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Viral Video of Coach Hauling Kids’ Football Gear on the Bus Sparks Community to Buy Family a Car

06:01 PM, 11/26/2025
Viral Video of Coach Hauling Kids’ Football Gear on the Bus Sparks Community to Buy Family a Car

Roman "Coach Roman" Valdez was filmed carrying four kids' football bags on a bus; the clip reached over 3 million viewers. The California family of six relied on public transit after losing their home and lacking a reliable car. Community support via a GoFundMe raised $8,932 and allowed them to buy a used vehicle, easing daily logistics. The family emphasizes resilience and gratitude for the kindness they received.

A TikTok video showing Roman Valdez — known locally as Coach Roman — juggling four kids' football bags while commuting by bus reached more than 3 million viewers and prompted a wave of community support that changed his family's daily life.

Valdez and his wife, Jennifer Solis, are 32 and parents to six children, including four boys who play youth football and two daughters. Valdez has coached their sons since they started in 6U, often volunteering on the sidelines and using every opportunity to help the kids improve.

Without a reliable car, the California family relied on public transit for practices and games. Solis, a full-time student in the medical field and a part-time youth football league AD, says the family sometimes spent savings on motel rooms to make travel possible. Taking the bus became a practical — if taxing — solution.

“We all have been taking the bus for a while now,” Solis said. “Not everyone can always give rides, which we understand — people have responsibilities. So, for us, taking the bus ensures we’re not a burden.”

Both parents ride the bus. After dropping the kids at school or practice, Valdez heads to his day job as a general laborer, then returns to prepare the children for evening practice, often carrying helmets, cleats, jerseys and water jugs across multiple stops.

Small acts of kindness along the way stuck with the family: a parent who handed Valdez a heartfelt card reading “You make a difference” and a bus driver who gave them free passes after noticing their struggle. Those moments, Solis says, provided comfort during hard times.

After the video went viral, neighbors and strangers reached out with offers of help. A community-led GoFundMe raised $8,932, which the family used to buy a dependable used vehicle. Solis says the car — while showing a few minor mechanical issues — has eased their schedule, eliminated long bus commutes and given the family much-needed breathing room.

The family has faced significant instability: Valdez experienced multiple layoffs, and they lost their home in March, spending months moving between motels before finding temporary shelter with a relative. The new car does not erase those struggles, but it reduces daily stress and logistical hurdles.

“Having a reliable car changed everything,” Solis said. “We no longer have to worry about catching buses or waking up extra early. The kids’ resilience and our willingness to make it work helped us through — and the community’s support made a real difference.”

The story is a reminder of how small acts of recognition and collective kindness can help a family regain stability while honoring the dedication of a coach who puts his children and his team first.

Reported by Jennifer Solis.

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