Raiders' Underwood startled by fame after asking Raisman out

Oakland Raiders tight end Colton Underwood toiled in relative anonymity until he decided to ask a young woman out. That woman was U.S. star gymnast Aly Raisman, and since she accepted his offer, Underwood has experienced a new wave of fame.

Underwood was prompted to ask Raisman out by teammate Andrew East who is married to 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. East even helped Underwood out with his proposal.

The 24-year-old tried to downplay the phenomena Tuesday.

"I was just asking a girl on a date," Underwood said to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "And it turned into something much bigger."

Underwood's coaches and teammates are elated for him.

"We have a celebrity in our midst," Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. "It's amazing how things get traction. I think young men doing what young men do and (he) invited out a really decorated Olympian, so that's a pretty neat story.

"I'm happy for him, and she made a good decision saying yes, because he's a really good guy. He really is. Besides all the football stuff, he's a really good person, so I hope it works out for him," quarterback Derek Carr added.

Underwood said he was proud of Raisman's accomplishments at Rio 2016, where she won three medals, including a gold in the team all-around competition.

"She did a great job and her whole team did of representing the U.S.A. (in Rio de Janeiro)," Underwood said. "So I felt like it was only right for me to send a congratulations and extend an offer when she got back to the U.S., and had some down time.

"Now I'm going to have to figure out a time in the schedule with the season coming up but she's actually scheduled to be out here in September so I'm looking forward to attending that show and catching up with her."