Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett and his family suffered an unimaginable tragedy this spring. Arrayah Barrett, the two year old daughter of Shaq and his wife Jordanna, drowned in the family pool on April 30th.
While the memory of their child will stay with them forever in their hearts, Barrett quite literally put it on his sleeve. On Tuesday he showed off a new tattoo that paid tribute to his late daughter, showing her with sun shining down from clouds above her head.
Jordanna Barrett shared an image of the tribute tattoo on her Instagram story:
Bucs’ Shaq Barrett has new ink to pay tribute to his daughter Arrayah, who died this spring at just 2 years old. Precious to see. From his wife Jordanna’s Instagram story: pic.twitter.com/pkRTtW1HkK
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 11, 2023
Barrett has been with the Buccaneers since 2019, and helped the team win its second-ever Super Bowl title a year after arriving in Tampa Bay. It marked the second time in his career that he secured a ring, the first coming with a victory of NFC South rival Carolina in Super Bowl 50 while a member of the Denver Broncos.
His contributions to that Super Bowl team, in which Barrett came to the Bucs in free agency betting on himself, resulted in a massive four-year, $72 million contract. It’s one that will keep him in Tampa Bay until at least next season.
Following the tragic death of Arrayah, the entire Buccaneers organization rallied to support the Barrett family and allow Shaq as much time as he needed away from the team. He has since returned, appearing at Bucs offseason programs, and figures to be in line for a massive bounce back season this year after missing all but eight weeks due to a torn Achilles tendon.