When Terry Wharton walks through the halls of Bethesda Southgate, she brings more than her medical expertise and warm smile—she brings the heart of a mother who’s cheered from numerous sidelines. By day, she’s a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Bethesda’s float pool, admired for her calm presence and uplifting energy. But on game days? She’s Bethesda’s biggest Kansas City Chiefs fan—and that title runs deeper than team colors or touchdowns.
Terry’s son, Tershawn Wharton, made it all the way from local youth leagues to the NFL, playing defensive tackle for the Chiefs and earning two Super Bowl rings along the way. But before the lights of Arrowhead Stadium and national broadcasts, there were early mornings, late-night talks and one very determined mom.
Tershawn started playing football at age eight, often underestimated because of his size. Meanwhile, Terry was balancing motherhood with a growing career in healthcare, becoming an LPN while Tershawn was still in middle school. The two shared a drive to succeed, and Terry’s steady encouragement fueled her son’s dream.
“After his freshman year at Missouri S&T, he told me he wanted to make it to the NFL,” Terry recalls. “I was thrilled. But I also told him, ‘Let’s get to work and make it happen.’”
They did just that. By the time Tershawn graduated in 2020, he had caught the attention of scouts and signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. That same year, he earned a spot on the 52-man roster—and just months later, played in his first Super Bowl.
“Watching Tershawn on the field at the Super Bowl, living his dream, it was surreal,” Terry says. “I was in Tampa for the game and was just so happy for him.” She was also present for his Super Bowl victory in Las Vegas, and this year’s loss to Philadelphia in New Orleans.
These days, Terry builds her work schedule around game days, whether she’s in the stands or cheering from home alongside up to 40 family members and friends huddled around the television.
“Being in the float pool gives me flexibility,” she says. “Watching him play, seeing him at his happiest is incredibly fulfilling.”
Terry brings that same spirit of support and encouragement to her patients at Bethesda. She often uses Tershawn’s story to inspire her patients who sometimes could use a little extra motivation.
“There was a resident who loved football but needed a lift,” she says. “I arranged for Tershawn to FaceTime her, and it changed everything.”
In March 2025, Tershawn was traded to the Carolina Panthers. But Terry will still proudly wear her Chiefs red—unless, of course, they’re playing the Panthers. Whether it’s on the job or in the stands, Terry Wharton shows what it means to care deeply and cheer loudly.
