‘His heart was as big as his body, he was special’

HOUSTON – Retired former Houston Texans linebacker Bryan Braman, a popular special-teams ace known for his aggressive, hell-bent-for-leather style of play, lost his battle with a rare, aggressive and recurring form of cancer.

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Despite multiple surgeries and extensive treatment, the former West Texas A&M standout died early Thursday. According to his longtime agent, Sean Stellato. He was 38 years old.

“I got the horrible news early in the morning after one of his best friends reached out and said that he took his last breath while surrounded by friends and family,” Stellato told KPRC 2 in an emotional telephone interview. “I have a shrine for him at my office. I prayed on his jersey. Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was big as his body. His spirit was so motivating. He was so real and genuine with everybody. That made him special.

“It’s hard. I feel like I lost my firstborn. This kid, he gave me his bed every time I came to Philadelphia. He would threaten me if I didn’t stay with him. That’s how unselfish he was and how generous he was. That’s something I’ll always cherish. My heart hurts today.”

The Texans issued a statement in the wake of Braman’s passing.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Bryan Braman,” the Texans wrote. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Braman family during this difficult time.”

Several former teammates had donated to his GoFundMe page,, including J.J. Watt giving $10,000, $2,500 from Duane Brown, and $1,000 from Brian Cushing along with former Eagles teammates Rasul Douglas, Brent Celek and Emmanuel Acho.

“Rest in Peace brother. Gone far too soon,’ Watt wrote on social media

Braman, a native of Spokane, Washington who dealt with homelessness in high school, was recommended to the Texans by former assistant coach Bobby King. King knew Braman from his time playing at West Texas A&M.

Braman beat the odds to make the 2011 53-man roster, earning a spot primarily for his work on special teams and once made a tackle against the Tennessee Titans despite losing his helmet during the play. Braman was named as a Pro Bowl alternate for his work in kick coverage after blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

He played for former Texans coach Gary Kubiak.

Braman earned a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles and was again a mainstay on special teams.

“I didn’t intend on crying this morning,” Acho wrote on social media. “Then I read the news on my teammate, Bryan Braman. Love you Braman. You lived a hard life, and you never complained about it. A champion in life and a warrior in death. It is forever, indeed.”

Braman (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) played for the New Orleans Saints. Before enrolling at West Texas A&M, he played at Long Beach City College and Idaho.

Braman played in 97 career NFL games, including three seasons for the Texans, and recorded 56 career tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and two fumble recoveries in seven seasons.

“You look at his journey and beating the odds to make it to the NFL after going undrafted,” Stellato said. “Not only making it, but producing and becoming a world champion, he had a real hard journey. In life, we all run this race. To die at age 38, the game of football and his family are hurting today. He was a staple for what football and underdogs are about.

“He was a dream-chaser and a dream-catcher. He’s a Hall of Fame human being. At Stellato Sports, Bryan Braman has always stood for strength, resilience and leadership. He was a pillar and a staple of the underdog.”

William Jones, a friend who organized the GoFundMe page, previously hared details about how dire the situation waas for Braman, who underwent CAR T-cell therapy to genetically modify white blood cells to combat the cancer.

“With the cancer that Bryan has, which is a very rare form of cancer, treatment had the highest chance of success as the cells are reprogrammed to fight this cancer that is within Bryan,” Jones wrote before his death. “His cells did reinfuse themselves and did in fact start reproducing within his bone marrow. At first, the mass did start to shrink, but then the cancer started fighting back.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com