Dennis Byrd - Aftermath

Aftermath

The Jets have not reissued Byrd's #90 since 1992. On July 31, 2012, the New York Jets announced that they will formally retire #90 during a half-time ceremony on October 28, 2012 against the Miami Dolphins.

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 him in the movie.

Byrd has spent most of the last several years traveling across the country and sharing his life story. He served as defensive line coach at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma and later at Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa. Lincoln Christian's football stadium is named for him. He currently lives in Tulsa with his wife, the former Angela Hales, and their four children.

During the week leading up to the 2010-2011 AFC Divisional match up between the Jets and the Patriots, Byrd sent Jets' head coach Rex Ryan his tattered, cut up jersey that had been cut from his body on the day of his injury along with an inspirational letter addressed to the Jets. Ryan was so moved by this that he invited him to come out and personally address the team prior to the Patriots game. The inspired Jets carried his jersey to the coin toss prior to the game; the Jets won 28-21.