At a Glance
He led the NFL in interceptions from 1987 to 1992. He was voted to two Pro Bowls. His intensity and speed propelled him into one of the premier NFL players. But when you talk to Gill Byrd about his most important moments in life, he speaks not about athletics but about being a dad.
As a loving father to his two sons, Gill Jr. and Jarius, Gill relishes the thought of being a positive influence. "First and foremost," says Gill, "I'm a role model to my children before anybody else." Gill credits Sherman Smith (Running Backs coach for the Titans) with helping him understand what it means to be a role model and believes a loving relationship with his wife (Marilyn) is the best thing he can do for his children.
Gill also had an excellent role model in his own father. Gill says: "I always knew my father had our best interests at heart, and he would do anything he needed to do to secure a good future for his family." In addition to his other jobs, Gill's father was an amateur boxer. It was from his father that Gill learned the discipline, courage and fighting spirit necessary to be a standout NFL player and a standout dad.
Gill would need that fighting spirit to hold onto hope as his first son, Gill II, was born three months premature. "He weighed 2 pounds," says Gill. "He was so small I could fit him in the palm of my hand. So, during this time, my wife and I got closer to each other and closer to God. We read the Bible, and we learned to trust God in all trials. Today Gill II is a healthy teenager."
The same intensity that brought Gill to the forefront in the NFL is the same intensity that helped Gill cope with the trials of being a dad. And Gill met and surpassed the challenges in both- as an All Pro player and an All Pro Dad.
