How a grieving N.J. kid found joy with NFL legends

Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Search familyThe kid entered the main display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, sized up the long gallery with all the busts of the sport's legends, and started rattling off facts.

Names. Teams. Stats. It didn't matter if the player was from the leather-helmet era or the most recent induction classes, Andrew Search seemed to know a little bit about all of them.

He was also taking detailed notes, like a researcher on a special mission, lingering far longer than the average visitor. That was different. That made him stand out in the crowd.

A museum volunteer sparked up a conversation, and after listening to the kid talk with so much passion and…