Dennis Byrd

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Dennis Byrd
Date of birth:	October 5, 1966 (1966-10-05) (age 41)
Place of birth:	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Career information
Position(s):	Defensive tackle
College:	Tulsa
NFL Draft:	1989 / Round: 2 / Pick 42
Organizations
As player:
1989-1992	New York Jets
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Dennis DeWayne Byrd born (October 5, 1966 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former 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 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 fellow Jets teammate Scott Mersereau. Byrd ducked his head at the last moment before he collided with Mersereau's chest. The head-first collision resulted in a broken vertebra 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 old number 90 (he is a devout Pentecostal). Although not officially retired by the Jets, the number 90 jersey has not been worn by a Jets player since Byrd, and it is understood that no Jet will ever wear that number 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 played Byrd in the movie. He currently lives in Tulsa with his wife, the former Angela Hales, and their four children.

Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa named its football stadium after him; he served as its defensive line coach for several years.