Anthony Myers’ story to be featured on ‘NFL Films Presents’
Like everyone who heard about Anthony Myers, Brian Rosenfeld was moved by his story.
The feature producer at NFL Films first learned about the tragic, yet uplifting, story of the Berks Catholic running back through a mention by Peter King in Sports Illustrated. Rosenfeld was drawn to the news, researched it further, then pitched it to his bosses at NFL Films.
Tuesday he’ll share that story with a nationwide audience on “NFL Films Presents,” a weekly 30-minute show which airs on FOX Sports 1 at 11 p.m. The seven-and-a-half minute segment will air in the show’s third block.
“It’s a tragic story, but at the same point a heartwarming story about a kid who loved life and loved football to make this amazing moment,” said Rosenfeld, referring to Myers’ stunning punt return in a 2018 district playoff game against Milton Hershey.
The sophomore had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and scheduled for surgery. He hadn’t practiced for nearly a month. His teammates and coaches had no idea how he would perform. Early in the game he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown.
Two years later the play was selected as the greatest moment in Berks sports history in an on-line poll conducted by the Reading Eagle.
“He was going through one of the worst things you can go through,” Rosenfeld said, “and through it all he still wanted to play football.”
Myers succumbed less than 13 months after his miraculous return to the field, but his legacy endures.
His illness led to the creation of The Anthony Myers Movement, an organization which provides financial assistance and other means of support for other sick kids.
His No. 17 was retired at the school. A commemorative emblem was placed on the Saints’ home field, at the 17-yard line.
Rosenfeld and a film crew visited Reading twice in the fall for interviews and to film footage at Berks Catholic, and at Forino Sports Complex, where the Saints play.
Rosenfeld, who wrote, directed and produced the segment, interviewed Jessica and Ed Myers, Anthony’s parents, Saints head coach Rick Keeley, athletic director Jake Latchum and several players during a mid-September visit.
He later returned to interview Dane Miller, founder of Garage Strength Sports Performance, who wrote a moving letter to Anthony following his last visit with the ailing youngster. Rosenfeld said that letter, written shortly after Myers’ death, was a big influence in his decision to produce the piece.
“That’s really what got me,” Rosenfeld said. “It put in perspective how special this kid was. . . how great of a kid he was. I thought: ‘There’s something here.’ “
Myers’ plight became a nationwide story. He appeared on the NFL Network, where Brian Westbrook and the Philadelphia Eagles presented him and his family with a trip to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.
Students from schools across Berks and beyond wore 17Strong bracelets and T-shirts. Thousands came together in a community-wide effort to raise funds for his medical expenses. Team 17 Strong became a trending hashtag and pro athletes across the nation who wore Myers’ No. 17 came together in support.
Rosenfeld said “NFL Films Presents” generally tells the stories of NFL players, but Myers’ story struck a special chord and needed to be told again.
“We want to tell the best football stories that we can,” he said. “A good story is a good story. Anthony’s story is a tragic one but it’s a heartwarming one, as well.”
