Topics

More

ESPN Video Highlights Bill O’Brien’s Son Jack

A Rick Reilly-narrated ESPN video feature provides a rare look inside the home of former Penn State and current Houston Texans football coach Bill O’Brien, detailing O’Brien’s 12 year-old son, Jack. Jack has Lissencephaly, a rare genetic disorder that causes seizures and carries a low life expectancy.

The video, which aired Monday before O’Brien’s Texans fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, captures an uncharacteristically emotional O’Brien tearing up while speaking about his son. O’Brien’s wife Colleen says the side-effects of Jack’s disorder include at least one seizure a day, and he’ll sometimes go a painfully long minute without breathing.

Doctors said he wouldn’t live past the age of two, but Jack has exceeded that expectation by a decade so far. Colleen and her husband also dismiss the idea that Penn State was only a stepping stone for O’Brien’s NFL career, and instead suggest that Houston’s medical centers were a major factor in the family’s move. Houston has the country’s largest children’s hospital and leading experts in Lissencephaly.

“We love Penn State,” O’Brien says in the video. “But at the end of the day you feel some guilt about, ‘Are you doing the best thing for your family?'”

Check out the video below:

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Ben Berkman

State College, PA

Kaleb Joseph Uplifts Penn State Student-Athletes Through ‘Self Help Tour’ Conversation

The former basketball star spoke about mental health struggles in college athletics.

Penn State Professor Accused Of Stalking & Harrassment

Matthew Parkinson, who teaches in the College of Engineering, faces one count of stalking and three counts of harassment.

[Photo Story] Penn State Celebrates 100 Days ‘Til THON

Students celebrated with games, activities, discos, and more at this years 100 Days ‘Til THON event.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
62.3kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter
Other posts by Ben

Nassib Healthy To ‘Kick Some Ass,’ Johnson And Hackenberg Seek Pro Evaluations

James Franklin made two things clear before the Lions travel South: Carl Nassib is 100 percent healthy for a game for the first time in more than a month, and Christian Hackenberg and Austin Johnson have both applied for draft evaluations from the NFL.

Gameday Observations: Return To Rec

Penn State Stomps Canisius, 81-67, In First Of Two Rec Hall Showdowns