Seconds after Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis rumbled and hurtled his way to a 48-yard touchdown on Sunday, he broke down into tears and leaned on his teammates.
He had just executed a highlight-reel play against the Philadelphia Eagles, but that was nowhere near his mind at the moment. All he could think about was what he lost.
Davis’ grandfather passed away on Saturday, a man who acted as a father-figure throughout his life. This was his first reception playing without his grandfather watching.
The play was impressive by itself — Davis made a leaping catch on the right sideline, hurtled a defender and broke a couple of tackles on his way down the sideline — but the display of emotion is what’s really special here.
Football is at times a brutal game, and it can turn men into stone. Davis showed us all on Saturday that even the toughest players in the league are still human, and we all go through human moments.
