'Humbling and Heartbreaking': Jerry Jones' Warm Message to Family of Fan Who Died at 1st Cowboys Game
FRISCO - We all take our NFL football terribly, terribly seriously when it is all supposed to be for fun. And once in awhile along comes a story that reminds us of the value of perspective.
A man named Timothy Washington collapsed and died on Jan. 7 outside of FedEx Field when attending a game between his beloved Cowboys and the home-standing Washington Commanders. He was there with his son, Timothy Washington Jr. ... and the Washington family is now revealing that Jones sent them a letter and flowers.
"Special thanks to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for reaching out to our family and recognizing my dad," Tim Jr. wrote on Facebook. "He would be so proud."
In the letter, Jones called it "humbling and heartbreaking" to learn of Washington's death.
"On behalf of the Jones family and our organization, we offer our deepest sympathies," Jones wrote. "Timothy's support humbles me, and he is an inspiration that goes beyond the game of football."
According to his obituary, Washington was an "avid" Cowboys fan who was planning to attend his very first game before his health-related collapsing outside FedEx Field.
"Tim's gifts to all those who knew him were his empathy, his good nature, his kind heart, his willingness to help anyone and everyone who needed it, his joyous smile and laughter," his obituary said. "He gave those struggling with addiction hope, having walked in those same shoes. Every person he encountered was touched by his true goodness, a larger-than-life teddy bear of a man whose heart was so big that his chest could barely contain it."
