History was made in 2021 when a North Texas player was drafted into the NFL after 17 years. At the time, the Bucs were the team that created this new chapter in football by selecting wide receiver Jaelon Darden. It was a huge opportunity for the WR and he has used it to make a big name in football.

And while he did it, one thing he always had was the work ethic he learned from his father. The man was really close to his father, but lost him at a very early age.

What happened to Jaelon Darden’s father?

While the WR was in college, his father, Manya Darden’s health, was always an issue. Manya suffered from a lot of heart problems that worsened over time. In May 2020, he underwent heart surgery to address these concerns but, unfortunately, never made it back. The reports claim that during the operation, Manya had a heart attack.

This was a significant blow to Jaelon Darden, as his father was his best friend. But he did not sit down in sadness and instead used it as a motivation to boost his football career. The WR revealed in one interview how his father’s death fueled the fire to play in the NFL: “I really locked into football the month after my dad passed. I just went into Kobe mode. It’s just a mode I’ve gone into that I can’t come out of.”

While all of these circumstances broke him, Tamishe Darden, his mother, became his backbone. At one time, she even expressed how the WR sees his father after entering the field. Tamishe explained, “It’s as if when he gets on the field and the ball touches his hands, he sees his dad at the end zone.”

The WR has even revealed how he only has one regret in his life: “The toughest part was when I got drafted. Because he wasn’t there with me.” This is why when he got selected in the NFL, he thanked god and his dad for the support: “Nothing But God, Love You Pops.”

Well, this is not it about them, as Darden even has a tattoo as a tribute to his late dad.

Where does the WR have a tattoo for his father?

Well, Jaelon Darden’s right calf is tattooed with three butterflies. These three butterflies represent his father and two grandmothers, who have also passed. These butterflies are flying in a sequence with ‘RIP’ written right above them. But isn’t it strange that the WR picked a butterfly to represent his late dad and grandma?

Well, it is, but the man has a reason for these tattoos. When Darden arrived at the Bucs’ practice sessions in the first week after being drafted. The man spotted a butterfly who would sit by him during practice. After giving it a look, the man got reminded of his father, so he chose to get the butterfly tattoo as a tribute.

As of right now, the WR is looking forward to helping his team improve its ranking this season. The Browns currently have three wins and eight losses and need some great plays to win a couple of more games. Only time will tell if it will happen and whether Jaelon Darden will have a role in it or not.