Former Michigan TE Jake Butt helps fix woman's car on Thanksgiving

A certain former Michigan great was caught being a good samaritan on Thanksgiving. A woman named Lanesha Brady posted on Twitter that a pair of Big Ten Network employees stopped by to help her when she had car troubles on Thanksgiving day. The two men: former Wolverine Jake Butt and Bob Lanning, the Senior Coordinating Producer of live events for the BTN.

Here was Brady’s post:

Thankful for these two BIG10 Network gentlemen, Jake Butt & Bob Lanigan, who offered and help me 900 miles/14 hours from my home on this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving Y’all! pic.twitter.com/0p5HMjRy9L

— Lanesha Bracy (@LaneshaBracy) November 25, 2022

That’s pretty far from home. Thankfully, Butt and Lanning were there to help this woman out — despite the small Big Ten rivalry that may exist between Butt and Bracy. Butt obviously played at Michigan and was a great tight end. But Bracy’s son, Reggie Bracy, is a cornerback for Iowa, one of the best defenses in the conference on a yearly basis.

But, when in need, the Big Ten community is there for one another, as Butt and Lanning showcased on Turkey Day.

Jake Butt is working for the Big Ten Network now that his playing career is in the rear view window. He totaled over 1600 career receiving yards as a staple at tight end for the Wolverines in the mid-2010s. Butt marginally improved every year he was on campus, never busting out as a superstar but always provided a reliable pass catcher and blocker for the maize and blue.

His pro career featured just a pair of stops in Denver. He bounced around some practice squads but only appeared on official rosters two times. Once in 2018 with the Denver Broncos, where he appeared in three games. Then he caught on with the Broncos again in 2020 and appeared in five games but ultimately couldn’t stick.