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Cowboys Rookie TE Faces Heartbreak After Brother Injured in Minneapolis Catholic School Tragedy

The NFL is often about triumph, competition, and the pursuit of dreams. But sometimes, real life strikes in ways that cut deeper than anything that happens on the field. For one Dallas Cowboys rookie tight end, what should have been the happiest moment of his young career was overshadowed by devastating news from back home.

Earlier this week, tragedy unfolded at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. A shooter opened fire during morning Mass, killing two children and injuring 18 others before dying by suicide, according to officials. Among the wounded were 15 children, many of them still fighting to recover in local hospitals.

Minneapolis Shooting: Gunman Kills 2 Kids During Catholic School Mass -  Bloomberg

Authorities identified the attacker as 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student of the school. Police say Westman fired more than 100 rifle rounds into the church, where nearly 200 children, parents, and parishioners had gathered. The horror echoed across the nation, drawing comparisons to the long line of school shootings that have haunted America since Columbine.

Witnesses described chaos as teachers shielded students and older children tried to protect their younger classmates. Two victims, just 8 and 10 years old, tragically lost their lives. For many families, the scars will last forever.

In the midst of this national tragedy, the Cowboys rookie had just learned he made the team’s final 53-man roster. But the celebration was cut short when his phone rang. On the other end was his mother, delivering the kind of news no player — no brother — ever wants to hear.

Brevyn Spann-Ford: I'm Definitely Confident - YouTube

That rookie is Brevyn Spann-Ford, the tight end from Minnesota who signed with Dallas this offseason. Spann-Ford revealed that his younger brother had been among the children injured in the Minneapolis Catholic School shooting.

“I was celebrating with my teammates after hearing I made the 53-man roster, when I got the call from my mom telling me my little brother had been hurt and was in the hospital. It was the most painful moment of my life. Football is my dream, but family is my heart — and right now, all I can think about is him,” Spann-Ford said, holding back emotion.

The Cowboys organization has rallied around their rookie, offering support as he navigates the unthinkable balance of chasing his NFL dream while worrying about his family back home. For Cowboys Nation, it is a reminder that the players they cheer for are human — sons, brothers, loved ones who face tragedies just like anyone else.

For Brevyn Spann-Ford, the start of his NFL journey will forever be tied to heartbreak. And for the families in Minneapolis, his story is one of many that show the rippling pain from a single day of violence.

Packers' Star QB Refuses MVP Title to Fully Focus on Team in Tough Phase
Can you believe it? Jordan Love, the "red-hot" quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is on track to compete for MVP with +1000 odds at DraftKings – but this guy is "refusing" personal glory to pour all his energy into the team struggling with a "hellish" schedule! Is this a heroic act or just a ploy? Read now to uncover the "truth" behind it! In the Super Bowl era, the Packers have produced three MVP legends: Bart Starr (1966), Brett Favre (1995-1997), and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Now, Jordan Love has a chance to become the fourth, putting the Packers on par with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts – the only team with four QB MVPs like Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, and Peyton Manning. With his current "explosive" form, Love ranks fourth in the NFL for passer rating (105.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (22), with only four interceptions – the fewest among QBs starting all 13 games, and a 67.1% completion rate ranking seventh. But instead of "dreaming" of MVP, Love seems to be "rejecting" it! In a recent interview, he emphasized: "These are the most important games of the season, obviously with a lot of things coming down to playoff seeding and the division race, so this is the important football. I think it’s everybody, we keep stacking and keep getting better and better throughout the season and learn from the mistakes we make and overcome some of the obstacles. Just keep stacking and trying to find ways to get better every day is something that’s been helping us." These words are like a clear "declaration": Love doesn't care about MVP, but only wants to focus on the team in its "tough phase" with a 9-3-1 record, trailing the Rams (10-3) in the NFC. Head coach Matt LaFleur also "sings along": "Yeah, he’s playing really good football right now. That’s obviously important and it’s going to be important moving forward." And offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praises the consistency: "I would say just the consistency that he’s had has been great... Just being a consistent, efficient quarterback is one thing that I’ve been really pleased with." But it's Packers defensive end Micah Parsons who "reveals" why Love deserves but is "overlooking" MVP: "I definitely think he deserves recognition... If you go off strength of schedule, how he's played and with him missing half his receivers, I think that goes unnoticed, too. Some of the things he did without (Christian Watson) early in the year, then (Jayden Reed), so this guy was missing two of his starting receivers majority of the year and they're just now getting back in these last eight weeks of the stretch, so I definitely think he deserves a lot more credit and I'm just happy I'm able to be a part of this journey with him." Currently, Matthew Stafford of the Rams leads the MVP race with -180 odds, 35 touchdown passes (far ahead of Dak Prescott with 26), passer rating 113.1, and only four interceptions. Drake Maye of the Patriots follows with +200, passer rating 111.9, 3,412 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns. Love, with a four-game winning streak (nine touchdowns, one interception, passer rating 112.1), could stage a comeback if he maintains "red-hot form" – especially in the upcoming two "epic" games: away at Denver (11-2) and Chicago (9-4). If the Packers leap to the NFC's No. 1 seed (likely needing a 4-0 finish), while the Rams stumble against Detroit (8-5) and Seattle (10-3), or the Patriots slip against Buffalo (9-4) and Baltimore (6-7), Love would have a shot at MVP. But with his "humble" attitude, does Love really want to "accept" that title? Or is he sacrificing personally to save the Packers from the "tough phase"? The 2025 NFL drama is "hotter than ever"! Do you think Love is "playing a trick" to motivate the team? Comment now and follow for the "shocking" outcome of the MVP race!