DENVER — Danny Trevathan is a survivor.
The way the 2013 season began for the second-year Broncos linebacker — authoring an embarrassing display of premature celebration in front of the nation — it easily could have broken him and ruined his season.
Instead, the 23-year-old former sixth-round draft pick grew from what was arguably the most dubious play of the NFL season — trying to showboat en route to an apparent interception return for a touchdown in Denver’s season-opener against Baltimore, but dropping the ball a yard before entering the end zone, costing his team a touchdown.
“That,’’ Broncos coach John Fox recalled this week, grimacing at the memory, “was fairly embarrassing.’’
Trevathan was a young player caught in the moment. Unfortunately, national television cameras caught the moment for the football-watching nation to see.
The Broncos were in the midst of hammering the defending Super Bowl-champion Ravens, 49-27, in the annual Thursday night NFL opener in Denver when Trevathan picked off Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and had a clear path to the end zone. Then he did his best Leon Lett impersonation.
Lett, you might remember, was the Cowboys defensive lineman who was returning a fumble for a touchdown in a rout of the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII in 1993 when he slowed up and held the ball low to showboat and was stripped from behind by Buffalo receiver Don Beebe.
Much like the Lett play, Trevathan’s gaffe did not cost his team, because it occurred in a blowout. Lett, though, forever has been associated with that play. Trevathan moved on quickly, winning a starting job and leading the Broncos with 124 tackles this season — 41 more than the next player on the list.
“Everybody [is] going to get knocked down,’’ Fox said. “Sometimes setbacks are setups for bigger things to come. I think in his case, it was a learning experience.’’
Trevathan learned. Now he is the centerpiece of the Denver defense that will try to stop — or at least slow down — Seattle’s battering-ram running back Marshawn Lynch in Super Bowl XLVIII next week at MetLife Stadium.
“Life is a game,’’ said Trevathan, who had three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two sacks this season. “It’s ups and downs, highs and lows. But, you know, I like my lows and I like my highs because without my lows, I never know what my highs are.’’
The lows?
“Oh man, when I got hurt [in training camp] and when I dropped that ball,’’ he said. “I got kind of too antsy. It kind of cost my team and I promised myself I would never put my team in a place like that [again]. I’ll make up for it. I’ll do whatever I’ve got to do. I promised those who were laughing at me, I’m going to make them suffer.
“It helped me grow. It taught me to be a little bit more humble. I saw those lights and [I was] going to go ahead [and] get my little dance in, do whatever. That was just the young part of me. But I settled down. I had a little baby girl that I love and she’s just helped me get myself together, helped me grow a lot and get prepared for the rest of this season.”
Indeed, when Danoir Louise Trevathan was born on Nov. 14, it brought him new perspective.
“He made a great play, and lost a little bit of focus,’’ Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “It happens. Danny has been doing a terrific job for us all season, and he learned from it. We all go out there and we have plays that we have to learn from. His was just highlighted because of the moment. I’m pretty confident he learned how he should handle himself when he gets to the end zone.”
A testament to how well-liked Trevathan is by his teammates: Even the man whom he overtook in the starting lineup, Wesley Woodyard, gushes over his younger teammate and fellow Kentucky alum.
“Danny came in like a little brother to us, and now he’s just growing up and taking over things,’’ Woodyard said. “It’s exciting to see that. Danny deserves everything he’s gotten.”
All survivors do.