Matt Bryant Kicks Perfect Game In Honor of Son
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One day after the funeral for his 3-month-old son Matthew Tryson, Tampa Bay Buccaneer kicker Matt Bryant took to the field Sunday with his team, and had a perfect game. After kicking a field goal late in the fourth quarter — his third of the day — to seal a win against the Green Bay Packers, Matt wiped tears from his eyes and blew a kiss towards the heavens, offering thanks to his baby boy. "I talked with him personally, in my head, throughout the game," the 33-year-old revealed after the game. "I just wanted to remind him that he is my baby boy, and that he is with me at all times." Although sitting out the game would have been understandable, Matt felt it was important to play.
"I didn’t think it was very fair that his life was so short. This is the best way I believed I could get out and honor him. I miss him, and I wish he was here. He was here. And he helped out."
Coach Jon Gruden, who announced the news of Tryson’s death from SIDS following practice on Wednesday, presented Matt with the game ball in the locker room after Sunday’s game. Matt and wife Melissa are also parents to Tre, 2 years old today, along with Daniel, Jacob, Joshua and Madison, Melissa’s children from a previous relationship.
The family asks that any memorial contributions be made in Tryson’s name to March of Dimes, 405 North Reo Street, Suite 105, Tampa, FL 33609.
Source: News-Press
- Posted on Sep 29, 08 at 10:30AM
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- 7 Comments
September 29th, 2008 at 10:50 am
OMG.. that is SO sad! I feel so bad for him & his family! My brother died of SIDS & my father never really got over it. It’s devestating!
I wish him well!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Wow, what a man! That made me tear up a little bit. I will be praying for Matt and his family. I know a few people who have had children pass away from SIDS, it’s something you’ll never forget.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I was at the game yesterday & when they introduced him with the offense he had the loudest cheers and I had tears rolling down my face!!
September 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I saw part of the game yesterday. So sad. I am praying for the family.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
god,this is so awful.whenever i read about it i well up-i dread to think how awful Matt and his family feel right now.
what a couragous and unique way to honour his son’s memory.
i wish his family all the best at this sad time x
September 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
once you have a baby and you hear news like that, you just race to grab your own baby and kiss him all over. My son is the exact same age and it totally flipped me out to watch him and hear that news. No one should ever have to go through that. Bless Matt’s heart and love and peace to family.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I am a cheesehead, and a die hard Packerbacker. However, when I found out that Matt was playing I went out shopping instead of watching. 99.9% of me wanted Matt to do well. And I did not want to curse and yell at the Packers for playing bad whilst wanting Matt to kick well too. I wish the family only the best.