Eric LeGrand and new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano back in their Rutgers days.

When Eric LeGrand was paralyzed in a game against Army in 2010, he lost more than his dream of playing professional football.  Fracturing two vertebrae in his neck, LeGrand was told by doctors that he would never walk again, let alone play football.  While his official football days are over, Eric LeGrand has served as an inspiration to millions of others who, while they may be in wheelchairs, are not giving up on life.  That’s why Greg Schiano, LeGrand’s former coach with Rutgers, signed Eric LeGrand to a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It’s a symbolic gesture.  They can’t give me any money with the salary cap and all that kind of stuff,” said a thrilled LeGrand, who is on track to graduate from Rutgers with a degree in broadcast journalism.  “It’s symbolic, something Coach wanted to do and I appreciate that.  It just shows the man that he is.”  LeGrand added, “It’s something I always dreamed about, go to the NFL and retire and become a sportscaster.  Dreams do come true if you really believe.  You do the right things in life, good things happen to you.  He really just did this out of the kindness of his heart.  It’s really what he wanted to do.  I had no idea this was going to happen.”

This is really a classy move by Schiano.  Good for him for making a kid’s dreams come true, and good for the Bucs to let that happen.  It’s nice to see a guy get rewarded for his efforts to inspire others, and it’s heartwarming to see a coach remember his former player in such a public way.

Tags: greg schiano, eric legrand, tampa bay buccaneers, eric legrand signs with tampa bay, nfl, national football league, heartwarming stories, sports, football, professional football, paralyzed football player signs professional contract, eric legrand signs with tampa bay, eric legrand paralyzed, rutgers scarlet knights, rutgers

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