Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly was presented with the annual Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2018 ESPYs last night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Kelly's award was presented by ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman, as well as fellow Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway and Dan Marino, who along with Kelly were selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft.
Kelly, who was accompanied to the stage by his daughters, proceeded to deliver an emotional speech in which he thanked his girls for their support during his ongoing battle with oral cancer.
"Every single time [Erin] walked into the hospital, not one time did she ever have a frown on her face," Kelly said. "It was always, 'Daddy, you look so good. You are so cute!' And she would give me a hug. My daughter Camryn, so many times she would hug me and I didn't want to let her go. Even today, when she hugged me, I didn't want to let her go."
Kelly, 58, also urged others to be the positive light for those in need.
"Make a difference today for someone who is fighting for their tomorrow," Kelly said. "When I look across this arena, and when I talk to people, you don't need to be a Russell Wilson or an Aaron Rodgers to make a difference out there. Every single person in this room can be a difference-maker. You can be a normal person that gets up every morning and goes to work. But you can be a difference-maker, putting smiles on those faces."
Check out his full speech in the tweet embedded below.
