There have been few heartwarming storylines in a year full of struggles for the New York Jets. A team that had Super Bowl aspirations fell far short of expectations. Yet, one story surrounding the brotherhood of two friends surpasses anything that can be put on the football field.
With the NFL allowing players and coaches to show support to causes that hit close to home with the “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, there have been countless stories that tug on the heartstrings of football fans. Perhaps none is more touching than the story between Jets defensive assistant coach Ryan Davis, who wore “Cure Duchenne” Nikes to honor his friend, Kristopher Horne, and his 4-year-old son, Keelan.
A bond that goes beyond football
Ryan and Kristopher played college football together at Bethune-Cookman University, where the Jets’ coach played defensive line, and Kristopher on the O-line. The two often faced each other in practice and began to strengthen their friendship. That may have been where their bond first started, but the connection between the two has grown to be much more.
“Over the years, we’ve remained like brothers,” said Kris when describing his friendship with Ryan. “We’ve celebrated triumphs and supported each other through tribulations. We’re also part of a fantasy football league that’s been running for over a dozen years, complete with punishment tattoos for the last-place finisher—a commitment I could only make with my closest friends. Ryan isn’t just a friend; he’s family.”
The pair’s friendship had endured the trials and tribulations of life. Perhaps nothing accentuates that more than when Kristopher found out that his son, Keelan, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness. Eventually, it gets worse with time, and the disease is known to cause a shortened life expectancy for those who suffer from it.
With the NFL allowing players and coaches to utilize their “MCMC” initiative, it was a no-brainer for Ryan to show support to his best friend and his son.
“Kris is my brother, [and Keelan is] my nephew,” said Davis when asked why he chose to bring awareness to Duchenne with his shoes. “I just thought it would be cool to bring awareness to it. It really wasn’t nothing to think about, you know what I’m saying? For me, it was as easy as waking up and brushing my teeth.”
While it may have felt second-nature to the Jets coach, the gesture to show support to Keelan and DMD blew Kris away.
“It’s hard to put into words how much it meant to me,” began Kris. “Seeing Ryan dedicate his cleats to my son and CureDuchenne left me speechless—a rare thing for me. Knowing that he would use his platform to shine a light on Keelan and the DMD community was overwhelming in the best way. This disease affects about 15,000 boys in the U.S., and many of us feel unseen. Ryan’s gesture reminded me that we’re not forgotten, and it warmed my heart to see how much he loves and supports Keelan like he’s his own son. Ryan has always been an amazing uncle, but now the world got to see it too.”
The emotions that Kris felt are hard to put into words. This is especially true when you realize just how much his son has had to endure in just four years.
The toll of a diagnosis
There’s no denying that DMD is a devastating diagnosis to the families and those affected by it. The mental fortitude of parents trying to give their children a chance at life has to be applauded. Alongside that is the heartbreaking nature of seeing a child go through the rigors of such a debilitating disease.
“Keelan has undergone weekly infusions since he was just over a year old,” said Kris as he describes what his son has had to endure. “He has a port implanted under his skin to minimize the discomfort. Watching him endure this is hard—he’s resilient, but as parents, we fully grasp the severity of what he’s facing. The emotional toll of knowing your baby boy’s life will be an uphill battle is indescribable.”
That hardship has not only left a mark on Kris and his family, but on the Jets coach, too. Davis has since become an avid advocate, spreading awareness about the disease in as many avenues as he can. And given his platform, it only made sense to the Jets coach to not only help out his childhood friend, but to the thousands of other families who are affected by this disease.
In that regard, you can hear the emotion in Kris’ message to others who are currently dealing with DMD.
“You are not alone in this journey. Organizations like CureDuchenne are here to support, educate, and embrace you as you navigate the challenges of this diagnosis. Treatments today are light-years ahead of where they were a decade ago, thanks to the efforts of groups like CureDuchenne and advocates like Ryan raising awareness.
“For those who aren’t directly affected: We need your help. Your support—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness—can give these boys a fighting chance.”
To learn more about the disease, or learn how you can help those fighting it, please visit CureDuchenne.org.
