Nick Buoniconti

A man of action, Buoniconti sees challenges and attacks them with the same vigor that made him a National Football League Hall of Fame linebacker and a two-time World Champion. Buoniconti "played bigger than his size," and the 5-11, 220-pound middle linebacker went on to play 14 seasons with the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. For twenty-three seasons Mr. Buoniconti was co-host of the longest running, critically acclaimed, weekly television sports show "Inside the NFL" on the HBO cable network. Mr. Buoniconti's most challenging foe has turned into his passion and driving force. Since his son Marc suffered a devastating spinal cord injury in 1985, he has focused most of his attention on raising awareness of, and funds for, spinal cord injury research. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.