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June 2006 News Archives

The Patriots’ Tedy Bruschi: NFL Comeback Player of the Year

June 21, 2006

Tedy Bruschi Keppler Speakers is pleased to announce our exclusive representation of Tedy Bruschi, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2005.

Bruschi’s life story is a lesson in the rewards of hard work, perseverance, and courage. A star linebacker and defensive leader on the New England Patriots’ three-time Super Bowl championship team, he suffered a stroke at the age of 31, and willed his way back onto the football field.

A few days after playing in the Pro Bowl in February 2005, Bruschi awoke with a splitting headache, blurred vision, and numbness on his left side. Thinking the pain was a result of the regular beatings his body took on the football field, he decided to try to sleep it off. When he woke up again, his vision was fading—and though he could hear him, he was unable to see his five-year-old son, Tedy Jr., enter the room. Tedy’s wife, Heidi, called 9-1-1, and admitted him to the hospital. The diagnosis: a stroke.

Bruschi initially feared that his football career was over. Physicians found a small hole in his heart, and theorized that it had played a role in causing the stroke. He had surgery to repair it, and was told that while it wouldn’t guarantee that he would never have another stroke again, it would lessen the chances of it. He then began the hard work of rehabilitation and recovery. His vision returned, and eight months later, in October 2005, he walked back onto the football field with the blessing of his wife, and of every doctor he consulted. He became the first NFL player to return to the field after a stroke, and shared the NFL’s 2005 Comeback Player of the Year Award with Carolina’s Steve Smith.

Please contact your Keppler Representative for more information about brining this gridiron hero and his inspiriational message to your next event.



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