Carlos Nelson will forever be associated with QB Justin Fields. Here’s how the Auburn Gresham community leader got to the NFL stage weeks after losing his father, an avid Chicago Bears fan.

On April 2, Nelson’s older sister, Sharon Nelson-Cruikshank, 68, died of lung cancer. On the same day, Sanders, 87, was in the hospital for tests for several medical issues, but his family expected him out that day, Nelson said. Sanders frequently asked his wife about Nelson-Cruikshank. After learning his daughter had died, Sanders, whom Nelson described as an honorable man who loved his wife and children, also died, just 13 hours later.