New York Jets players voted to give the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award — named after Dennis Byrd, the defensive end who was paralyzed during a 1992 game and had to relearn how to walk — to Aaron Rodgers, the guy who tore his Achilles four snaps into Gang Green’s opener and vowed to return but didn’t.
Rodgers largely received the award for his comeback bid following Achilles surgery on Sept. 13. He returned to practice just two and a half months later but never appeared in a game. Rodgers later admitted on The Pat McAfee Show that “being medically cleared as 100 percent healed is just not realistic.”
If that was the case, then what was this award even for? Byrd broke his vertebrae in a head-on collision during a November 1992 game. The defensive end was left unable to walk by the injury and went through extensive physical therapy. While he learned to walk again, Byrd never played another down of football. His final achievement as a Jet was walking onto the field for the coin toss of the 1993 home opener.
Byrd’s No. 90 was officially retired by the Jets in 2012, although it was informally retired since his injury. He spent years after his injury touring the country and telling his story as a motivational speaker. Byrd even sent then-head coach Rex Ryan the jersey that was cut off Byrd’s body the day of the accident during New York’s 2011 playoff run. Ryan was so honored that he had Byrd come and speak to the team the night before their road playoff matchup against the New England Patriots. The Jets went on to upset the Patriots, 28-21 — the last Jets playoff victory.
Byrd’s story is inspirational. A monthslong effort to regain the ability to walk, less than a year removed from a paralyzing injury, is a feat worthy of an award’s namesake. He continued to inspire others until his passing in 2016.
It sullies that name to give it to Rodgers, a man who appeared on network television weekly – the same show he picked fights with Dr. Anthony Fauci and made false Jimmy Kimmel-Jeffrey Epstein connections – to promise a comeback that never really came. The closest Rodgers came to a comeback was making an interception as a scout-team linebacker in practice. Impressive to do two months after Achilles surgery, yes, but it does nothing to actually help the team win.
It seems NYJ head coach Robert Saleh sees it differently.
“I’ve said it a million times, he loves his teammates and his teammates love him,” Saleh said. “He’s so intentional with how he approaches everybody in the building. He’s very thoughtful in the way he does things, and he’s a tremendous human. He’s really well deserving of this award.”
