Losing the Super Bowl four years in a row was tough, but it wasn\u2019t even close to what was about to enfold. Life was about to take a much more difficult turn for Kelly, one that would put those football losses in perspective.<\/p>\n
In 1997, Kelly\u2019s son Hunter was born. Kelly had huge dreams for him; Hunter would be the next great athlete in the family. But \u201cfour months into his life, we realized he wasn\u2019t reaching a lot of his milestones,\u201d\u009d Kelly recalls. \u201cThe pediatrician told us \u201d\u02dcyour son is showing signs of cerebral palsy.\u2019 It was devastating. But my son continued to get worse.\u201d\u009d Then came the tragic news. Hunter was diagnosed with globoid-cell leukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease, a deadly neurological disease. Average life expectancy is less than a year. \u201cThe doctors told us to take him home, make him comfortable and watch him pass away,\u201d\u009d Kelly says. But Kelly and his wife fought and tried to give their son a real life.<\/p>\n
Hunter lived long enough to see his father inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. Kelly dedicated his speech to his son. Hunter ultimately passed away on Aug. 5, 2005, at the age of 8. \u201cThis was the lowest point of my life,\u201d\u009d Kelly says choking up.<\/p>\n
Kelly acknowledges that he had problems with his marriage and wasn\u2019t proud of his behavior. \u201cI hit rock bottom. I was mad. I knew I had to change my life and in 2007 I finally did. I had to humble myself to admit I made mistakes,\u201d\u009d he says.<\/p>\n