The “Lord wanted him alive” is how former NFL defensive lineman Brandon Bair described his heroics involving a fiery train wreck in Idaho. The 36-year-old retired player risked his own life to run out onto the tracks and save a man from burning to death.
Bair spent parts of five seasons with three NFL different teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, from 2011-2015 before retiring and moving back to his hometown near Rexburg, Idaho. But it was his role this past Thursday as a fill-in first responder, aka superhero, that has 25-year-old Steven Jenson happy to be alive. His life was literally hanging in the balance when his semi-truck mistakenly plowed into a high-speed train.
According to Nate Eaton of East Idaho News, Bair pulled Jenson out of a “teeny window” while the truck driver was still pinned to the cab. Smoke filled the air and flames engulfed both vehicles, yet the 6-foot-6, 260-pound football player carried on with the rescue attempt. Eaton wrote:
Bair heard a voice from inside the cab and knew he had to act fast. His family flashed through his mind as he realized he was putting his life on the line. He ran up to the truck, but the only accessible way to get to Jenson was a small rear window between the passenger and driver’s seat.
“It was a conscious decision that I’m going in because he needs help right now,” Bair says. “I ran up to the window and saw dripping hot flames all over inside of the truck. I could see a guy in a seatbelt and was able to reach in and get it off of him. He was talking, and I told him we had to get out of here now.”
‘The Lord wanted him alive.’ Former @NFL player saves man in fiery train crash.
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One of Chip Kelly’s Prized ‘Oregon Alumni Society’
Bair joined the Eagles in 2014 at the behest of former head coach Chip Kelly who coached him for two years at Oregon. He initially went undrafted before the Kansas City Chiefs took a chance on him in 2011. He spent the 2012 campaign with the Oakland Raiders, but it wasn’t until that 2014 reunion with Kelly in Philadelphia that a 29-year-old Bair took his first NFL snap.
ESPN reporting South Fremont grad and former Oregon Duck Brandon Bair getting paid, Staying w/ Chip Kelly. #IDPreps t.co/mdwlcwjziF
“Brandon is just a unique guy. I think sometimes people look at age, you have to look at what the factors are,” Kelly said in 2014, via the Eagles’ website. “He went away on a Mormon mission. You know, great guy to have around. He’s got a great work ethic, understands kind of how you’re supposed to train in our system, and is really flourishing in what we are doing right now.”
Lunch break? Eagle Eye In The Sky Podcast with @gregcosell and this weeks guest Brandon Bair http://t.co/bCT98S41GS http://t.co/JhWaVj9TWr
The 3-4 defensive tackle played in 21 total games for the Eagles and made two starts in 2015. Bair finished with 1.5 sacks, 28 tackles (three for loss), four pass breakups, and two quarterback hits on 285 defensive snaps.
Lane Johnson Looking Ripped in Photos
It’s sort of becoming an offseason rite of passage for Lane Johnson. He’ll post a shirtless photo, one usually showing ripped abs and lean muscle, and fans drool over the potential of arguably the best right tackle in football. This year feels a little different for the 31-year-old who is coming off major ankle surgery.
Johnson told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he expects to be fully healed in time for training camp. Still, the fact that he has missed 13 games over the past two seasons is a tad concerning. The former fourth overall pick from the 2014 draft — thanks Chip Kelly — felt the need to supply photo evidence that he’s fine. Good news, he looks great.
Running into the season like… 💨💨💨 #PaveTheLane #FlyEaglesFly
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Ex-Eagles Player Makes Miraculous Rescue in Idaho