Former NFL player Dennis Byrd died in a car crash near Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday. He was 50 years old.
A defensive lineman for the New York Jets, Byrd's football career was ended by an on-field neck injury resulting in paralysis in 1992. He was able to learn to walk again within one year after the accident and subsequently authored a book on the experience, Rise and Walk: The Trial and Triumph of Dennis Byrd, in which he attributed his inspirational story to his Christian faith.
"We are all devastated by the untimely loss of Dennis Byrd," said Jets owner Woody Johnson. "Soft-spoken and strong-willed, the inspiration he provided to all not only by his play on the field but from the way he overcame life's obstacles was remarkable by any measure. His impact on the New York Jets and the many lives he touched will never be forgotten."
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