Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno plays football like an All-Pro, but he cries like a champion.

Moreno was spotted crying on the sideline before Sunday’s game between his Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. Actually, crying is an understatement. The 26-year-old running back unleashed a certifiable river of tears; an image that launched a thousand GIFs and an untold number of tweets.

According to CBS Sports, Moreno’s emotional antics at Arrowhead Stadium took place during the playing of the national anthem. It’s unclear why this week’s version of The Star-Spangled Banner caused Moreno to cry such impressive tears, but it’s hard to fault a guy for such unbridled patriotism. He touched two fingers to his lips and pointed upward, so it’s possible that he had someone specific on his mind.

After the game, Moreno told Yahoo Sports that he simply got caught up in the moment. "The emotion always gets to me,” Moreno said.” I am just thinking about everything in general through your whole life, just balled up into one. Yeah, it helps me. Sometimes I don't even notice it, it just comes."

As previously stated, Moreno’s tears were a bit hit on the Internet. Dozens of sports personalities commented on the situation:

“Goodness gracious!!! Knowshon Moreno is going to get dehydrated just from crying. You see how large those tears were?? #waterfalls,” Fox Sports One host Mike Hill wrote on Twitter. “Somebody check Knowshon Moreno’s tear ducts for fire hoses,” ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted.

Still, Moreno wasn’t crying for long. The Broncos running back played a crucial role in his Denver’s victory over the Chiefs. He didn’t have much success carrying the football, but caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown during the team’s 35-28 win.

[h/t The Big Lead]

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