Dennis Byrd
Encyclopedia
Dennis DeWayne Byrd is a former defensive end
and defensive tackle for the New York Jets
of the National Football League
. He attended college at the University of Tulsa
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. He played professionally for the Jets for four seasons beginning in 1989. In his first two seasons, he recorded 27 sacks and 110 tackles.
on November 29, 1992. During the play, he rushed in an attempt to sack Chiefs quarterback
Dave Krieg
, but Krieg stepped up to avoid the tackle, and Byrd collided with Jets teammate Scott Mersereau
. He ducked his head at the last moment before he collided with Mersereau's chest. The head-first collision resulted in a broken C-5 vertebra that left him unable to walk for the time being. Eventually, after extensive physical therapy, he would walk again but he couldn't go back to playing football.
During his recovery, the Jets briefly used an ichthys
logo bearing his old #90. In addition, some members (mainly offensive linemen) from the Buffalo Bills
also wore it as a sign of support (the first game following his injury was against the Bills).
Byrd returned to the Meadowlands
for the Jets' home opener on September 5, 1993, walking to midfield as an honorary captain for the coin toss. During a halftime ceremony, Jets president Steve Gutman presented him with a trophy for the Most Inspirational Player Award, which would thereafter be called the Dennis Byrd Award.
He is the co-author of an autobiographical work titled Rise and Walk: The Trial and Triumph of Dennis Byrd and the subject of a made for television film Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story. Peter Berg
played him in the movie.
Byrd has spent most of the last several years traveling across the country and sharing his life story. He served as defensive line coach at Owasso High School
in Owasso, Oklahoma
and later at Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa
. Lincoln Christian's football stadium is named for him. He currently lives in Tulsa with his wife, the former Angela Hales, and their four children.
During the week leading up to the 2010-2011 AFC Divisional match up between the Jets and the Patriots, Byrd sent Jets' head coach Rex Ryan
his tattered, cut up jersey that had been cut from his body on the day of his injury along with an inspirational letter addressed to the Jets. Ryan was so moved by this that he invited him to come out and personally address the team prior to the Patriots game. The inspired Jets carried his jersey to the coin toss prior to the game; the Jets won 28-21.
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
and defensive tackle for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He attended college at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He played professionally for the Jets for four seasons beginning in 1989. In his first two seasons, he recorded 27 sacks and 110 tackles.
Injury and recovery
Byrd suffered a neck injury during an NFL game against the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on November 29, 1992. During the play, he rushed in an attempt to sack Chiefs quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
, but Krieg stepped up to avoid the tackle, and Byrd collided with Jets teammate Scott Mersereau
Scott Mersereau
Scott Robert Mersereau born is a former defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He attended college at Southern Connecticut State University...
. He ducked his head at the last moment before he collided with Mersereau's chest. The head-first collision resulted in a broken C-5 vertebra that left him unable to walk for the time being. Eventually, after extensive physical therapy, he would walk again but he couldn't go back to playing football.
During his recovery, the Jets briefly used an ichthys
Ichthys
Ichthys, from Koine Greek: , is the Greek word for "fish"....
logo bearing his old #90. In addition, some members (mainly offensive linemen) from the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
also wore it as a sign of support (the first game following his injury was against the Bills).
Byrd returned to the Meadowlands
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
for the Jets' home opener on September 5, 1993, walking to midfield as an honorary captain for the coin toss. During a halftime ceremony, Jets president Steve Gutman presented him with a trophy for the Most Inspirational Player Award, which would thereafter be called the Dennis Byrd Award.
Aftermath
The Jets have not reissued Byrd's #90 since 1992; although it has not been formally retired it is understood that no Jet will ever wear it again.He is the co-author of an autobiographical work titled Rise and Walk: The Trial and Triumph of Dennis Byrd and the subject of a made for television film Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story. Peter Berg
Peter Berg
Peter Berg is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is known for directing films such as Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, The Rundown, Hancock and Battleship. He also developed the television series Friday Night Lights, which was adapted from the film he directed. As an actor...
played him in the movie.
Byrd has spent most of the last several years traveling across the country and sharing his life story. He served as defensive line coach at Owasso High School
Owasso High School
Owasso High School is a secondary school located within Tulsa County in Owasso, Oklahoma.Most well known to educators nationally for the Owasso Public Schools v. Falvo case. -Sources:...
in Owasso, Oklahoma
Owasso, Oklahoma
Owasso is a city in Rogers and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and a northern suburb of Tulsa. The population was 28,915 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Owasso is located at...
and later at Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. Lincoln Christian's football stadium is named for him. He currently lives in Tulsa with his wife, the former Angela Hales, and their four children.
During the week leading up to the 2010-2011 AFC Divisional match up between the Jets and the Patriots, Byrd sent Jets' head coach Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
his tattered, cut up jersey that had been cut from his body on the day of his injury along with an inspirational letter addressed to the Jets. Ryan was so moved by this that he invited him to come out and personally address the team prior to the Patriots game. The inspired Jets carried his jersey to the coin toss prior to the game; the Jets won 28-21.