HOUSTON – When Bruce Thompson saw Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffer a devastating knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs, his heart was hurting.

Thompson, a former New Orleans Saints tryout wide receiver who played collegiately at Langston University, a historically black college in Oklahoma, has been friends with Dell and trained alongside him since the wide receiver was starring for the University of Houston.

“Me and Tank are close,” said Thompson, the owner and founder of Dreamathon, a company that makes vintage-inspired graphic T-shirts for several NFL athletes, told KPRC 2. “I’ve been knowing him since college. Then, he used to always wear Dreamathon shirts at practice. He’s been rocking my stuff and really supporting me.”

After the injury, a dislocated knee, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, torn medial collateral ligament, torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus damage, Thompson wanted to do something special to pay tribute to Dell.

When Texans safety M.J. Stewart approached him about designing shirts for the entire team, Thompson jumped on the opportunity and turned them around in days.

And the players rocked the Dell shirts in an emotional, trending moment before their 32-12 AFC South wild-card round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Man, honestly, it was a lot of gratitude,” said Thompson, whose shirts are available at dreamathon.co. “It made me proud I was able to create a moment for one of my brothers. You always want to uplift somebody that you’ve actually put blood, sweat and tears into. He told me, ‘I appreciate you, brother.’”

‘Encouraging and uplifting,’ how presence of injured wide receivers Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs fired up Texans in win

Earlier this season, Thompson designed Stefon Diggs shirts. Diggs is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The shirts were a hit with the players, including quarterback C.J. Stroud. They struck an emotional chord with Stroud, who was visibly distraught when Dell badly injured his knee in December.

“I like that, but it reminds me of the funeral shirts and it is kind of what we do back home,” said Stroud, who’s from California. “I would rather be there for somebody than wear a T-shirt, but I don’t mind wearing the shirt. Our equipment staff gets them for us. It is a good way to remember somebody that year, but I don’t want them to think they just own a shirt.

“I actually do check up on my guys who aren’t playing anymore, care for them more than just wearing a t-shirt. They are dope, though. I hope they liked it, but I don’t know if I would want to be up on a shirt. I think it is amazing that we do that and everyone shows respect to the person that is out for the rest of the year, but thank God they are not on the other side.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans wants a Dell shirt. Thompson said he’s got the NFL coach covered.

“Tank means a lot to our team,” Ryans said. “As you see with the guys, seeing him on the sideline, seeing the T-shirts, it’s real love. And everybody loves Tank. And I love Tank. We miss him. We miss Stef. We miss all of our guys that can’t be out there battling with us because we truly care for one another. So, it’s cool to see the shirts. They didn’t give me a shirt, though. What’s going on?have a lot of love for Tank and we’re wishing him a speedy recovery.”

After starting Dreamathon three years ago, Thompson, who has also played for the Orlando Guardians in the United Football League, has seen the popularity of the shirts grow and grow.

The Minnesota Vikings were about to play the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 7, 2021 when Vikings Pro Bowl wide receiver Justin Jefferson and cornerback Cam Dantzler were wearing ‘Free Odell’ shirts printed across the front after Odell Beckham Jr. had been released by the Cleveland Browns.

Thompson wanted to show love for OBJ, a player he’s been friends with since high school and calls a brother.

Among the viral moments Thompson has been a part of: shirts for Beckham, Jr., wearing a Juice Landry shirt to honor his former teammate and other apparel, Von Miller donning a special Bruce Smith-inspired Buffalo Bills shirt, shirts in memory of the late Kobe Bryant, a Deion Sanders shirt sported by Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, a shirt worn by Justin Jefferson honoring the late Vikings coach Bud Grant, a Tupac Shakur shirt worn by Deebo Samuel along with Tom Brady wearing an Antonio Brown shirt, in better, calmer times.

Jefferson has worn shirts celebrating LeBron James, Tre’Davious White and several others.

“I started my brand while finishing my degree and was still having workouts, trying out for teams,” Thompson said. “My grandmother passed away from COVID-19 when I started Dreamathon. All of a sudden, it was going viral on ESPN. I was in the cafeteria eating and doing my homework on a Sunday morning when the first shirt went viral with Odell. That was 2021. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. It’s all about hard work and sacrifice and the importance of authentic connections and friendships. It’s all about love. The players love the movement.

Born in New Orleans, Thompson moved to Texas with his mother after Hurricane Katrina hit their hometown. He attended middle school in Texas before returning to New Orleans and earning a scholarship to college. Beckham became a strong mentor. The rest is history, including modeling for several clothing lines like Fashion Nova.

“OBJ really guided me, directed me, motivated me and taught me the right things to do,” Thompson said. “He would tell me, ‘Make a play so loud I can’t hear you talk.’ I always manifest and dream big. I always believed and had this vision. Now, it’s all become a reality and I couldn’t be more grateful. Dreamathon is changing the world. I couldn’t be happier.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com