Edmonton Elks kick returner’s death hits close to home for Kyran Moore

‘He had a real bright future, man. And I hate that it happened’

The death of Edmonton Elks kick returner Christian Saulsberry over the off-season hit close to home for the free-agent the team has brought in to help fill the void this year.

Kyran Moore has a close family connection to Saulsberry, who managed to make a big impact in a short time to a return unit that had been perennially lacking.

But his on-field exploits were the farthest thing from the mind of his teammates, coaches and fans when the tragic news broke in December that the rookie returner had been fatally shot while attending a house party near Memphis, Tenn., after returning home following the 2022 season.

“It’s crazy because I went to Austin Peay in college,” Moore said of the public university located in Clarksville, Tenn. “And his cousin and I were real close.

“We were real tight, so I was, like, you know, it’s just a small world when I found out that was his cousin.”

Moore had a chance to meet Saulsberry following a 36-34 Elks win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Sept. 17, 2022.