Tag: death

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) hugs head coach Brian Kelly as seniors are being honored during the beginning of the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Kyren Lacy’s agent to NFL: ‘Shame on you’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The agent representing the late Kyren Lacy blasted the NFL on Friday for its treatment of the draft prospect prior to his death by suicide.

At the time of his death last weekend, Lacy was facing negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle charges related to a car accident in Chackbay, La., on Dec. 17, 2024, that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. He turned himself in the following month and was out of jail on $151,000 bail.

A grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in the Lacy case last Monday.

With the legal case pending, the NFL did not invite Lacy to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, though the wide receiver did work out for teams at LSU’s Pro Day on March 26.

Rocky Arceneaux, the CEO of Alliance Sports, had this to say on Friday:

“As stated by his attorney, there was a high probability the felony charge of negligent homicide would have been declined by a grand jury this past Monday. Kyren was heartbroken by the tragic loss of Mr. Hall. He was willing to adhere to any civil matters, regardless of the Grand Jury’s decision. That aside, the system failed us, and we are now mourning the loss of two lives.

“To the NFL, shame on you for revoking Kyren’s Combine invitation without acknowledgment or consideration of the facts. I urge you to re-evaluate your processes and provide athletes with the necessary due process before alienating them from their peers and dreams they’ve worked so hard for. Shame on the investigating agency for being more concerned about public perception — and pressure to charge someone — than actually investigate the facts.”

The NFL did not immediately respond to Arceneaux’s comments.

Lacy died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase in Texas last Saturday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.

Police deputies said they got a call that Lacy, 24, had argued with a family member and shot a gun into the ground, FOX 26 Houston reported. Officials said they searched for Lacy after he fled the scene, leading to an attempt at a traffic stop. Instead, he led them on a car chase for several miles and crashed in Spring, Texas, authorities said.

When deputies removed Lacy from the car to take him into custody, they found him with the wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, the sheriff’s office said.

Before the criminal matter, Lacy was projected to be among the first 50 players drafted. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference receiver in 2024, caught 58 passes for 866 yards and shared the SEC lead with nine touchdown receptions in 12 games.

He finished his collegiate career with 162 catches for 2,360 yards and 26 touchdowns in 64 games with Louisiana (2020-21) and LSU (2022-24).

–Field Level Media

The parents of a Bucknell football player are suing over his death during a workout last summer.

Bucknell sued in football player’s death last summer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The parents of a Bucknell freshman football player who died following a workout last summer have filed a lawsuit against the school and members of the administration and coaching staff.

The suit claims the university knew about their 18-year-old son’s sickle cell diagnosis but did not have protocols in place to protect him, calling his death “completely avoidable.”

Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. died on July 12, two days after collapsing in his first workout with the school in Lewisburg, Pa. He was 18 years old.

“We do this for CJ, for every young man on that team, and anyone who comes after him, and anyone at any university,” Dickey’s mother, Nicole, said Wednesday. “This is a longer, harder path, and I am ready for it. My boy is worth it.”

An autopsy determined Dickey died from a sickle cell-related condition called rhabdomyolysis, family attorney Mike Caspino told ESPN.

The lawsuit claims there were no trainers present when Dickey and other freshmen were performing up-downs “as punishment” after they “messed up” during the workout.

“Students who were present at the workout have reported that CJ was clearly in distress during the 100 up-downs,” the lawsuit states. “He was falling behind the rest of the group and could not keep up.”

The Cleveland Clinic’s webpage says anyone with rhabdomyolysis who is attempting to exercise can reduce the risks by: “Starting an exercise program slowly, and listening to your body. If you feel especially sore or tired during a workout, stop and rest. Don’t push yourself beyond safe limits. … Take breaks in the shade if you’re doing physical activity in the heat.”

Bucknell released a statement to ESPN saying the school is aware of the lawsuit.

“The death of a student is always a tragic loss,” Bucknell said in the statement. “While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ’s family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority — the health and safety of all Bucknell students.”

The family is accusing the school of negligence and wrongful death and seeking unspecified compensation.

“We don’t want another athlete, another family, brother, cousin to go through this type of agony and pain and death, especially when it’s not necessary or completely avoidable,” Dickey’s father, Calvin Sr., said Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Alabama A&M’s Medrick Burnett Jr. dies after head injury

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Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. died Tuesday night due to a head injury sustained exactly one month earlier in a game against Alabama State. He was 20.

Alabama A&M announced Burnett’s death on Wednesday.

“Today, our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Medrick Burnett Jr.,” Alabama A&M athletic director Dr. Paul A. Bryant said in a statement. “Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.

“We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Medrick’s parents, siblings, and loved ones. We also offer our heartfelt support to his teammates, coaches, and the entire Alabama A&M community who are mourning this loss. In this moment of sorrow, we come together to honor Medrick’s legacy and celebrate the light he brought to our lives.”

According to a GoFundMe page from his sister, Dominece James, Burnett was injured in a head-to-head collision in the 27-19 loss against Alabama State in the Magic City Classic at Birmingham. She displayed a hospital picture showing her brother heavily inundated with tubes and other equipment. James said her brother had severe brain swelling and bleeding.

WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Ala., displayed a video of the play in which he was hurt, though it is unclear exactly how he was injured so severely.

The footage also showed Burnett being taken off the field on a stretcher. Burnett gave a thumbs-up to the crowd while being wheeled off.

According to the station, Burnett’s condition worsened in the days following the game.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, Calif., had five tackles in seven games this season. He was a transfer from Grambling State.

Alabama A&M (6-5) is scheduled to play at Florida A&M on Friday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; A view of the helmets of the Albany Great Danes during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Albany Great Danes at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NFL draft hopeful AJ Simon of Albany dead at 25

Posted on | by Field Level Media

AJ Simon, a defensive lineman from the University at Albany who was hoping to be drafted into the NFL next week, died at age 25, the school confirmed Wednesday.

Simon played four seasons of football at the FCS level — two at Bloomsburg (2018, 2021) and two at Albany. The native of Pennsylvania had 12.5 sacks for Albany in 2023 and was named to the All-CAA first team.

A cause of death was not released.

“The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon this morning,” the team said in a statement. “AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years. He will be profoundly missed.”

Albany coach Greg Gattuso posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he spent two “joyous” years getting to know Simon as a coach and friend.

“My prayers are dedicated to the Simon family,” Gattuso wrote. “I love you AJ and will always have a special place in my heart for #8.”

Simon had taken a pre-draft visit to the New England Patriots, NBC Sports reported.

–Field Level Media

Anne Donovan of Paramus Catholic High School talking with San Francisco 49ers running back and Hertz spokesman O.J. Simpson on July 11, 1979, at the Hertz #1 Award dinner in New York City. Fifty state winners were honored for their achievement.

O.J. Simpson: From ‘beloved’ to ‘no great loss’

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To some, O.J. Simpson was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Those born after his Pro Football Hall of Fame career remember Simpson as a beloved actor and broadcaster.

And to those even younger, he was an accused double murderer — acquitted in that case but later convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery in Las Vegas.

On Thursday, Simpson — who died of cancer on Wednesday at age 76 of prostate cancer — was recalled by those he touched in both triumph and tragedy.

“I knew him as an athlete, but I also knew him as a pitchman, and that crossover appeal into every living room, so even if you didn’t love football, you knew O.J. because of his ability to transcend sports and of course become the businessman and the pitchman that he was,” sports analyst Christine Brennan told CNN.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas, who worked with Simpson on NBC’s football telecasts, also recalled Simpson as an athlete who branched out beyond football — even before his retirement from the NFL — becoming known for his commercials for Hertz rental car and roles in television shows and movies including “The Towering Inferno,” the TV miniseries “Roots” and “The Naked Gun” film trilogy.

“He was not just admired, but beloved,” Costas told CNN. “He was, if not the first, he was the first to do it in a big way, an African American who broke through.”

But all that changed for Simpson following the June 12, 1994, murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald L. Goldman at her condominium in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

Simpson was acquitted in October 1995 after a trial that lasted nearly 10 months and stoked racial divisions. Both victims were white, and members of a primarily Black jury bought the defense argument that racist members of the Los Angeles Police Department framed him. Goldman’s family went on to sue Simpson for wrongful death and won a $33.5 million civil verdict.

Fred Goldman, the father of the victim, reacted Thursday.

“The only thing I have to say is it’s just further reminder of Ron being gone all these years,” Fred Goldman told NBC News of his son, who was 25 at the time of his death. “It’s no great loss to the world. It’s a further reminder of Ron’s being gone.”

Caitlyn Jenner, once part of Simpson’s social circle, echoed Goldman, posting “Good Riddance #OJSimpson” to social media.

Simpson was the first running back in NFL history to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1985.

While there had been calls after the killings to pull Simpson’s bust from the shrine, it never did. Hall of Fame president Jim Porter issued a statement on Thursday.

“O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards,” Porter said. “His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”

Simpson paid little of the civil judgment to the Goldman family, and the debt is believed to have ballooned to about $100 million with interest.

The family’s attorney said he will continue to pursue the money from the Simpson estate. David Cook told TMZ that Simpson “died without penance” and will attempt to find out where Simpson’s possessions and funds are.

–Field Level Media

In this July 20, 2017, file photo, former O.J. Simpson appears via video for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev. Ap21348686799998

Family: O.J. Simpson dies of cancer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

O.J. Simpson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who was accused of, and ultimately acquitted, in the 1994 killings of his former wife and her friend in the “trial of the century,” has died after a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Simpson died Wednesday, his family announced on social media.

“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the family wrote on Simpson’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

Simpson, a San Francisco native, was an All-American at Southern California. He played for the Buffalo Bills, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 1969, and was a five-time All-Pro in his nine seasons there. He concluded his career with two seasons as a member of the 49ers, then transitioned to a career as a commercial pitchman and broadcaster before his arrest.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Death of ex-WR Mike Williams investigated for ‘unprescribed narcotics’

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The death of former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams is being investigated after police received word that he might have been given unprescribed drugs.

In an email to multiple news outlets Tuesday, the Tampa Police Department said it’s looking into the possibility Williams received “unprescribed narcotics by an outside party” while he was hospitalized after a construction accident.

“We take all allegations of criminal activity seriously, and detectives are working tirelessly on this active investigation,” the police email said.

The Hillsborough County (Fla.) Medical Examiner’s office is also investigating Williams’ death.

Williams died on Sept. 12 at age 36. He suffered injuries in a construction accident that reportedly left him partially paralyzed, and he spent more than two weeks in the hospital before his death.

Williams was a Buffalo, N.Y., native who played nearby at Syracuse University. He burst onto the scene in 2010 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching 65 passes for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. His receiving TD total set the single-season club mark at the time for any player, and he wound up second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Williams finished his career with 223 catches for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns in 63 games (52 starts) across four years with Tampa Bay and one with the Buffalo Bills.

–Field Level Media

Sep 3, 2022; Conway, South Carolina, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Jamey Chadwell during warmups prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Liberty coach: 19-year-old player’s death not football-related

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The recent death of Tajh Boyd, a 19-year-old incoming freshman at Liberty University, was not related to football activities, coach Jamey Chadwell said at a news conference Friday.

Chadwell, entering his first season as the Flames’ head coach, did not give additional details about the circumstances of Boyd’s death, which he said the football program learned about on Aug. 5.

“It’s been a challenging time not only for our staff, our players, just our whole community trying to comprehend all the different things that have been going on and then still, from a pure football perspective, try to get the team ready for a season that’s upcoming,” Chadwell said.

Lynchburg, Va., police have told outlets through a spokesperson that the department looked into the player’s death and deemed a criminal investigation unnecessary.

Boyd was listed on Liberty’s athletics website as a 6-foot-4, 295-pound offensive lineman from Chesapeake, Va., where he graduated from Oscar F. Smith High School. He signed his letter of intent to play at Liberty in December and officially joined the program in January.

“He made a huge impact on the team,” Chadwell said. “He was very quiet as far as an outwardly quietness, but when he was one-on-one with his teammates, he lit up the room. He had a very giving heart and if there was something that anybody was going through on the team, he was always there.”

Chadwell, 46, accepted the Liberty position after four seasons in the same role at Coastal Carolina. The Flames needed Chadwell to replace Hugh Freeze, who left for the Auburn job.

“There’s no playbook, no map to figure out how to deal with circumstances like this … you don’t have a lot of time to grieve,” Chadwell said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2022; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; A general view of Air Force Falcons helmets against the Wyoming Cowboys during the third quarter at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Air Force OL Hunter Brown dies at 21 from medical emergency

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The Air Force Academy announced Tuesday that cadet Hunter Brown, an offensive lineman on the football team, died Monday at age 21.

Brown, a sophomore, suffered a medical emergency while leaving his dorm to go to class, the academy said. First responders were called to the scene to attempt life-saving measures on Brown but they were not successful.

“Our players, staff and entire Academy have been so blessed and fortunate to have Hunter as a part of our lives,” Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun said. “He was a pure joy to coach and have as a teammate. He was tough, a great worker, and no one unselfishly pulled harder for others than Hunter. His mom and dad, Candyce and Dustin, raised a wonderful son who made each of us a better person. We love our great brother, and our thoughts and prayers are with Hunter’s incredible soul and his family.”

Hunter, a native of Lake Charles, La., was listed as a center on Air Force’s football roster online. He did not see game action for the Falcons.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A statue of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris (32) to commemorate the immaculate reception against the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Divisional playoff game is seen at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Two Franco Harris tribute events canceled following his death

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Two events scheduled to honor Franco Harris and the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception play have been canceled following the Hall of Fame member’s death.

Harris, the Steelers great, died unexpectedly Tuesday night at his home in Sewickley, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, at age 72. Cause of death has not been revealed.

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum called off its Thursday event, “Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception,” that was to feature a panel of Harris, a trio of former teammates and two members of the then-Oakland Raiders — the team on the other end of the legendary play. The Steelers won the playoff game, 13-7.

Also canceled was a private event Friday afternoon that would have screened the NFL Network documentary, “A Football Life: Franco Harris.” The network plans to air the special Friday at 9 p.m. ET.

Still on the schedule are the public unveiling Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET of the Immaculate Reception monument at the site where the former Three Rivers Stadium — which hosted the Immaculate Reception game on Dec. 23, 1972 — once stood. At 3:41 p.m., the exact time of the play, a radio rebroadcast of the call will be played.

The Steelers intend to hold the retirement ceremony of Harris’ No. 32 jersey at halftime of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. Harris will become the third Steelers player to be so honored, joining fellow Hall of Fame members Joe Greene (75) and Ernie Stautner (70).

–Field Level Media