Rob Freedman has been defying expectations since he was born a 1-pound, 10-ounce preemie. Recently, the Arizona Cardinals nominated the Phoenix resident to appear on “Good Morning America” during July’s Disability Pride Month. 

The team had already honored him as its 2021 Fan of the Year. This accolade was different. This time the Washington High School special education aide was on a national stage. 

“They texted me in May and said they wanted to do a video shoot at my work,” Freedman recalled. 

“Then a couple weeks later, they called and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to New York to be on ‘Good Morning America.’’”

He was in Kansas City at the time, visiting a close friend and attending the World Cup. 

“I was in a whirlwind,” he said. 

Two weeks later, he was sitting inside the GMA’s massive studio, shaking hands with hosts like Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts. He settled in as if he were in someone’s living room, he said. Freedman spoke about his students and the team he loves. 

Strahan and the “GMA” crew responded with genuine warmth — something Freedman felt instantly. “They were very wonderful, very genuine, and easy to talk to,” he said.

Then came the surprise. The Cardinals gifted tickets so several of Freedman’s students could attend this Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Dallas Cowboys. When the announcement aired, he saw familiar faces on the screen — students and coworkers who woke up at 4 in the morning to be at the Cardinals’ home, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, for the live segment. Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. shared video greetings. 

“I was surprised when I saw them on TV,” he said. “It made me feel so good.”

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Familiar face

His connection to the Cardinals runs deep. He doesn’t miss a game. He knows players’ stats. He remembers details most people forget. His sister, Jill Germroth, calls him “the original Google,” a nickname born from childhood when she called him “Goo” and “Gooky.”

“When we were little, he went up to Dan Majerle and asked how his wife, Tina, was,” she said. “He remembers everything. He connects with people in a way I’ve never seen.”

That connection is part of why the Cardinals chose him for the “GMA” feature. According to Germroth, the decision was unanimous. 

“Rob has touched so many people there. They know his heart. They trusted him to represent the Bird Gang.”

A life built on kindness and resilience

Freedman’s story is threaded with resilience. Born 11 weeks early, he spent his early years in therapy and early‑childhood intervention. Doctors warned he might never walk or talk. He proved them wrong.

“Now he never stops walking or talking,” Germroth said.

At age 9, he was mainstreamed out of special education — the same year his father, a criminal lawyer devoted to helping others, was killed in a car accident. Germroth was 12. Their mother, Mickey, a retired high school counselor, became the anchor of the family. 

“We grew up with the Golden Rule,” Germroth said. “Treat others how you want to be treated. Rob is the epitome of that.”

She remembers the bullying he endured, the labels people tried to place on him, the cruelty that still stings when she talks about it. 

“People shouldn’t be defined by their disability,” Germroth said. 

Instead, they defined him by his kindness, humor and his ability to make people feel seen. “He’s just pure light,” Germroth said. “He’s been misunderstood, but he never stops being kind.”

A sister’s pride

Germroth and her family watched the segment from the East Coast, where she was vacationing with her husband and kids. She screamed, cried and cheered.

“I’m obviously one of Rob’s biggest fans,” she said. “Seeing him on there, seeing how he interacted — he just brings this way about him that I’ve never seen in anyone else.”

Nervous about what she may see, Germroth read the comments on the “GMA” Facebook page.

“People are mean behind a screen,” she said. But the comments were overwhelmingly positive. “People were saying, ‘The world needs more Rob.’ I’ve been saying that for years. Now strangers across the country are saying it, too.” 

The teacher who shows up

Freedman’s students see him as steady, funny and deeply caring. He sees them as the next generation of people who need kindness, resilience and support — the same things he needed.

“We’ve all been there where negative people try to break you,” he said. “You just have to be strong and resilient.”

For Germroth, the “GMA” moment was more than a TV appearance. It was a chance for the world to see her energetic, kind brother. “His joy is contagious,” she said. 

“Rob is not the average 42‑year‑old. He’s refreshing. He’s kind. He has such a heart of gold and the light shines in many ways. The world is a better place because he’s in it.”