The unthinkable happened to Steve Longa on Thursday. His father was struck and killed by a car in Pennsylvania at the young age of 55. Longa was left with an impossible decision: tend to his family immediately or play for the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
He courageously chose to travel to Minnesota to play for the Lions, a team that desperately needed linebackers considering they were without their starting middle linebacker Jarrad Davis once again.
Longa entered the game as a reserve backup, but when Paul Worrilow left the game early, Longa was asked to contribute significantly on defense for the first time this season.