During a 13-year career with the San Francisco 49ers as a bruising defensive tackle, Bryant Young inflicted quite a bit of pain on opposing offenses. Nothing compared to the pain inflicted upon him by life in 2016.
Let MSN pick up the story–frankly, I’m a bit too teary-eyed myself to continue for the moment:
On a day when former San Francisco 49er Bryant Young was honored for a career’s worth of achievements, the legendary defensive end didn’t want to highlight himself. Instead, in a moving tribute, Young took time during his NFL Hall of Fame acceptance speech to tell the story of his son Colby, who passed away from brain cancer when he was just 15 years old.
Young spoke of his son as a joyful child with many interests, including football, and described how Colby fought bravely in the face of a cancer diagnosis even as his condition turned terminal.
Fighting through tears, Young addressed his late son directly.
“Colby, you live on in our hearts. We will always speak your name,” said the elder Young, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
A number of NFL personalities chimed in to discuss Young’s passionate speech. With former Oakland Raiders beat reporter Jerry McDonald writing, “To call 49ers’ Bryant Young a class act doesn’t do him justice. His speech today was like a window into his soul, and the view was spectacular.”
Before the emotional speech, Eddie Debartolo, the famed former 49ers owner, presented Young with his customary golden jacket. Young’s old teammates, and fellow Niner Hall of Farmers, Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens were also in attendance for the ceremony.
Young enjoyed a 14-year career from 1994-2007, all with the 49ers, in which he collected 89.5 sacks and was named to four Pro Bowl teams. The defensive end was part of the Niners’ last Super Bowl winning team in 1995.
Young finished his speech by mentioning how serendipitous it was that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the class of ’22, because 22 was Colby’s favorite number.
Mills, the 5-foot-9 linebacker nicknamed “Field Mouse” during his 12-year career with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, was inducted posthumously. An inspirational figure, Mills overcame tremendous odds to even reach the NFL.
“He was told he wasn’t good enough to play college football or big enough to play professional football and at the age of 27, he wasn’t young enough to play in the NFL and yet here we are today celebrating,” said Melanie Mills, Sam’s widow.
And not to be outdone, former St. Louis Rams Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil, forever connected with crying tears of joy just after his team held off Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson one yard short of the goal line to win the first 21st century Super Bowl, held back at least his public display of tears to bask in his moment in the sun.