BucD+ 648 Posted August 24, 2012 Per PFT: Posted by Michael David Smith on August 24, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT In April of 2003, Trent Dilfer’s 5-year-old son, Trevin, died of heart disease. Dilfer, then the backup quarterback for the Seahawks, was so despondent that he thought he had no reason to keep playing football, and little reason to live. But Dilfer ended up playing five more NFL seasons and is now working as a broadcaster, and in an interview with USA Today, Dilfer said it was his Seahawks teammate, Matt Hasselbeck, who did more than anyone to get him to start playing again, and to start living again. “[Hasselbeck was] walking me through the most difficult time of my life. I mean I was a mess,” Dilfer said. “I’ll be very transparent. I mean I was 265 pounds and drinking myself to sleep. I’m depressed, my wife’s going, ‘What’s going on?’ And it’s that guy, Matthew Hasselbeck, that says, ‘This is over. I love you too much to let you do this to yourself. You need to come back up to Seattle.’ And I credit Matthew Hasselbeck for the type of father I am, the type of husband I am, because he really saved my life in 2003.” Dilfer’s comments came in a story about the strong relationship Hasselbeck has with Jake Locker, the quarterback who has supplanted Hasselbeck as the Titans’ starter. Dilfer says there’s no better teammate to have than Hasselbeck. “Jake Locker might be the luckiest guy in the NFL right now,” Dilfer said. “He’s got a good football team, he’s got a great coaching staff, and he’s got the best dude in the world — who probably should be playing — mentoring him and pushing him and teaching him those lessons. So Jake Locker, his family, his kids — not to mention the organization — are better off because Matthew Hasselbeck’s here. It’s great for Jake Locker, it’s tough for Matthew, but I guarantee you nobody will handle it better than Matthew.” Dilfer may know better than anyone what kind of teammate Hasselbeck is. I've always been a fan of Hasselbeck's...just always seemed like a genuinely nice and good dude...this pretty much confirms it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted August 24, 2012 Great story right here. Love reading this stuff about professional athletes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted August 24, 2012 Matt has always been one of my favorite players. But not for the same reasons as most of the other players I like in the league. He isn't an elite, Hall of Fame caliber player... However, he is really steady and just a great guy. Always has been, since his days and Green Bay and before. He's just one of those guys you genuinely like and root for, and this is why. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted August 24, 2012 Hass should think about coaching when he's done with football. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
56AceInDaPlace 110 Posted August 25, 2012 Hass should think about coaching when he's done with football. He prob will. Or go to ESPN with his brother. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Omerta+ 1,206 Posted August 25, 2012 How can you not like a guy like that. Pure class. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites