"I learned to be a man in Oklahoma," Byrd said, "and I grew to be a man in New York."
Byrd's story was later made into a made-for-TV movie, with actor-director Peter Berg playing him.
Flanked by wife Angela and their four children, along with several of his former teammates, Byrd fought back tears while he was given a standing ovation by the fans at MetLife Stadium.
During the 2010 season, Byrd sent then-Jets coach Rex Ryan the No. 90 jersey that had been torn from his torso on the field after the collision as an inspirational gift.
The Oologah-Talala Emergency Medical Services said the crash happened at about 11 a.m. between Oologah and Claremore. It said a 17-year-old Claremore youth driving a 2000 Ford Explorer northbound on Oklahoma 88 veered into the oncoming lane, striking the 2004 Hummer H2 that Byrd was driving.
As a guest of the team, Byrd delivered a moving speech to the Jets at their hotel the night before a 28-21 playoff victory over the New England Patriots — during which the Jets had hung Byrd's jersey in their locker room.
Every year,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, a Jets player is selected by his teammates to receive the Dennis Byrd Most Inspirational Player award.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Byrd was a second-round draft pick of the Jets in 1989 and quickly became a fan favorite for his intensity on the field as much as his humble, soft-spoken approach off it.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Byrd died in a two-vehicle collision on Oklahoma 88 north of Claremore.
"We know that Dennis touched numerous lives and will be missed by many."
He was considered one of the NFL's promising young defensive ends during his first three seasons, racking up 27 sacks — a mark that only two players in franchise history surpassed: Mark Gastineau with 33 1/2 from 1979-81 and John Abraham with 27 1/2 from 2000-02.
And with each step he took toward recovery from paralysis while guided by his always-present faith, Byrd defied doctors' grim predictions and became a symbol of perseverance and hope.
"I really have loved coaching football and working with kids, talking about the lessons I've learned as an athlete and the journey as someone with a disability," Byrd said in 2012. "Football has always been, for me, a cornerpost of strength and a way to accomplish things in life, whether it's on the field or just in maintaining a quality of life. All those lessons — dedication, perseverance, teamwork — they all dovetail nicely into living a blessed life."
Mersereau introduced Byrd to the crowd, saying the most touching moment of his life came when he visited Byrd in the hospital and his teammate — unable to walk at that time — told him: "Angie and I have been worried about you."
Dennis Byrd was an inspiration for far more than anything he ever accomplished on a football field.
Byrd had one sack midway through his fourth season when his life was changed during a game on Nov. 29, 1992, against Kansas City.
After a vigorous rehabilitation over the next several months, Byrd returned to the Meadowlands for the Jets' opening game the following season and walked — gingerly but unaided — to midfield as an honorary captain.
No Jets player has worn No. 90 since Byrd, and on Oct. 28, 2012, the team honored him at halftime of its game against Miami by making him the fifth player in franchise history to have his number retired.
The Tulsa World first reported Byrd's death. He starred at Mustang High School outside Oklahoma City and then at the University of Tulsa before playing for the New York Jets.
"We extend our sincere condolences to Dennis' wife, Angela, their children and the entire Byrd family,Cheap Jerseys China," said Dr. Derrick Gragg,Nike Air Vapormax From China, Tulsa's athletic director. "Dennis exemplified true determination, tremendous heart and humility throughout his life. He had a tremendous playing career at TU and professionally with the New York Jets. He overcame great personal adversity after a life-altering injury on the football field.
He never fully recovered from the injury, walking with some difficulty and going through continuous rehabilitation during the years since. But Byrd,Wholesale China Jerseys, a devout Christian, wrote a book in 1993 called "Rise and Walk: The Trial and Triumph of Dennis Byrd," which detailed how he relied on his faith and family to push through his injury to recover and serve an inspiration to others who went through similar situations.

On Saturday, the former NFL defensive lineman whose career was ended by a neck injury was killed in a car accident. He was 50.
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