NFL--Jet's Reed , plays with heavy heart, dedicates the season to his father

The texts began pouring in for DJ. Just before entering the field for pregame introductions.

Reed's father passed away on Sunday at their Iowa home in Waterloo after an 18-year struggle with multiple sclerosis.

[{"selector":"#anim-85780553-9ea8-4bbe-bfb9-9755051d9100 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.862253167278617%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Last week, he was put on life support and was using a tube to breathe.

Last Wednesday, Reed's mother, Linda, gave him a call to inform him that his father wouldn't be around for much longer.

[{"selector":"#anim-8d36fe8a-518c-4a66-995b-3e10d1fed306 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.43320593959599%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Dennis Reed was unable to talk, so he listened to his son for one last time.

[{"selector":"#anim-5dd3143a-4f2e-4037-a71e-aef4326876ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.28802139650492%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Dennis Reed breathed on his own for two more days before succumbing to his illness and dying on Sunday morning.

[{"selector":"#anim-4c2b7501-d021-4fc5-9994-ac924f91c17f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(15.238259157227626%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Reed's interest in sports stems from his father, who introduced him to football, wrestling, soccer, basketball, and tennis, among other sports.

[{"selector":"#anim-e6c66f03-1665-42a7-ad9e-b6c88104fe88 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.78191475273058%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Reed had two successful seasons with the 49ers before being taken off waivers by Seattle.

[{"selector":"#anim-a05a9d37-ab67-430c-8286-9ef6ad697818 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.790109891337153%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

He received a huge paycheck in March when the Jets offered him a three-year, $33 million contract to be their starting cornerback.

[{"selector":"#anim-09695732-7c0c-4ded-b3ef-01b14d1198d1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.592212978784513%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

To Read Other Articles Click Below

[{"selector":"#anim-653b696c-dc9e-442e-a114-50e1f4f98d77 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.999998917959243%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34862b97-6a85-44e0-aa2e-de95217c42d9","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -631.71293%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -177.637675916%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -60.391756108%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -22.678494187000002%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -9.854721708%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}]