The football world has been hit with sad news of former Jets defensive end, Dennis Byrd, who tragically passed away on Saturday evening.
According to ESPN, Byrd, 50, was involved in a fatal car crash on an Oklahoma highway. He was reportedly driving his Hummer H2, and was struck by another vehicle traveling northbound that veered into the lane Byrd had been traveling on the state's Route 88. Byrd was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.
The other vehicle was driven by a 17-year-old, who was transported to a nearby Tulsa hospital along with the 12-year-old passenger in Byrd's Hummer. According to sources, both remain in critical condition.
Byrd, a University of Tulsa alumnus, was selected No. 42 in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Jets. He played for four years with the team. He is widely remembered for his inspirational story from when played in a game versus the Chiefs on November 29, 1992. Byrd had rushed to sack Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg, and collided head-on with his teammate Scott Mersereau's chest after Krieg had avoided the tackle. Byrd was knocked unconscious, and was carted off the field on a stretcher after the collision. Doctors diagnosed Byrd with a broken C-5 vertebra in his neck, and was paralyzed. The injury abruptly ended his football career.
Although, Byrd defied the odds through a rigorous physical therapy regimen. Within a year later, Byrd walked to midfield at the Jets then-titled stadium The Meadowlands for their home opener on September 5, 1993, where he was made an honorary captain for the game's coin toss. Jets president Steve Gutman then presented him the Most Inspirational Player Award during the game's halftime ceremony. That title was later changed to the Dennis Byrd Award.
The Jets have not reissued Byrd's No. 90 since his tragic on-field injury, and they formally retired Byrd's jersey number 90 on October 28, 2012 when they played the Miami Dolphins.
After Byrd's retirement from football, he had a stint as a commentator for the NFL on CBS. His story also inspired a made-for-TV movie about his football career titled Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story.
Complex sends our condolences to the Jets organization, its fans, Byrd's family, and friends.
