'I don't have my rock': Danny Amendola channels grief into 'Dancing with the Stars' dance

Danny Amendola channeled his grief into a moving performance to honor his late coach on "Dancing with the Stars" last night.

The two-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots wide receiver danced in the show's fifth round of competition Tuesday night.

For Tuesday's show, each star performed routines in honor of influential people and institutions in their lives for Tuesday's show, which was aptly called Dedication Night. Dancer Mark Ballas was a guest judge.

Alongside his pro partner Witney Carson, Amendola danced a contemporary, which he dedicated to his college football coach, Mike Leach, who recruited him to Texas Tech University. Leach died in 2022 after a heart attack.

"He was a instrumental character in my life and my career," Amendola said.

"Since coach passed, it feels like I got a piece of me missing," he added. "I don't have my rock, I don't have my guy."

What song did Danny Amendola dance to on 'DWTS' last night?

Danny Amendola and his partner Witney Carson danced a contemporary to “Unsteady - The Erich Lee Gravity Remix” by X Ambassadors on "Dancing with the Stars" last night.

Amendola's dance was dedicated to his college football coach, Mike Leach, who passed away in 2022.

"He sold us a dream that that we could pay through hard work and dedication," Amendola said of Leach. "And being a coach is a very selfless job. And, you know, I miss him dearly, and this one's for him."

How did Danny Amendola score on 'DWTS' last night?

Danny Amendola scored a 36/40 for his contemporary on "Dancing with the Stars" last night.

All four of the judges — Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Mark Ballas — gave him nines out of ten.

He placed first on the night, tying with Joey Graziadei.

There are eight teams left in the competition.

Who got eliminated on 'DWTS' last night?

On last night's episode of "Dancing with the Stars," model Brooks Nader was eliminated from the competition.

The elimination was decided by a combination of the judges scores as well as viewer voting.

How to stream 'DWTS' or watch it live

"Dancing with the Stars" airs on Tuesday nights live on ABC and Disney+. It is also available for next-day streaming on Hulu.

The next episode will air Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. EST.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'I don't have my rock': Danny Amendola channels grief into 'Dancing with the Stars' dance