CINCINNATI — A few Cincinnati Bengals players used their day off between football games for a good cause. The team partnered with Operation Ramp It Up to help build a ramp for a Cincinnati-area Army veteran. 

What You Need To Know

  • Operation Ramp It Up builds ramps for veterans

  • The Bengals partnered with the nonprofit to build a ramp for a Cincinnati veteran

  • Evan McPherson and other players spent their off day building the ramp

  • Arthur Coffey, an Army veteran who is getting the ramp, said it means so much to him and his wife

The Cincinnati Bengals are hard at work. Players like linebacker Clay Johnston are helping build a ramp.

Linebacker Clay Johnston puts together a portion of the ramp. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

The ramp is for nearly 90-year-old Army vet Arthur Coffey, so he and his wife can get out the door easier.

Johnston said getting out in the community is important to show he and his teammates are more than just football players.

Arthur Coffey and his wife Nancy wait while their ramp is built, (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“I think there’s plenty more to life than just football," Johnston said. "And I think we should help contribute. This 90-year-old, he’s a former vet, he’s done a lot for us so I think we should just give back to society.”

For Evan McPherson, he said it’s an honor to meet and help this veteran.

Evan McPherson shakes hands with Army veteran Arthur Coffey. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“It really means a lot," McPherson said. "We don’t really understand all that he’s given to our community and to our country. So just giving back this little bit to him I feel like means a lot to him and it certainly means a lot to us getting to meet him and hear his stories and helping him out.”

The team partnered with Operation Ramp it Up, a local nonprofit that has built ramps in 43 states. 

Operation Ramp It Up is a local nonprofit and has installed ramps in 43 states. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“It’s just so touching," Greg Schneider, the CEO and founder of Operation Ramp it Up, said."It’s tears of joy that you just changed somebody’s life. You saved their life, their family. Now they don’t need help getting in and out, they can come and go on their own.”

While the football players may not have built a ramp before, now they can say they have.

Bengals players help lift a portion of the ramp. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“I can’t say I ever built a ramp," McPherson said. "But I feel like if I need to now, I have the knowledge to do it now.”

For Arthur Coffey, it means everything.

“That helps us a whole lot," Coffey said. "Nobody will ever know how much it does help.”

If you or someone you know is a veteran that could use a ramp, click here to apply or nominate someone.