Kwon Alexander Played Out of Rage after Brother’s Death

Kwon Alexander had probably the greatest years of his life and one among his worst in 2015. It was the yr his NFL dream turned a actuality, but additionally a yr that may see his brother’s desires get ended.

The New Orleans Saints’ linebacker misplaced his brother, Broderick Taylor Jr., to a gun violence incident in late October 2015.

He selected to not forego an upcoming match and performed the sport of his life simply 48 hours later. All of the whereas, it was rage that bought him by means of the sport.

How Kwon Alexander Knew about Brother’s Dying

Alexander was getting some much-needed downtime the Friday earlier than his upcoming match with the Atlanta Falcons. The date was October 30, 2015.

A telephone name interrupted him whereas he determined the place to get dinner that night time. It was his mom, Peaches Taylor, on the opposite aspect of the road.

In a faint voice, his mom instructed him how his brother had bought shot.

In his The Gamers’ Tribune piece, he recalled the second, writing he felt as if the whole lot had stopped.

“It was like all of the air bought sucked out of the room and the lights went out,” he mentioned of the second. Whereas he felt as if the whole lot stopped, his mom had began her prayers below her breath.

Broderick Jr. was clinging to his life. Peaches requested Alexander to hope and left for the hospital.

He didn’t suppose Broderick would die. He had this “feeling” that he would make it out alive.

So he went to get dinner, all of the whereas ready for his mother to name again with some excellent news. He stored attempting to persuade himself that Broderick could be all proper.

About half-hour later, Peaches known as him and mentioned solely two phrases — “He is gone.”

Alexander mentioned he went clean and remembered crying till he couldn’t anymore.

Broderick, or Lil’ Brod, as everybody known as him, was 17 on the time — nearly 18. Along with his birthday proper across the nook, he had gotten right into a battle that night time.

The state of affairs escalated, and someone shot him within the chest. Bystanders on the scene instructed him that Broderick’s eyes gave away his dying proper at that second.

Alexander spoke extremely of his brother in his writing. “He was the goofy child who cherished life and wished all people to be comfortable and smile,” he mentioned.

They had been involved all through his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been drafted by the Bucs simply that Could.

Broderick was his largest fan and stored asking for a jersey with Alexander’s title on it. He additionally requested for recommendation on soccer or women. “He was my man,” Alexander remembered of his brother.

Alexander had promised he would get him one. He expressed his grief for not having the ability to hold his promise.

Kwon Alexander’s Sport after Brother’s Dying

Alexander’s recreation with the Falcons was alleged to be his homecoming as his complete household had deliberate to go watch him play. He grew up in Oxford, Alabama, and the stadium he was taking part in was only a 90-minute drive away.

However he didn’t wish to play. He was hurting, and so was his complete household. Alexander was able to e-book a flight again to Alabama and skip the sport.

He had his group’s assist to skip. His mom requested him to do in any other case.

She forbade him from going residence. “Brod would have wished you to play. So that you go play,” Peaches instructed him.

“And I performed the sport of my life,” he recalled of the sport towards the Falcons.

Kwon Alexander performed the sport of his life towards the Atlanta Falcons days after his brother died in 2015. (Photograph: Twitter)

He drove his group to victory with 11 tackles, an interception, and a fumble restoration. The Bucs received 23-20 additional time.

In his The Gamers’ Tribune writing, he mentioned he was extra targeted on a recreation than he had ever been.

He additionally made a “bizarre” comparability — Alexander in contrast his mentality to Bobby’s from the Adam Sandler film The Waterboy.

Alexander pretended that “whoever had the ball was the individual liable for taking my little brother away from me and my household.” He was out to destroy everybody with a crimson shirt.

Know talked about Broderick was with him all through the sport. He inspired his huge brother your complete recreation, making Alexander do issues he would later should pause and comprehend.

No one however his auntie may make it there to see him have the most effective recreation of his profession until that day.

His brother’s dying modified his perspective on recreation and life.

Throughout an interview with Tampa Magazines in 2018, he mentioned he thought of Broderick each morning. The incident made him comfortable to be alive.

He confessed he felt Broderick’s presence on a regular basis, and that made him really feel undefeated.

Alexander even bought a tattoo that claims “All You Wished Me to Do Was Ball” in Broderick’s reminiscence.