BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Justin Jefferson never saw the field in the Minnesota Vikings' upset victory of the San Francisco 49ers Monday night, but he was still part of one of the more memorable moments of the night.
The All-Pro receiver met with Ethan Glynn prior to the game, signing the teen's jersey and posing for pictures. Ethan suffered a serious neck injury last September while playing in a game as a member of the Bloomington Jefferson freshman football team. The injury left the high-level football and hockey player paralyzed but Bloomington Jefferson head coach Tim Carlson said Glynn, now a sophomore, remains a big part of the team.
"I think about him every day," Carlson told KARE 11's Randy Shaver, his voice breaking and tears welling up in his eyes. "I've got his bracelets on. He's got a lot of good friends who are sophomores that are playing with us, and it's fun to see him at the games."
After dropping the season opener to New Prague, Bloomington Jefferson rattled off seven straight wins to earn a first-round bye in the Section 3AAAAA playoffs. The Jaguars will now host Apple Valley Saturday after the Eagles defeated Bloomington Kennedy 43-7 Tuesday night. While the senior-led squad has its eyes focused squarely on U.S. Bank Stadium and a possible MSHSL Championship, a teammate not in uniform is always top-of-mind.
"We have not forgotten about Ethan," said Carlson. "He's in our hearts every single day."
On a personal note, it is clear that Ethan's accident and the arc of his young life have had a significant impact on his coach as well. "I see him a lot at school, talk to him a lot at school... It has changed me as a person, changed me as a coach, changed me as a father," Carlson told Randy Shaver with conviction.
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