By Jenn Boehm -- Every time before Robert Redd steps on the field for the Gladiators, he makes a phone call to Dayton, Ohio. On the other end of the line he hears “Touchdown, Daddy!” 

Two heartwarming words from the mouths of babes: his two beautiful daughters Brianna (2) and Nevaeh (1).

“It’s the most beautiful thing. I get worked up just talking about it because they mean so much to me,” the Cleveland wide receiver/defensive back said. “I’m a softy when it comes to my little mommas.”

Redd said that even at their young age, his little girls watch all of his games and love football. They even leave him voicemails during the game.

“They pick up on every little thing. They know where daddy is, where to find him,” he said. “My momma will call and leave messages so I can hear my daughters. When I get home I can listen to them and I hear, ‘Daddy’s there, oh Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!’ That just gets me. I’m in love with them. They’re my world, my life.”

But it’s not without challenges. His youngest daughter Nevaeh was born premature and while she remained in the neonatal intensive care unit, Redd had to be at training camp.

“She was a little fighter from day one, but it was tough for me,” he said. “She was in [the NIC unit] for probably another month after I had left. That was one of the hardest times of my life.”

Redd stays as close to his girls as possible, making the three-hour trip from Cleveland whenever it’s feasible, sometimes getting up at 3:30 in the morning to get back in time for a 7 a.m. practice.

“Any chance I get to go see my daughters, I’m on the highway,” the-27-year-old said. “If we have a day off or a couple of hours after practice, I’m on [Interstate] 71 going home to get my babies. The drive back in the morning...sometimes makes it kind of tough, but it’s priceless the feeling I get when I get to see them. [They] drive me every single day to go out and do the best that I can.”

His best – alongside his teammates - has advanced the No. 4 Gladiators to the National Conference Championship game at No.1 Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. With his little ladies watching, Redd knows his squad will face a fierce competitor in the Soul.

“It’s a huge game,” he said. “It’s becoming a bit of a rivalry because both games we played have been so close. They have such a great team and they are well coached. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. It will be a good one.”

The teams split the series during the regular season, with Cleveland handing Philly its first loss of the season (67-55) in Week 10, while the Soul squeaked out a 62-61 win in their second meeting. Redd accounted for 16 receptions and 217 yards (one score) in the contests.

Now in his third season, the Ohio native has had an outstanding postseason. In wins against No. 5 Orlando and No. 2 Georgia, he’s recorded 19 catches for 247 yards and seven touchdowns, including a huge scoring grab against the Force with 1:43 remaining to put the Gladiators up by 10 points and claim the victory.

Redd credits much of his AFL achievement to Cleveland offensive coordinator Brian Partlow.

“He introduced me to Arena Football. He brought me into Colorado (in 2004) and we built a nice relationship there,” the 5-10, 195-pound versatile athlete said. “He’s the reason I came to Cleveland. I figured instead of going somewhere else where they didn’t know my abilities, I would go somewhere where I could give myself the best chance to be successful,” Redd said. “[Partlow’s] a younger coach, so he can relate to a lot of what we go through as players. He’s been an important part of my career.”

The oldest of six children, Redd grew up in football-friendly Dayton, where most of his family still resides. He was a four-year letterman at Wayne High School, where he registered 152 career receptions for 2,007 yards and 27 touchdowns (all school records) and earned co-offensive player of the year honors from the Dayton Daily News as a senior, leading the state with 75 catches for 1,095 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also played running back and cornerback and returned punts and kickoffs.

His family was – and still remains – constantly at his side, acknowledging his grandparents Yolanda and Raymond Redd and his mother Rhonda. Someone from his family has been at every Gladiators home game this season.

“Outside of God, my family has played the most important part in my career and my life,” he said. “In this wild roller coaster of professional sports, you never know what is going to happen. They’ve been so supportive in everything. They’ve been there for me in the good times and the bad times.”

Although his father Robert Horton “hasn’t always been around,” their relationship has grown over the past ten years. And the two share a passion for sports.

“He’s a really good basketball player, real competitive. But I tear him up every time we play,” Redd laughed. “I work him every time we get on the court.”

After high school Redd played at Bowling Green, where he was a two-time All-MAC selection and finished his career as the Falcons’ all-time leader in receptions (211) and receiving yards (2,686). He continued a family tradition of playing college football at Bowling Green, with two uncles, Ronnie Redd and Ray Redd, preceding him on the Falcons football team.

“I got a chance to watch them growing up. I wanted to be just like them. They were my role models. They both excelled all the way through college,” he said. “I remember them both being so disappointed that they never had a chance to go to the next level and I remember not ever wanting to feel like that. They’re really strong individuals, so when I saw them get emotional about that, it stuck with me. They live vicariously through me on a professional level. I knew that I had the ability to play football and I’m going to do it until I can’t do it anymore.”

And when that happens, Redd envisions himself on television. However, he sees himself as more of a Denzel Washington rather than a Stuart Scott.

“I don’t know how good I would be at broadcasting. I’m not camera shy, but I’m not a good public speaker. Maybe acting. People say I’m a character, but that’s just me being me,” said Redd, who’s favorite movie, at least “right now until something better comes out,” is American Gangster.

“I would love to be somewhere on TV either way. Just give me a little TV time.”

Well, Mr. Redd, keep playing like you have been and it’s a certainty you’ll get plenty of that on Saturday afternoon.