Wikipedia

List of gridiron football players who died during their careers

(Redirected from List of American football players who died during their career)

This is a list of players of gridiron football (American football and Canadian football) players who died while still on a team roster. Included are players in professional and college football who have died of any cause. For professional football players, the most common cause of death is vehicle crashes. For college players, the most common cause of death is in-game and practice injuries. Each player is listed with the team to which he was assigned at the time of his death, rather than the team with which he spent most of his career. Players who were free agents at the time of their death are not listed.

National Football League

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For players who joined the military during wartime and were killed in action, see List of National Football League players who died in wars.
† = Pro Bowler
‡ = Hall of Famer

1922–1965

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Ralph Anderson 24 WR Los Angeles Chargers (AFL) Diabetic reaction 1960
Jeff Burkett 26 WR / P Chicago Cardinals Plane crash 1947
Ernie Davis 23 HB Cleveland Browns Leukemia 1963[a]
Terry Dillon 22 DB Minnesota Vikings Drowned 1964
Bo Farrington 28 TE Chicago Bears Car crash (with Willie Galimore) 1964
Don Fleming 25 S Cleveland Browns Accidental electrocution 1963
Willie Galimore † 29 HB Chicago Bears Car crash (with Bo Farrington) 1964
Howard Glenn 26 G New York Titans (AFL) Neck injury (in-game) 1960
Ching Hammill 23 BB Providence Steam Roller Crushed by electric crane 1925
Mack Lee Hill † 25 FB Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) Pulmonary embolism 1965
Stone Johnson 23 HB Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) Neck injury (in-game) 1963[b]
Mose Kelsch 38 K Pittsburgh Pirates Car crash 1935
Bob Laraba 28 LB San Diego Chargers (AFL) Car crash 1962
Gene Lipscomb † 31 DT Pittsburgh Steelers Drug overdose 1963
Stan Mauldin 27 OT Chicago Cardinals Heart attack 1948
Lucien Reeberg 21 OT Detroit Lions Heart attack 1964
Dave Sparks 26 DT Washington Redskins Heart attack 1954

1966–1995

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Jeff Alm 25 DT Houston Oilers Suicide 1993
Eric Andolsek 25 G Detroit Lions Car crash 1992
Troy Archer 24 DE New York Giants Car crash 1979
Brad Beckman 24 TE Atlanta Falcons Car crash 1989
Jerome Brown † 27 DT Philadelphia Eagles Car crash 1992
Frank Buncom † 29 LB Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) Blood clot 1969
J. V. Cain 28 TE St. Louis Cardinals Heart attack 1979
Rusty Chambers 27 LB Miami Dolphins Car crash 1981
Kirk Collins 25 CB Los Angeles Rams Esophageal cancer 1984
David Croudip 30 DB Atlanta Falcons Drug overdose 1988
Shane Curry 24 DE Indianapolis Colts Homicide 1992
Joe Delaney † 24 RB Kansas City Chiefs Drowned 1983
Jim Duncan 26 CB Baltimore Colts Suicide 1972
Randy Frisch[1] 23 OT Pittsburgh Steelers Car crash 1977
Blenda Gay 26 DE Philadelphia Eagles Homicide 1976
Larry Gordon 28 LB Miami Dolphins Heart attack 1983
David Griggs 28 LB San Diego Chargers Car crash 1995
Roger Hagberg 31 TE Oakland Raiders (AFL) Car crash 1970
Chuck Hughes 28 WR Detroit Lions Cardiac arrest (in-game), compounded by spleen injury from a previous game 1971
Bruce McLenna 26 FB Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) Car crash 1968
Ralph Norwood 23 OT Atlanta Falcons Car crash 1989
David Overstreet 25 RB Miami Dolphins Car crash 1984
Brian Piccolo 26 HB Chicago Bears Embryonal cell carcinoma 1970
Ron Rector 24 HB Atlanta Falcons Motorcycle crash 1968
Don Rogers 23 S Cleveland Browns Drug overdose 1986
Andy Spiva 24 LB Atlanta Falcons Car crash 1979
Stacey Toran 27 DB Los Angeles Raiders Car crash 1989
Fred Washington 23 DT Chicago Bears Car crash 1990
Dave Waymer † 34 S Los Angeles Raiders Heart attack 1993

1996–2021

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Gaines Adams 26 DE Chicago Bears Cardiac arrest 2010
Jovan Belcher 25 LB Kansas City Chiefs Suicide 2012
Leon Bender 22 DT Oakland Raiders Seizure 1998
Jerry Brown 25 LB Dallas Cowboys Car crash 2012
Brandon Burlsworth 22 G Indianapolis Colts Car crash 1999
Marcus Cassel 23 CB Carolina Panthers Car crash 2006
Marquis Cooper 26 LB Oakland Raiders Presumed dead from boating accident; body never found 2009
Rodney Culver 26 RB San Diego Chargers Plane crash 1996
Chris Henry 26 WR Cincinnati Bengals Fell out of back of a moving vehicle 2009
Thomas Herrion 23 G San Francisco 49ers Ischaemic heart disease 2005
Marquise Hill 24 DE New England Patriots Drowned 2007
Edwin Jackson 26 LB Indianapolis Colts Car crash 2018
Fred Lane 24 RB Carolina Panthers Homicide 2000
Kenny McKinley 23 WR Denver Broncos Suicide 2010
O.J. Murdock 25 WR Tennessee Titans Suicide 2012
Damien Nash 24 RB Denver Broncos Cardiac failure 2007
Corey Smith 29 DE Detroit Lions Presumed dead from boating accident, body never found 2009
Korey Stringer † 27 OT Minnesota Vikings Heat stroke 2001
Sean Taylor † 24 FS Washington Redskins Homicide 2007
Derrick Thomas ‡ 33 LB Kansas City Chiefs Pulmonary embolism 2000
Eric Turner † 31 S Oakland Raiders Stomach cancer 2000
Tray Walker 23 CB Baltimore Ravens Motorcycle crash 2016
Darrent Williams 24 CB Denver Broncos Homicide 2007

2022–present

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year
Jaylon Ferguson 26 LB, DE Baltimore Ravens Drug overdose 2022
Jeff Gladney 25 CB Arizona Cardinals Car crash 2022
Dwayne Haskins 24 QB Pittsburgh Steelers Hit by vehicle while walking 2022
Khyree Jackson 24 CB Minnesota Vikings Car crash 2024

Arena Football League and af2

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year Reference(s)
Johnathan Goddard 27 DE Colorado Crush Motorcycle crash 2008 [2]
Al Lucas 26 DT Los Angeles Avengers In-game neck injury 2005 [3]
Justin Skaggs 28 QB Utah Blaze Stage III oligodendroglioma brain cancer 2007 [4]
Johnie Kirton 26 RB San Jose SaberCats Methadone toxicity/unknown 2012 [5]
Julian Yearwood 31 FB/LB Bakersfield Blitz Clogged arteries 2003 [6]
Chandler Williams 27 WR Tampa Bay Storm Cardiac arrest 2013 [7]

Canadian Football League

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year Reference(s)
Allen Gallaher 26 OL BC Lions Heart attack 1977 [8]
Mylan Hicks 23 DB Calgary Stampeders Homicide 2016 [9]
Joe McKnight 28 RB Saskatchewan Roughriders Homicide 2016 [10]
Tom Pate 23 LB Hamilton Tiger-Cats Aneurysm (in game) 1975 [11]
Christian Saulsberry 25 WR Edmonton Elks Homicide 2022 [12]
Derrell Robertson 27 DE Las Vegas Posse Car crash 1994 [13]
Adrian Robinson 25 LB Hamilton Tiger-Cats Suicide 2015 [14]
Ted Watkins 27 WR Hamilton Tiger-Cats Shot while robbing a liquor store 1968

Continental Football League

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year Reference(s)
Glen Hepburn 29 Two-way end Omaha Mustangs Injuries sustained during game vs Michigan Arrows 1968 [15]

United Football League

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year Reference(s)
Donald Sellers 26 Wide receiver Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL) Car crash 2001 [16]
Troy Stark 28 Offensive lineman New York/New Jersey Hitmen (XFL) Complications from surgery 2001 [17]
Chris Brown 24 Offensive lineman DC Defenders (XFL) Drowned 2021 [18][19]
Jessie Lemonier 25 Linebacker Birmingham Stallions (USFL) Unknown 2023 [20]
Chris Smith 31 Defensive end Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) Unknown 2023 [21]
Alex Collins 28 Running back Memphis Showboats (USFL) Motorcycle accident 2023 [22]
Diondre Overton 26 Wide receiver Memphis Showboats (USFL) Homicide 2024 [23]

New England Football League

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Name Age Position Team Cause of death Year Reference(s)
Odin Lloyd 27 Linebacker Boston Bandits Homicide 2013 [24]

College

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Player Age School Position Cause of death Year Ref(s)
Bennie Abram III 20 Mississippi Safety Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2010 [25]
Brandon Adams 21 Georgia Tech Nose tackle Collapsed and hit head while dancing 2019 [26]
Ted Agu 21 California Defensive end Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2014 [27]
John Airhart 19 Simmons College Quarterback Traumatic brain injury sustained during 1909 game vs. Howard Payne 1910
John Albert Chicago Multiple Stomach ailment 1914
John Allen 24 Christian Brothers College Tackle Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. St. Louis University alumni team 1899 [28]
Kyle Ambrogi 21 Pennsylvania Running back Suicide 2005 [29]
Avery Atkins 20 University of Florida Cornerback Ecstasy overdose 2007 [30]
Sal Aunese 21 University of Colorado Quarterback Stomach cancer 1989 [31]
Walter Back 22 Oregon Blood poisoning 1935
George T. Bahen 21 Georgetown Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during 1894 game vs. Columbia Athletic Club 1895 [32]
Marlin Barnes 22 University of Miami Linebacker Homicide 1996
Charles Beccara Lehigh Guard Accidental self-inflicted gunshot 1895 [33]
Bryce Beekman 22 Washington State Cornerback Acute intoxication after consuming fentanyl and promethazine 2020 [34]
Verner Belyea Norwich College Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Holy Cross 1913
Heath Benedict 24 Newberry College Offensive tackle Enlarged heart 2008 [35]
Brook Berringer 22 University of Nebraska Quarterback Plane crash 1996
Preston Birdsong 19 Tennessee Tech Defensive back Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2000 [36]
Edward Bohn 22 Missouri Mines Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Central Missouri 1920
Austin Box 22 University Of Oklahoma Linebacker Accidental opioid overdose 2011 [37]
Tajh Boyd 19 Liberty University Offensive lineman Suicide 2023 [38]
Cary Brown Presbyterian End Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1923
Hunter Brown 21 Air Force Academy Offensive lineman Blood clot in lungs following an injury suffered in practice 2023 [39]
Michael Burke 21 Medico-Chirurgical College Tackle Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Philadelphia Pharmacy 1909 [40]
Medrick Burnett Jr. 20 Alabama A&M Linebacker Serious injury after a head-on collision during game vs. Alabama State 2024 [41]
Eugene Byrne 21 Army Tackle Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Harvard 1909 [42]
Derringer Cade 20 Northeast Missouri State Linebacker Idiopathic hypertropic cardiomyopathy sustained during game vs. Southwest Baptist University 1990 [43]
Ronnie Caldwell 21 Northwestern State Safety Homicide 2023 [44]
Leon Carey 20 Arkansas A&M Cerebral hemorrhage 1931 [45]
Devin Chandler 20 Virginia Wide receiver Homicide 2022 [46]
Archer Christian 18 Virginia Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Georgetown 1909 [47]
Ladarius Clardy 18 Kennesaw State Quarterback Homicide 2021 [48]
Leonard Clarkson 23 Norwich College End Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Dartmouth 1907 [49]
Hiram Cole 19 Central Methodist Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Missouri Military 1916
Jeremiah Collins 18 Austin Peay State Cornerback Car crash 2023 [50]
John Cooper North Carolina Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1908 [51]
E.L. Cowden Eastman Business College Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Poughkeepsie High School 1899 [52]
Tylee Craft 23 North Carolina Wide receiver Stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma 2024 [53]
John Crumbacher Tennessee Offensive tackle Car crash 1966 [54]
John Curley 20 Trinity College (IA) Unknown 1924
Carl Dahlbeck 25 Purdue Guard Burn injury 1936 [55]
Tom McGannon 20 Purdue Halfback Burn injury 1936 [56]
Mario Danelo 21 USC Kicker Fall from a cliff 2007 [57]
Marcus "MJ" Daniels Jr. 21 Southern Miss Cornerback Homicide 2024 [58]
Devaughn Darling 18 Florida State Linebacker Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2001
Donald Davis Emporia State Halfback Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Baker 1921
Lavel Davis Jr. 21 Virginia Wide receiver Homicide 2022 [46]
Ernest Dickson 21 Arkansas Halfback Pneumonia 1908
Ovid Donaldson McMurry End Spinal cord injury sustained diving into a swimming pool 1927
Gardner Dow 21 University of Connecticut Center Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. New Hampshire 1919 [59]
Butch Duhe 20 LSU Quarterback Congenital heart defect 1970
W.L. Egan Northwestern Oklahoma State Halfback Traumatic brain injury 1910
Jake Ehlinger 20 Texas Linebacker Accidental overdose 2021 [60]
Richard Evans College of Wooster Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Western Reserve 1907
Thomas Evans Utah State Guard Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Colorado Mines 1908
James Fenton 21 Holy Cross Tackle Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1928
G. Cook Ferebee 19 VMI Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Roanoke College 1908
Oliver Ferry Alfred Internal injuries sustained during 1920 game vs. Allegheny 1921
Tom Fisher Tennessee Linebacker Car crash 1966 [54]
Miles Fox 19 Navy Running back Sunstroke sustained during practice 1928
Richard Von Albade Gammon 17 Georgia Fullback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Virginia 1897
E. Herbert Garrison 22 Dickinson End Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Swarthmore 1886 [61]
Clayton Geib 21 College of Wooster Offensive guard Cerebral edema following game vs. Ohio Wesleyan 2017 [62][63]
George Gipp 25 University of Notre Dame Multiple Strep throat infection and pneumonia 1920
Eric Goll 20 Chadron State Defensive lineman Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2016 [64][65]
Harry Goodloe 20 Central (KY) Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Kentucky 1894 [66]
Leo Goodreau 19 Villanova Quarterback Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1928
Robert Grays 19 Midwestern State Defensive back Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville 2017 [67]
Reuben Gretschow 23 Elmhurst Tackle Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Valparaiso 1931 [45]
Lewis Grisler 21 Ohio Wesleyan End Heart failure sustained during practice 1906
Theodore Hammonds 23 Warner Wide receiver Exercise collapse 2019 [68]
Jyilek Harrington 21 West Virginia State Inside linebacker Homicide 2024 [69]
Jack Hartsock 17 Ohio Wesleyan Unknown 1935
Tyler Heintz 19 Kent State Offensive lineman Exertional heat stroke following conditioning drills 2017 [70][71]
Tyler Hilinski 21 Washington State University Quarterback Suicide 2018 [72]
Edwin Hill 25 NYU Halfback Accidental gunshot 1929 [73][74]
Henry Hooper 20 Dartmouth Center Complications from appendicitis surgery 1904 [75]
Charles Hope Corning Free Academy Injuries received during a game 1903 [76]
Jasper Howard 20 University of Connecticut Cornerback Homicide (stabbed) 2009 [77]
Jaden Hullaby 21 University of New Mexico Halfback/Tight end Unknown 2023 [78]
James Jamieson Cornell Quarterback Typhoid fever 1907
Tommy Johnson 24 Kansas Quarterback Kidney failure related to injury sustained during game vs. Missouri 1911 [79]
Harry Jordan 19 Sioux Falls College Running back Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. South Dakota 1902
Ty Jordan 19 Utah Running back Accidental gunshot 2020 [80]
Kosta Karageorge 22 Ohio State Defensive lineman Suicide 2014 [81]
Ryan Keeler 20 UNLV Defensive lineman Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 2023 [82]
Harry Knight Drexel Fullback Crushed skull during practice game against Penn 1894 [83]
Luke Knox 22 FIU Linebacker/Tight end Unknown 2022 [84]
Mariushi Kuwamoto 28 Hawaii Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Kamehameha School 1917
Charles Lange 19 Montana State Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1911
Myzelle Law 19 MidAmerica Nazarene University Defensive lineman Heat-related injuries at practice 2023 [85]
Robert Layfield 18 Johns Hopkins Quarterback Spinal cord injury sustained during 1914 game vs. Lehigh 1915
Robert Lewin Baltimore Medical College Guard Heart failure during game vs. Navy 1903
Dale Lloyd II 19 Rice Defensive back Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2006 [27]
James Edward "Jimmy" Long University of Tennessee Junior College Tailback Ruptured blood vessel in the brain sustained during a game at Northwest Mississippi Junior College 1935 [86]
Aaron Lowe 21 Utah Cornerback Homicide 2021 [87]
Lyons Washington & Jefferson Injuries received during a game 1892 [88]
Keith Marco 21 Cal Poly Offensive lineman Pulmonary embolism 2024 [89]
Teigan Martin 20 South Florida Tight end Car crash 2024 [90]
Justin McAllister 19 Sacramento City College Panthers Offensive tackle Heart failure 2023 [91]
Ralph McClure 21 Colorado College Back Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Colorado 1932
Robert McKee Alma Tackle Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Detroit Athletic Club 1901
Gordon McMillan 21 West Virginia Quarterback Pneumonia 1924
Jordan McNair 19 Maryland Offensive lineman Liver failure (caused by heatstroke) 2018 [27][92]
Camdan McWright 18 San Jose State Running back Traffic collision (hit by a school bus while riding an electric scooter) 2022 [93]
Wayne Merrifield 21 Michigan State Normal College Internal injuries 1931 [45]
Walter Merryman 22 Davis & Elkins Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Western Maryland 1911
Keith Miller III 23 Texas A&M–Commerce Wide receiver Unknown 2024 [94]
Darius Minor 18 University of Maine Defensive back Aortic dissection 2018 [27][95]
James Mock 19 Roanoke College Pneumonia (caused by internal injuries sustained during practice) 1910
Rudolph Monk 29 West Virginia Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Bethany College (WV) 1910
Howard Montgomery 21 Hampden-Sydney Tackle Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1905 [96]
Harold P. Moore 19 Union (NY) Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. NYU 1905 [96]
Ed Morrissey 21 St. Ambrose College Pneumonia and blood poisoning 1913
Anthony Mostella 22 South Alabama Running back Motorcycle crash 2010 [97]
Chucky Mullins 21 University of Mississippi Defensive back Spinal cord injury sustained during 1989 game vs. Vanderbilt 1991
Cornelius Murphy 21 Fordham Tackle Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Bucknell 1931 [45]
John "Jack" Murphy 23 Appalachian State Offensive lineman Unknown 2024 [98]
Aaron O'Neal 19 Missouri Linebacker Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2005 [99][100]
Edgar Newschwander Ripon Tackle Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Northwestern College (WI) 1900
James Nichols University of Alabama Center Spinal injury 1931 [45]
Virgil Noland 21 Oregon Guard Burn injury 1911
Edison Ogrosky 20 Southwestern (KS) Fullback Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Bethany College (KS) 1924
Bryan Pata 22 University of Miami Defensive lineman Homicide 2006 [101][102]
Ivan Perkins 21 New Mexico Normal Traumatic brain injury sustained during practice 1937
D'Sean Perry 20 Virginia Linebacker Homicide 2022 [46]
Charles Persland Pennsylvania Military College Traumatic brain injury 1917
John Peters Morningside Internal injuries sustained during practice 1909
Lawrence Pierson Lake Forest Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. South Division High School 1900
Ereck Plancher 19 Central Florida Wide receiver Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2008 [27]
Polie Poitier 19 Colorado Defensive back Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 1974
Alfred Primm, Jr. Amherst Halfback Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1926
Charles Prior Lehigh Quarterback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. West Virginia Wesleyan 1925
Ryan Quinney 20 Mississippi Valley State Linebacker Car crash 2024 [103]
Jack Reeves 23 Emporia State Fullback Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Washburn 1920
Paul Reyna 19 Boise State Defensive Tackle Traumatic brain injury sustained during scrimmage 1999 [104]
Paul Root Eastern Illinois Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Illinois State 1915
Joe Roth 21 University of California Berkeley Quarterback Melanoma 1977
Reed Ryan 22 University of Minnesota Duluth Defensive lineman Genetic heart condition 2023 [105]
Hugh Saussy 18 City College of New York Guard Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Elizabeth Athletic Club 1893 [106]
Bryan Scott Knox College Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. St. Louis University 1915
John Segrist 27 Ohio State Center-rush Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Western Reserve 1901 [107]
Andre Seldon Jr. 22 Utah State Cornerback Drowning 2024 [108]
Bertrand F. Serf 18 Doane Quarterback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. Kansas 1896 [109]
Ron Settles 21 California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach State) Running back Found hanging in jail cell 1981
Frank Shanklin 21 Hanover College End Internal injuries sustained during practice 1903 [110]
Derek Sheely 22 Frostburg State Fullback Traumatic brain injury sustained during practice 2011 [111]
Richard Sheridan, Jr. 26 Army End Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Yale 1931 [45]
Ja'Quayvin Smalls 20 Western Carolina Defensive back Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2009 [112][113]
AJ Simon 25 Albany Defensive end Unknown 2024 [114]
C. D. Smith Millsaps Tackle Spinal cord injury sustained during game vs. Stetson 1931 [45]
Denali Smith 20 Graceland University Defensive lineman Unknown 2024 [115]
Wayne Souza 20 University of Wisconsin-Madison Flanker Drowned while swimming in Lake Monona 1979
Joe Spybuck 19 Haskell Tackle Traumatic brain injury sustained during practice game 1909
Bryce Stanfield 21 Furman Defensive tackle Pulmonary embolism following a sudden medical emergency during a football workout 2024 [116][117]
Freddie Joe Steinmark 22 University of Texas at Austin Safety Osteosarcoma 1971
Jamain Stephens 20 California (PA) Defensive lineman Blood clot in heart 2020 [118][119]
Rodney Stowers 20 Mississippi State Nose guard Broken leg injury 1991 [120]
Owen Thomas 21 Pennsylvania Offensive lineman Suicide 2010 [121]
Jack Trice 21 Iowa State University Tackle Internal injuries sustained during game vs. Minnesota 1923
Frank Trimble Indiana Tackle Blood poisoning 1909
Sione Veikoso 22 BYU Offensive lineman Construction accident 2022 [122]
Brian Alan Wagner 19 Emporia State Linebacker Homicide (Traumatic Brain Injury from physical assault) 1999
Kevon Walker 18 Saint Francis Defensive lineman Unknown 2024 [123]
Joseph Walsh St. Mary's College (KS) Guard Spinal cord injury sustained during practice 1909
George Watkinson 22 Yale Halfback "Over-exertion and exposure" sustained during game vs. Princeton 1886 [124]
Spencer Webb 22 Oregon Tight end Head injury from cliff diving 2022 [125]
Sam Westmoreland 18 Mississippi State Offensive lineman Suicide 2022 [126][127]
Rashidi Wheeler 22 Northwestern Safety Exercise collapse associated with bronchial asthma 2001 [27]
Jordan Wiggins 18 Georgia Southern University Offensive lineman Suicide 2019 [128]
Chad Wiley 22 North Carolina A&T Offensive lineman Exercise collapse associated with sickle cell trait 2008 [129][130]
Curtis Williams 24 Washington Safety Spinal cord injury sustained during 2000 game vs. Stanford 2002 [131]
Devin Willock 21 Georgia Offensive lineman Car crash 2023 [132]
Earl Wilson Navy Quarterback Spinal cord injury sustained during 1909 game vs. Villanova 1910
Ralph Wilson 18 Wabash Halfback Traumatic brain injury sustained during game vs. St. Louis University 1910
Willis Wilson 21 Hawaii Running back Drowned 2013 [133]
Khambrail Winters 20 Texas State Defensive back Homicide 2020 [134]
John Withnell St. Louis University Quarterback Internal injuries sustained during practice 1903
Homer Wray Gettysburg Internal injuries sustained during a practice game 1913
Ted York 20 Yale Guard Pneumonia 1912

Team vehicle and plane crashes

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Davis was under contract when he died, though he did not play in a game due to his illness
  2. ^ Johnson was injured in a pre-season game, and did not play in a regular season game.

References

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