Dennis Byrd, a former Jets defensive lineman who was temporarily paralyzed after a career-ending neck injury in 1992, died Saturday in a two-vehicle crash near Claremore, Okla., The Tulsa World reported. Byrd was 50.
A 17-year-old boy driving a sport utility vehicle north on Oklahoma Highway 88 veered into the oncoming lane, striking an S.U.V. driven by Byrd, who was pronounced dead at the scene, The World reported.
Against the Chiefs, on Nov. 29, 1992, Byrd and a teammate collided while chasing Kansas City quarterback Dave Krieg. Byrd broke a bone in his spine and could not move his lower body.