Football

Bills tight end Dawson Knox thankful for support after losing brother: 'God's got him'

By Joshua Doering Sep 6, 2022
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox during a game in 2021. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Speaking publicly for the first time since the passing of his brother, Luke — a linebacker at Florida International — Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox on Monday expressed his gratitude to the Bills community for the love and support his family has received. Luke passed away Aug. 17, and the Bills held a moment of silence in his honor at their preseason game three days later.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

“[I] really felt a lot of love and support over the last few weeks with my brother, my family has been very thankful, and just everybody in Buffalo has been incredible,” Knox said. “The amount of texts I’ve gotten, the messages, the posts. The moment of silence for the preseason game. It’s just been everything that I expected out of Buffalo and more because this city’s incredible, it’s meant the world to me.”

Knox returned to the field Aug. 23 and found football to be a welcome distraction.

“Just getting back up here, getting in the routine, seeing all my teammates, seeing my coaches, definitely from a distraction standpoint it’s great, too,” he said. “But it’s also very therapeutic just doing what I love with the guys that I love. I know that my brother would want it that way, too. He wants me to give everything I got.”

Knox is coming off the best season of his career, setting personal bests with 49 receptions, 587 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as Buffalo came within seconds of reaching the AFC championship game. The fourth-year pro is expected to be a key weapon for quarterback Josh Allen and a Bills team viewed as one of the preseason favorites.

Throughout his career, Knox has worked to point others to Christ. Isaiah 40:31 is listed in his bios on Twitter and Instagram, and he is heavily involved in serving the community through his work with the P.U.N.T. Foundation and other charitable efforts.

After the racially motivated shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in May, Knox went to the scene and tried to offer some encouragement by talking with people and handing out food. He spoke to local TV station WKBW about the experience and talked about the importance of loving others as a Christian.

“In a world that has so much hate, all we can do is choose love every day,” Knox said. “I’m a big Christian, so I think that love is the most important trait we can have, whether that’s just smiling and saying ‘hi’ to someone or actually loving someone and bringing them food, bringing them a little bit of joy in a time that’s so tough right now. Love is the most important thing that we can do. Love God and love others.”

Knox continues to lean on his faith as he mourns the loss of his brother. On Saturday, he posted a tribute on Instagram that ended with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, a passage in which Paul focuses on the eternal hope offered by Christ.

“Luke is not lost, because we know exactly where he is,” Knox wrote in the post. “God’s got him, and I know I’ll be seeing him again one day. Luke’s legacy will continue [to] live on through all the lives he’s impacted in incredible ways. This isn’t a goodbye, it’s just a see you later. I love you Luke.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dawson Knox (@dawsonknox)

The Bills kick off the NFL season Thursday night when they visit the defending Super Bowl-champion Los Angeles Rams at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

RELATED STORIES:
– Buffalo Bills TE Dawson Knox seeks to glorify God amid breakout season
– Bills QB Case Keenum fits in well with Buffalo as he seeks to stand for Christ
– Spiritual leader, All-Pro punter Brett Kern released by Titans after 13 seasons
– Saints QB Jameis Winston grateful to God after long-awaited return from ACL injury
– SS PODCAST: Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon on faith transformation, discipleship

Tags: