We all have heroes who inspire us. For example, Phoenix Suns fans admire star guard Devin Booker and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
However, not everyone worships prominent figures like Booker and Barkley. Some appreciate less-heralded individuals for reasons that don't meet the eye at first glance, like Arizona Cardinals All-Pro tight end Trey McBride.
McBride went off the beaten path when discussing his childhood idol during an exclusive interview with FanSided. He threw out quite a surprising name: former nine-year veteran Joel Dreessen.
Cardinals star TE Trey McBride shockingly looked up to under-the-radar former NFL veteran Joel Dreessen
You may be wondering why McBride held a rotational tight end in such high regard, and understandably so. Dreessen topped 500 yards only once in eight seasons as a pro. Nevertheless, as the former expressed, they're notably from the same city and schools in Colorado.
“I had a tight end from my hometown, Joel Dreessen, who played in the NFL for a few years, and that’s who I really looked up to," McBride said. "I wanted to be just like him, do everything that he did and kind of follow in his footsteps.”
Well, it feels safe to see that McBride accomplished his goal and then some. He's the second-highest-paid tight end in football and nearly totaled Dreessen's career receiving output in 2025 alone. Together, they're representing their roots proudly.
Dreessen and McBride both went to Fort Morgan High School before their collegiate days at Colorado State University. They then made the jump to the NFL, which is where we saw them take different trajectories — to the Red Sea's delight.
A sixth round pick by the New York Jets in 2005, Dreessen spent most of his time in the league with the Houston Texans. He caught 158 passes for 1,767 yards and 19 touchdowns across 120 contests. The Denver Broncos gave him the opportunity to represent his hometown team before retiring, though they released him in 2014 following a failed physical.
Meanwhile, McBride has established himself as arguably the premier weapon at his position. He's operated as the focal point of the Cardinals' offense since breaking out in 2023. The 26-year-old set the single-season receptions record for a tight end in 2025 (126) after nearly breaking it in 2024.
Note: Arizona Cardinals standout tight end Trey McBride spoke on behalf of Rockin' Protein.