Rick Upchurch emotional at NFL Draft with leukemia announcement

The NFL Draft went off without a hitch this weekend, and the Denver Broncos added to their roster by drafting nine young men and signed a total of 18 players. (Read: Broncos sign nine college free agents)

But what may have been lost in the whirlwind of excitement was Rich Upchurch’s emotional announcement.

Upchurch was called on by the Broncos to read the name of their second-round draft pick in a cool passing of the guard the league has been doing in recent years, having current and former players broadcast some picks at the podium.

But before he read the name of Ty Sambrailo, Upchurch had some sad news for Broncos and football fans; he has been fighting leukemia. If you weren’t able to watch the draft, here’s the video, which includes Upchurch getting a standing ovation from the crowd in Chicago.

It was an emotional moment for anyone observing.

Upchurch played in Denver from 19975-83 and was one of the greatest receiver/returners in the history of the team. In his nine years with the Broncos, Uprchurch started 69 games at receiver, hauling in 267 receptions for 4,369 yards with 24 touchdowns. As a return man, he utilized his speed to lead the league with four punt return touchdowns in 1976 and a total of 653 punt return yards in 1977. That, of course, was the year Denver first attended a Super Bowl, and Upchurch’s special teams play boosted that phase of the game. He’s a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame member and was named a Ring of Famer last year.

We’re pulling for Upchurch to battle and defeat the cancer he’s currently fighting with the same spirit he had in his playing days.