Eric LeGrand’s football coach at Rutgers helped him emotionally in the months after his on-field paralysis. Now, the coach is symbolically helping him realize his dream of making it to the NFL.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now coached by ex-Rutgers head coach, Greg Schiano, announced Wednesday they’ve signed the former defensive tackle, who was partially paralyzed in a 2010 game, to their 90-man off-season roster.

Schiano offered the symbolic deal to his former player by phone Tuesday.

“LeGrand collided with an Army kick returner while making a tackle on October 16, 2010, injuring his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.