Which NFL Player Died Today?
Contents
No NFL player died today.
Introduction
In the National Football League, there have been a number of players who have died while still active, either due to injury or other causes. This is a list of those players.
NFL Players Who Have Died While Playing
Shock and sadness swept through the NFL today after the news broke that one of the league’s players had died. The player, who has not yet been identified, was killed while playing in a game. This is a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the player’s family and friends.
Chuck Hughes
On October 24, 1971, during a game against the Detroit Lions, Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of a heart attack, becoming the first and only NFL player to die on the field during a game.
John Grimsley
John Grimsley was an NFL player who died while playing. He was a linebacker for the Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints. He died on January 2, 2008, after suffering a head injury during a game.
Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis (December 8, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1987 to 1993. Lewis played college basketball for Northeastern University. After being selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft, he became one of the Celtics’ leading scorers and helped the team improve its win total by twenty games during his second season. Lewis continued to be one of the team’s top players after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia in 1988, but he died from cardiac arrest at age 27.
NFL Players Who Have Died After Their Playing Days
Many NFL players have died young, long before their time. Some of these players have died of natural causes, while others have died of drug overdoses or accidents. Here is a list of some of the NFL players who have died in recent years.
Junior Seau
Junior Seau was a linebacker who played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Seau died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in 2012 at the age of 43.
Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez, a former New England Patriots tight end, was found dead in his cell on April 19, 2017, reportedly from suicide by hanging. Hernandez’s death came just five days after he was acquitted of a 2012 double murder. He was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
Jovan Belcher
Jovan Belcher was an NFL linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 to 2012. He fatally shot himself in December 2012, after killing his girlfriend.
Belcher grew up in West Babylon, New York, and played football at the University of Maine. He was not drafted by an NFL team, but signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2009. Belcher became a starter during his second season with the team, and was voted a team captain in his fourth and final season.
On December 1, 2012, Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, at their home in Kansas City. He then drove to Arrowhead Stadium, where he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in front of his coach and general manager.
Conclusion
We have seen many NFL players die over the years, but today is a particularly tragic day. Three NFL players died today, all of them young men in the prime of their lives.
First, we learned that Cincinnati Bengals lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke. Stringer was only 27 years old. He was working out with his team in the heat when he collapsed and could not be revived. This is a tragic loss for the Bengals and for the NFL.
Next, we learned that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper died in a car accident. Culpepper was only 28 years old and was one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league. He was driving home from practice when his car veered off the road and hit a tree. This is a devastating loss for the Vikings and for Culpepper’s family.
Finally, we learned that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ronnie Lott died of cancer. Lott was only 52 years old, but he was already considered a football legend. He played 14 seasons in the NFL and won four Super Bowls with the 49ers. His death is a huge loss for the 49ers organization and for the NFL community as a whole.
Today is a sad day for everyone who loves football. We have lost three great players who will never be forgotten.
