09/11/2026
9/11/11 — 15 years ago.
On the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, we opened our season against our biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an emotional game and a meaningful win for our organization. We beat Pittsburgh 35–7 that day at M&T Bank Stadium.
But more importantly, it was an emotional day for our nation.
For me personally, the day brought back a lot of memories.
On 9/11/01, I was still chasing my NFL dream, and at the time, that dream was looking pretty bleak. I had already been cut by three NFL teams in three years. I was at the ARC (Aztec Rec Center) working out when news that the towers had been struck began spreading throughout the gym. I remember stopping my workout and leaving. Football suddenly didn’t seem very important.
Fast-forward exactly 10 years. Against all odds, I was playing in my eighth NFL season, taking the field against the Steelers on the anniversary of a day I’ll never forget.
And we didn’t just win—we beat our division rival 35–7 to start the season.
I still have the NYPD and FDNY Under Armour cleats I wore in that game. They’re more than just a piece of football memorabilia to me. They’re a reminder of that day, of the people we lost, of the first responders who ran toward danger, and of just how much life can change in 10 years.
