The relationship that Hines Ward shared with Darryl Drake spanned nearly a quarter of a century, from the time that the latter was coaching at Georgia and the former was recruiting him, to come play with him. Though they would never find themselves again on the same sideline professionally, they remained close throughout the rest of Drake’s lift, up to his passing earlier this week.
“He was that father figure to me my whole life”, Ward told the Pittsburgh Steelers’ website in memorializing the man. It’s a similar sentiment that we have already heard from a number of people who felt so inclined to comment upon his death and share the memories of their own experiences with him.