Former NFL WR Matthew Cherry's 'Hair Love' Wins Oscar for Best Animated Short

Former NFL wide receiver Matthew Cherry won an Oscar for his role in the animated short Hair Love on Sunday.

Cherry wrote and directed the film, helping produce it alongside Karen Rupert Toliver.  

Cherry later took to social media to share what was supposed to be his full acceptance speech:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted Cherry played collegiately at Akron but was undrafted in 2004. He spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.

He notably dedicated the Oscar to the late Kobe Bryant at the end of his speech. The Los Angeles Lakers great also won an Oscar in the best animated short category for his role in Dear Basketball.

Bryant won his Oscar in 2018.