- The linebacker’s daughter, Arrayah, died April 30 in Beach Park, Florida.
- Barrett scored his first career TD – which he believes was divine intervention
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Bucs passer Shaq Barrett dedicated his pick six in Tampa Bay’s win over the Chicago Bears to his deceased two-year-old daughter.
Barrett’s daughter, Arrayah, died April 30 after drowning in the family pool.
Police responded to a call about a child who had fallen into a swimming pool around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 30 in the Beach Park neighborhood of Tampa, according to the Tampa Police Department.
Arrayah Barrett, who celebrated her second birthday on April 19, was taken to hospital but attempts to save her life failed.
The former Broncos linebacker blew a kiss to the sky after breaking the plane to seal the victory.
Shaq Barrett dedicated his pick six in Tampa’s win over the Bears to his deceased daughter
Two-year-old Arrayah drowned in the swimming pool at her family home on April 30.
“I told her, ‘I love you, I miss you and I wish she was here,'” Barrett said after the 27-17 victory.
Until Sunday, Barrett had yet to score a touchdown in his stellar nine-year NFL career.
Sunday’s premiere was considered a divine intervention from God, according to the passer.
“I believe it, for sure,” Barrett said. “And then I just talk, I talk to God all the time. I just know He didn’t give us anything more than we can handle, even though it felt like He sure did.
“He said he was just preparing us for something – I can’t say it any better, because what’s better than having my little girl here?
“But He’s preparing us for something that we need, and I’m just ready and waiting for it.” And I’m going to believe in Him and believe in this plan, for sure, and I feel like it was divine intervention to just be able to bring attention to my little girl.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles praised Barrett’s efforts and celebrated the moment during his press conference.
Barrett and his wife Jordanna also got Arrayah tattoos to honor her memory.
Arrayah was the youngest of four children Barrett has with wife Jordanna (photo from April 2022)
‘It’s incredible. You can’t even imagine going through something like that,” he said of Barrett.
“To see him go through this and come out the other side – and I’m sure he still has days – but to play like he’s playing right now, to be where he is right now is incredible.”
Despite Sunday’s joy for Barrett and his family — who were in attendance at Raymond James Stadium — there are still constant struggles, including pregame last week in Minnesota.
“I was really struggling. I couldn’t stop crying,” Barrett said. “I called my wife, the coaches came to check on me. But suddenly everything went away and I could focus on the game.
“My wife says people are praying for me. So I felt like the wave of emotions was slipping aside and I was able to focus. So I was able to feel the power of prayer.
Last month, Barrett revealed the cause of the tragedy, saying the protective fence surrounding the pool had been left open: “We always had the gates closed, but we left them open that night. »
If there’s any good news for Barrett, it’s that he and his wife Jordanna are now expecting another daughter, Allanah Ray, in February.
He’s also channeling his grief into a new foundation, “Arrayah Hope,” aimed at preventing child drownings by providing free swimming lessons in the Tampa Bay area.
