Dennis Byrd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dennis Byrd | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | October 5, 1966 |
| Place of birth | Oklahoma City, OK |
| Position(s) | Defensive tackle |
| College | Tulsa |
| NFL Draft | 1989 / Round 2/ Pick 42 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1989-1992 | New York Jets |
Dennis DeWayne Byrd born (October 5, 1966 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) was a defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He attended college at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He had played professionally for the New York Jets for 4 seasons beginning in 1989.
Byrd was paralyzed from a neck injury during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs in a game on November 29, 1992. During the play, he dove in an attempt to sack Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg, but as Krieg avoided the tackle, Byrd collided with fellow Jets teammate Scott Mersereau. The head-first collision resulted in a broken vertebrae that left Byrd paralyzed.
Byrd made a full recovery from his injury but never played football again. During his recovery, the Jets briefly used a Jesus fish logo bearing his number (90). Although not officially retired by the Jets, the number 90 jersey has not been worn by a Jets player since Byrd.
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.
He is currently the defensive line coach at Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa, whose football stadium is named for him.
 |
This biographical article relating to an American football defensive lineman is a stub. You can help by adding to it. |
