VIDEO: David Wilson bids emotional farewell to the NFL
New York Giants running back David Wilson, days removed from being told he'll never play professional football again, bid an emotional farewell to the NFL on Wednesday. You can take a look at Wilson's speech here (it's at the five-minute mark when Wilson really starts to feel overcome with emotion):
"These are tears of joy, man," Wilson said (via ESPN). "Don't for a second think that I'm pitying myself or sad, because I got to live my dream. And I'll set another dream and be great at that. These are just tears of joy, because as I speak, I realize how much people have helped me along the way."
Wilson, 23, appeared in five games with the Giants in 2013 before having his season derailed by a serious neck injury.
"You get to the NFL and you have great players that will probably be in the Hall of Fame one day, and they support you," he said. "Coaches that won Super Bowls, they get behind you and they support you. And that's been a great feeling."
The 2012 first-rounder (32nd overall) attempted to make a comeback in training camp, but suffered another neck injury. Team doctors advised him to call it a career.
"I don't have a family yet and I want to have one, and I want to enjoy it."