Dawson Broad was once a star quarterback for his high school football team in suburban Buffalo. However, his life drastically changed after a swimming pool accident in 2021 left him paralyzed. After months of rehabilitation, his physical therapist encouraged him to attend a local wheelchair football game. Skeptical at first, Broad was amazed by the intensity and physicality of the sport. He decided to join a team in the USA Wheelchair Football League, reconnecting with other wheelchair-dependent athletes and rediscovering a part of himself that had been dormant.
The Buffalo Bills Wheelchair Football Team, known for their metal-on-metal collisions, practices mainly in a church parking lot in Lancaster. Unlike most wheelchair football teams that draw players from basketball programs, the Buffalo team consists of players with backgrounds in sled hockey, who appreciate the contact aspect of the sport. However, falling over poses new challenges for wheelchair athletes, as getting upright again usually requires assistance and can be demoralizing. Despite the risks, players like Connor Gow and Colton Baker-Durst overcome these obstacles for the love of the game.
Colton Baker-Durst, a newcomer to the team, has overcome numerous personal challenges to pursue wheelchair football. After a troubled past, including dropping out of high school and involvement in illegal activities, Baker-Durst was shot and paralyzed at the age of 20. Accepting his disability was difficult, as he had to let go of the life he once had. Lack of access, resources, and motivation often isolate and negatively impact individuals with mobility challenges. Wheelchair football provides an outlet for physical activity and a sense of community, improving participants’ mental and physical well-being.
Carrie Frank, the oldest member and only woman on the team, joined wheelchair football after a series of surgeries and a stroke left her unable to play standing sports. The sport has reconnected her to the camaraderie she experienced in the military and helps her cope with her physical limitations.
The Buffalo Bills’ first season in the wheelchair football league was challenging. Their initial game against the Los Angeles team resulted in mangled wheelchair frames from intense collisions. Despite their lack of experience, the team quickly learned the nuances of the sport, such as lining up receivers behind the ball for better momentum. Wheelchair football is played with seven players on each team on a smaller field, and games are divided into four 15-minute quarters.
Overall, wheelchair football has provided a platform for athletes like Dawson Broad, Connor Gow, Colton Baker-Durst, and Carrie Frank to thrive and reconnect with their passions. It offers a unique blend of physicality, camaraderie, and personal growth for individuals with mobility challenges.
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