Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen returned to Greensboro in North Carolina this week to host a football camp at his alma mater of NC A&T.
What was supposed to be a festive event turned serious on Saturday when Cohen told event-goers that his brother was just recently shot, leading to paralysis.
“I want to tell everyone right now something I’ve not told anyone until now,” Cohen said, via Ed Hardin of News & Record. “My brother was shot recently. He’s in a wheel chair now, too. He’ll never walk again.”
Cohen was standing by a boy in a wheel chair as he made the statement, indicating that “he’s still struggling with it.” Cohen noted that a very select few knew about the tragic events before his comments.
This had to be a shock to those on hand. Cohen returned home to share in some of the great things in his life since he became a small-school draft pick of the Chicago Bears.
A larger than life figure in the community, Cohen is seeking to give back. If he can help provide guiding life principles at a time of family tragedy, it tells us a lot about the young man’s character.
An All-Pro performer this past season, Cohen has recorded 1,900 total yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bears.