National Football League

Browns punter changes jersey number to honor late daughter

Published Jun. 11, 2015 1:58 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Rachel Wold

The San Francisco 49ers recently traded 11-year veteran Andy Lee to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2017 seventh-round draft pick. During his successful career in San Francisco, Lee wore the No. 4 jersey each and every year.

However, it now appears Lee will wear No. 8 to honor his late daughter, Madeline, who passed away just eight days after she was born back in January.

Lee explained that wearing No. 8 will be his way of honoring his daughter’s short life.

“I think sometimes, not necessarily by me and my wife, her life can get overlooked. She was here, she was a person but nobody got to meet her, nobody got to see her,” Lee told the Browns web site. “She was really alive and really a person. It’s a way to honor her and kind of just give her some glory she deserves.”

The story told by Lee himself is well worth listening to. Just make sure you are reaching for a tissue to dab away a tear or two.

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