NFL

Pete Carroll rocked by Dennis Byrd death: ‘We’re so sick’

The news hit Pete Carroll hard last Saturday night. The Seahawks coach was preparing for his team’s game with the Falcons the next day when he heard Dennis Byrd had died.

Carroll had been the Jets’ defensive coordinator when Byrd suffered his career-ending neck injury. Carroll was at the hospital that night and watched Byrd fight to walk again.

“The whole process of watching Dennis handle this and go through it has really changed me,” Carroll said in a phone interview. “I was already optimistic. I was already a person that looked for good things to happen, but Dennis proved you don’t know how things are going to turn out. If you believe so deeply and you have the faith to stick with it, the right spirit, sometimes you can do anything. Dennis proved that. He proved that before our eyes.

“He was an extraordinary kid. It’s affected me because I always feel like I’m referencing back to Dennis when I’m challenging our guys to handle their issues. It’s been a lifelong effect on me. I was lucky to know him and be around him.”

The Jets will honor Byrd before Sunday’s game with the Ravens at MetLife Stadium. There will be a video tribute, a moment of silence and former teammates and his family members will be on the field for the coin toss.

Carroll will be in Arizona for the Seahawks’ game against the Cardinals, but his thoughts have been with the Byrd family all week.

“It’s a big loss,” Carroll said. “We’re so sick because they’ve gone through so much as a family. Dennis went through so much. Now, this is the next thing they have to deal with. It’s almost too much to ask. [Byrd’s wife] Angela has been extraordinary and I understand the kids are doing great. Our hearts go out to them.”

Carroll coached Byrd from 1990-92 and was there when Byrd returned to The Meadowlands and walked on the field in 1993.

“It’s been a really emotional realization that he’s passed away because there was such emotion and it just came bubbling right up,” Carroll said. “We went through so much as Dennis took on the challenge of returning and we were so connected to it. I didn’t realize how powerful it still remained in me.”


Linebacker David Harris had his streak of 121 consecutive games snapped last week in Arizona because of a hamstring injury. “It was kind of tough,” Harris said. “I’m used to being out there. I wasn’t healthy enough to go, so I had to live with it.”


The Jets have one rush of 20 or more yards this year. Only the Saints with zero have fewer. That probably won’t improve this week against the Ravens, who have the best rushing defense in football (69.7 yards per game).