Dennis Byrd becomes New York Jets' honorary captain (Part 1)
The New York Jets had a #90 jersey with them as they walked to midfield for the coin toss before their game against the New England Patriots. The torn and tattered jersey was a token of inspiration from ex-Jets' defensive linesman Dennis Byrd.
This Sunday, Byrd himself will walk onto the field with the Jets for their AFC Championship Game coin toss as the honorary captain. This will be the first time in 18 years that Byrd will be walking onto the field in a professional game. The last time he
was on the field was 5 September, 1993 when the Jets honored him in the season opener, less than a year after the day he found out he could never play football again. During the halftime ceremony, the president of the Jets, Steve Gutman, presented Byrd with
the Most Inspirational Player Award, which was later called the Dennis Byrd Award.
Byrd was defensive end and defensive tackle from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was picked by the Jets in the 1989 NFL Draft in the second round, pick number 42. He played for the Jets for four years, recording 20 sacks and 110 tackles in
his first two years.
The 29 November 1992 game was one just like any other. The Jets were facing the Kansas City Chiefs and were favorites to win. During a play, Byrd blitzed Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg in an attempt to tackle him. However, Krieg avoided the sack and Byrd
ran into his own team-mate. He ducked his head at the last second before impact but fell to the ground and moved no more.
Byrd said that he tried to take his helmet off but couldn’t move his arms. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t feel anything from the neck down. In the collision, Byrd broke the C-5 vertebra of his spine, rendering him paralyzed. After months of intensive therapy,
Byrd was able to walk again but could not play football.
After breaking his spine, Byrd was honored by the Jets by wearing a #90 logo for a time. Also, some members of the Jets’ next opponents, the Buffalo Bills, wore the same logo as a sign of support, most specifically the offensive lineman.
Byrd attended Sunday’s game against the Pats in a private suite and gave a powerful speech which helped to get the Jets to the AFC Championship Game. Many of the players felt that it was Byrd’s speech that inspired them to play better.
"It's just fitting for him to be our captain," quarterback Mark Sanchez said. "I'm proud that he is. I wouldn't want it any other way. Hearing about his story for the first time really makes you understand how fortunate we are and how fragile your career
is and these moments you have on the plane, around in the locker room, having fun with guys, going to eat, playing on the field, it's pretty special."
After ending his career when he was just getting started, Byrd lost touch with the rest of the team. However, he sent a letter and the jersey that doctors had to cut off of him to head Coach Rex Ryan before the Jets versus Pats game.
In the letter, Byrd wrote that he patiently waited 18 long years but felt that now was the time to send the jersey that inspired him to walk again.
"The symbolism to me, is priceless," Byrd said on Sunday prior to the Jets' stirring victory. "That jersey was an essential part of my recovery. It helped me get my life back."
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