Former NFL player Kevin Turner died at his home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on Thursday, March 24, following a long battle with ALS, his family confirmed via the Kevin Turner Foundation website. He was 46.
“Just wanted to tell everyone, Myra and I lost a great son today,” the athlete’s father, Raymond Turner, wrote. “He will be missed so much. Thanks to everyone so very much for your support and prayers during this journey. He was ready to go to Heaven, excited he said. Love y’all, and thanks God Bless.”
According to AL.com, Turner was placed in hospice care on Tuesday. The foundation noted he was surrounded by friends and family when he died.
The Crimson Tide star was first diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, back in 2010. He was best recognized for his days playing at Alabama and for an eight-year career in the NFL during the ’90s that included stints with the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles.
He was a huge advocate of education about the disease and even started the Kevin Turner Foundation shortly after his diagnosis.
Filmmaker Jon Frankel worked with Turner in 2012 on a documentary titled American Man, which chronicled the athlete’s life and his battle with ALS.
“What made Kevin’s story appealing to me was, as successful as he was, he was not a household name outside of Patriots and Eagles fans and really avid football fans,” Frankel said in 2012. “He was the real lunch bucket guy. He literally put on his hard hat and went to work every day.”
Turner is survived by his wife, Allison, and three children, Nolan, 18, Natalie, 15, and Cole, 12, as well as his parents, Raymond and Myra.
