85... just because he didn't have to but because he did," said another, while a third wrote, "You’re always doing something good like this and that is why God continues to bless you."

Others mentioned the song, including this person who said, "I can assure you, you will know the words to that song by the time the game’s over."

A second added: "Trust me, you’ll learn it before the end of the first quarter. It’s catchy and about it gets played ALOT."

This isn't the first time Ochocinco's blessed servers with his earnings, having left a $1000 tip at Stephanie's Restaurant in North Carolina back in August.

Similarly, the bill was a fraction of the gratuity at just $24.39 – and just like the IHOP, he cited the same Bible reference in a tweet.

Twitter

And guess what? He did the exact same thing for an eatery in Florida that had just reopened after the Covid lockdown.

Johnson also wrote on the bill: "Congrats on the reopening, sorry about the pandemic, hope this helps! I love you."

We know James Corden has since apologised for being rude to waiters at a New York restaurant recently, but even so, it might be worth taking a leaf out of Ochocinco's book.