Andy Lee to Wear No. 8 with Browns to Honor Late Daughter

When Andy Lee was traded to the Cleveland Browns from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, he decided to change his jersey number from the No. 4 he previously sported to No. 8. 

It was a touching gesture, as he did so to honor his late daughter, Madeline, who died after eight days due to post-birth complications, per Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com.

"I think sometimes, not necessarily by me and my wife, her life can get overlooked," Lee told Gribble. "She was here, she was a person, but nobody got to meet her, nobody got to see her. She was really alive and really a person. It's a way to honor her and kind of just give her some glory she deserves."

Madeline was born on Jan. 27 but swallowed fluid during a C-section and had trouble breathing, requiring a breathing tube. Five days later, she developed an infection that ultimately led to her tragic death. 

For Lee, amid the heartbreak and sadness that ensued also came perspective, per Gribble:

"

It's just kind of changed the mindset of, say, your son's outside and you don't feel like getting up and throwing the ball with him because you’re tired. Well, get your butt up and go out there and do it because who knows? You give everything you can to them because it shows that sometimes you don't know if something is going to happen.

"

Lee has two children, five-year-old Ryan and three-year-old Adam.

The 32-year-old punter spent his entire 11-year career in San Francisco, making three Pro Bowls and being voted as a three-time Associated Press First-Team All-NFL selection. His 50.9 yards per punt led the NFL during the 2011 season.