Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will honor the late Kobe Bryant during the 2020 season. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Carr to wear arm sleeve honoring Kobe Bryant this season: 'He meant so much to me'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 8/5/20

Kobe Bryant meant a lot to many people, and that includes Derek Carr.

The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback discussed his love for Bryant on a Tuesday Zoom call with reporters. On it, Carr revealed that he'll be honoring the Los Angeles Lakers legend in a very special way this season.

"This is a personal thing. I don't care what anybody else thinks about it - this is for me," Carr said Tuesday on a Zoom call with reporters, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN . "What would be a cool way to honor Kobe Bryant? He always wore an arm sleeve on his (right) arm - I can't wear one on my right (passing) arm, so I was like, 'You know what, I'll wear one on my left arm.' It's really just to honor Kobe.

"He meant so much to me, and then when I got to know him, I got to talk to him, and then he followed me on Twitter, that blew my mind. That was the day of my life, so to speak."

"He meant so much to me."@derekcarrqb will wear an arm band this year as a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/iJKr16LuYs
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 4, 2020

It appears Carr is the first NFL player to publicly announce that he'll be honoring Bryant this season. He probably won't be the only one.

Almost all NBA players honored Bryant, including Jayson Tatum who wrote "Bean" on a pair of his shoes following Bryant's death. LeBron James who still wears a No. 24 finger sleeve as well.

Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. in January. All passengers on board the flight died instantly upon impact, according to newly revealed details.

Bryant's wife Vanessa filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company and Zobayan's estate in February following the death of her husband and daughter. She claims that Zobayan was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions on the day all passengers aboard the aircraft were killed.

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