Eric LeGrand came to the Sheraton hotel Monday morning in Midtown to promote his foundation, Team LeGrand, which aids paralysis research.
The paralyzed former Rutgers player left the Super Bowl Media Center with two tickets to Super Bowl XLVIII, courtesy of former NFL personnel man Gil Brandt, who now works for NFL.com and SiriusXM NFL radio.
“It’s phenomenal,” LeGrand told The Post. “The reason I came here today was to promote my foundation. To get Super Bowl tickets is just a plus.”
A lifelong Broncos fan, LeGrand, 23, was on “The Opening Drive with Ross Tucker” on SiriusXM, talking about his foundation, the upcoming Super Bowl, and how he was hoping to score tickets somehow. Brandt, who was also on the air, stepped in and promised him two.
“I was just like, ‘Thanks.’ What do you say at a moment like that?” LeGrand said. “You’re in shock. I can’t thank him enough.”
LeGrand had been to the Super Bowl before, two years ago in Indianapolis, when the Giants knocked off the Patriots. This game, however, will hold a special place in his heart — located on the same field where he was paralyzed 39 months ago after fracturing his C-3 and C-4 vertebrae in a Rutgers football game against Army on Oct. 16, 2010.
“It’s set up perfectly,” he said. “My favorite team, in the stadium I got hurt, right there in the state I was born.”
LeGrand became a Broncos fan as a youngster, despite growing up in Woodbridge Township, N.J. He was enamored with running back Terrell Davis, attended a playoff game in Denver in 2011 and got the chance to meet several of the team’s players in the locker room afterward.
“I wore No. 30 in Pop Warner and all through my high-school career,” LeGrand said. “I went through it when they won two Super Bowls, but I’ve been through rough patches when they tried to get back to the Super Bowl all these years and now they’re finally here.”
LeGrand expects it to be a memorable night. He also thinks his favorite team will win its third Super Bowl title.
“I believe we’re going to pull it out, 34-24, I think it’s going to be a great game and a great atmosphere out there,” he said. “[Denver’s defense] doesn’t get enough credit, how they can stop the run, especially with our guy [Terrance] Knight at the defensive tackle position. He’s playing phenomenal. This is the time we need him to peak.”
LeGrand, who still lives in New Jersey with his mother, this month completed his undergraduate degree from Rutgers in labor studies. He’s working on becoming a motivational speaker and wants to land a job in broadcasting.
“My dream is to become a great sports broadcaster and the best motivational speaker possible,” LeGrand said.