Dennis Byrd, one of North Carolina State’s most decorated football players, is currently in critical condition at Carolina’s Medical Center.
According to David Horning, NC State’s senior associate athletics director, Byrd had back surgery and developed coronary issues following the surgery. Although Horning said, as of Monday night, his condition had stabilized, he remains in critical condition.
“I talked to Dennis’ son today. Dennis is doing much better. He stabilized last night, but he’s still in critical condition,” Horning said.
Horning said he does not know how long Byrd’s hospitalization will be, but he intends to visit him as soon as possible.
“The length of hospitalization is unknown at this point. He could be in the hospital for an indefinite period. Right now, the main concern is that he heals up,” Horning said. “As soon as Byrd is allowed visitors, I plan to go visit him.”
Horning said the matter affects him personally because he considers Byrd to be a good friend.
“He’s a dear friend of mine. We’re very, very close. I’ve known Dennis for five, six, seven years,” Horning said. “We sent him red and white flowers yesterday.”
According to Public Information Staff at Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., Byrd was listed in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon. According to HIPPA guidelines, the term critical condition means the patient has unstable vital signs and may be unconscious.
“Right now, we’re hoping and praying he gets through this thing,” Horning said.
Byrd was the fifth former Wolfpack player selected to the College Football Hall of Fame. He will be inducted December 7 at the National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner in New York.
At the time, all football players were required to play one season on the freshmen team before being eligible to play on the varsity team. Byrd played the 1964 season on the freshmen team. As soon as he became a member of the varsity team in 1965, he was a starter and first-team All-ACC selection. Byrd was the first N.C. State player to receive consensus All-America honors.
Byrd’s football career at N.C. State ended in the eighth game of the 1967 season. He suffered an injury to his right knee during a game against Duke because of an after-the-whistle hit.
Byrd helped the Wolfpack win the 1965 ACC Football Championship. He also played in N.C. State’s first postseason win over Georgia in the 1967 Liberty Bowl.
Byrd was drafted No. 6 overall in 1968 and played only two seasons with the Boston Patriots before a knee injury forced him to retire. Byrd later became a high school teacher and coach. He was the head coach at West Lincoln High School and long-time assistant at Northeastern High School near Elizabeth City, NC.
Byrd retired from teaching in 2001 and his No. 77 jersey was retired from the University in 2002.