Former Rutgers Football Player Eric LeGrand to Speak at Livingston Temple

By, Tina Greenberg

On Sunday, Jan. 25, the Temple’s Men’s Club will present their annual Sports Breakfast, with special guest speaker Eric Le Grand, a sportscaster, author, ESPY Award Recipient Former Rutgers Football Defensive Tackle and a source of inspiration.

The breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. at at Temple B’nai Abraham, located at 300 E. Northfield Road in Livingston. Eric LeGrand will speak at 10 a.m. The community is welcome to attend. Families are welcome.

Admission is $18 for a single adult or $36 for a family. Children must be accompanied by an adult. A delicious hot and cold breakfast buffet prepared by Men’s Club members. To RSVP online, click here, or call 973-994-2290.

About Eric LeGrand

Eric LeGrand has proved to be a source of inspiration and perseverance for so many. A standout high school football player from New Jersey, Eric Legrand went on to play for Rutgers University and by his sophomore year he led the team with 13 tackles on kickoff coverage and recorded a tackle-for-loss in seven games.

After a severe spinal injury sustained during an intense collision during a game at MetLife Stadium dramatically changed his life, LeGrand found himself wondering if he’d ever recapture that kind of success on the field.

Through triumph and tragedy, Eric’s road to recovery has been less than effortless. Having undergone a nine-hour emergency surgery procedure to stabilize his spine as well as a rigorous rehabilitation process, he has regained movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body.

With that, he resumed his college classes via Skype and graduated from Rutgers University in 2014 with a degree in Labor Relations. Not only did he graduate with honors, but he also gave a commemorative speech during the commencement ceremony. He has recently launched his sports broadcasting career as an analyst for Rutgers Football Radio Network.

With courage and grace, Eric has been honored with a plethora of awards and accolades throughout his recovery process, which include the “Unsung Hero Award” (2012) presented by the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the “Jimmy V Award” for Perseverance at the 20th Annual ESPYs (2012), and being elected as the “Most Influential Person in New Jersey Sports” presented by the Star Ledger (2012).

On September 14, 2013, Rutgers hosted a ceremony, which retired the No. 52 jersey that belonged to Eric. Eric’s jersey was the first number to be retired by Rutgers in the history of their program.

In awe of the unwavering support, Eric’s story continues to touch numerous lives. Eric released his first book in the fall of 2012, titled BELIEVE: My Faith And The Tackle That Changed my Life (HarperCollins Publishers). He also signed an official NFL contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (by his former Rutgers coach, Greg Schiano).

Eric quickly became an advocate for individuals that are affected with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Fueled with passion, LeGrand decided to form Team LeGrand of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Established in 2013, the proceeds generated from the charity go toward research to find a cure for paralysis and help to improve the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries.