Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State only 95 days away

On3 imageby:Todd Burlage05/31/22

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To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.

This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football. 

Today we look at No. 95 and the tragedies and triumphs of former Irish defensive lineman Edward “Junior” Bryant, who wore the jersey number at Notre Dame from 1989-92.

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Bryant was only 15 years old in 1986 when a freak and unimaginable accident almost took his life, and his mother’s life as well.

While assisting a relative with a faulty pilot light on a water heater, the unit exploded when Bryant and his mother were resetting it.

The burns and injuries for both were severe — Bryant recalled seeing his skin dangling from his arms — but both survived.

“I saw the accident as a second chance,” said Bryant, who still carries burn scars on his arms, legs and hands. “I could have died. It gives you a lot to think about. I concluded that this happened for a reason.”

Bryant recovered, returned to football, graduated from Notre Dame in 1993 and eventually became a starter for the San Francisco 49ers next to Bryant Young, an Irish teammate and eventual NFL Hall of Famer. 

Young was one year older than Bryant at Notre Dame.

Bryant and Young made up one of the fiercest pass-rushing duos in NFL history and remain great friends and philanthropic partners in many endeavors. 

Known as “B.Y.” and “J.B.” to each other, Young would often travel to Bryant’s hometown of Omaha, Neb., to help his friend conduct a local football clinic for needy children.

“It’s tough to get people to come out to Omaha,” Bryant said in gratitude, “so ‘B.Y.’ is my man.” 

On the field

Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 1993, Bryant’s NFL career didn’t begin until 1995 when he made the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent.

After playing sparingly there for three seasons, Bryant became a starter for San Francisco in 1998 and 1999 and recorded 92 total tackles in those two seasons, including 9.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. 

His career on the fast track, Bryant suffered a scary and devastating neck injury in October of 2000 when he landed on his head while making a tackle during the third game of that season. 

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Keeping perspective, Bryant was confident he would recover and return from a serious bulging disc injury. 

“This isn’t the worst thing that’s happened to me,” Bryant said. “Obviously, it’s not the best but I deal with it from the standpoint that I’ve been through worse and overcame it and I’ll overcome this.”

Unfortunately, Bryant’s neck didn’t heal properly and the NFL career of Junior Bryant was over when it had essentially just begun. 

And now 22 years later, Bryant works as a successful investor and financial advisor and remains very involved in his charity work, most of which focuses on helping children. 

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