NFL Tragedies of 2022: The Saddest and Most Shocking Deaths

Credit: Courtesy of Adrian Dingle/Instagram

NFL Tragedies of 2022: The Saddest and Most Shocking Deaths

Gone too soon. Football fans have had to mourn many surprising deaths in 2022 including NFL athletes such as Jaylon Ferguson and Jeff Gladney. In June 2022, the Baltimore Ravens confirmed that Ferguson passed away at the age of 26. "We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Jayson Ferguson," a statement from the team read. "He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon's family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon." The outside linebacker's agent also reflected on her client's sudden passing, telling NBC News, "He was a wonderful young man full of love and life. He will be remembered not just as a football player, but as a great father, son, brother and friend. The family asks for your continued prayers." The Louisiana native, who was drafted in 2019, was reportedly found unresponsive and pronounced dead with no signs of trauma or foul play. According to ESPN, authorities responded to a call in northern Baltimore and no official cause of death has been announced yet. [jwplayer EvMgtVgr-zhNYySv2] Ahead of his shocking death, Ferguson celebrated Father's Day with his son and two daughters. He shared his kids with Doni Smith. "How am I going to tell my babies," Smith tweeted in response to the news. "Until eternity. Get your rest my love!!!" Ferguson previously gushed about getting to expand his family. "My best friend my boy my first born my only son the one who will be the future sack daddy turned 3 years old on this date and we gone party!!!!!" he wrote via Instagram honor of his son's special day in November 2020. "Happy birthday Jyce O'Neal Ferguson Mama and daddy love you so much and we are greatful for u." Gladney's passing also shocked sports supporters when he died in a car crash at the age of 25. "We are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney's passing. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss," the Arizona Cardinals tweeted in May 2022. The Texas native, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, was a victim of a fatal accident in Dallas. His cousin Sharonda Francois reflected on his passing, telling WFAA, "He was very loved by us all. He was an all-around good kid and his contagious smile is what he was known for. He hosted football camps, he took care of our kids at family gatherings. I mean, money did not change him, he was still the same down to Earth cousin. He was just so well-loved." Scroll down for the heartbreaking NFL tragedies of 2022: [podcast_block]

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Ronnie Hillman

The former Denver Broncos running back was diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) in August 2022. He died the following December at the age of 31, days after entering hospice care.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son, brother & father, Ronnie K. Hillman Jr.,” his family wrote in an Instagram statement. “Ronnie quietly and peacefully transitioned today in the company of his family and close friends. We as the family, appreciate the prayers and kind words that have already been expressed. We ask that you would give us time to process our feelings as we prepare to lay our precious RJ to rest.”

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Adrian Dingle

The former Clemson University athlete passed away suddenly at the age of 45 in November 2022. Dingle's loved ones did not publicly share a cause of death at the time.

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Antonio Dennard

The former athlete, who played for the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants during his NFL career, was killed in an October 2022 shooting. He was 32 years old.

According to local news outlet WFMZ, Dennard was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital following an incident outside a bar in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania. The death was ruled a homicide and a police investigation was launched.

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Gavin Escobar

The former Dallas Cowboys tight end was found dead in Southern California after a rock climbing incident. He was 31.

Escobar and a friend had been hiking in the San Bernardino National Forest at the time, which officials confirmed to the Los Angeles Times on September 29.

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Paul Duncan

The former NFL player's wife Ellen Duncan announced that the athlete passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest during a run.

"Paul went into cardiac arrest while on a run in our neighborhood," she wrote via Instagram on July 16. "Today he was pronounced brain dead. We will have a medical examination to understand cause of death."

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Tony Siragusa

The former Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle died in June 2022 at age 55. Siragusa's broadcast agent, Jim Ornstein, confirmed the news to the Associated Press, saying: “This is a really sad day. Tony was way more than my client, he was family. My heart goes out to Tony’s loved ones.” A cause of death was not immediately revealed.

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Jaylon Ferguson

The Baltimore Ravens player died at the age of 26 in June 2022. According to ESPN, Ferguson was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at his home. At the time, it was reported that there was no trauma or foul play and an official cause of death is still to be determined.

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Marion Barber III

The former NFL player was found dead in June 2022. Barber, who passed away at the age of 38, was discovered in his apartment during a welfare check. His cause of death is currently unknown. Ahead of his death, the Minnesota native played for his home state's Golden Gophers and the Dallas Cowboys.

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Jeff Gladney

Gladney died in a car crash at the age of 25. The Arizona Cardinals player was one of two victims of the accident, which occurred in May 2022. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the cause of the crash after the vehicle was reportedly speeding and lost control. 

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Dwayne Haskins

In April 2022, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died at 24. The athlete was struck by a vehicle after crossing an intersection in South Florida. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Shane Olivea

The former San Diego Chargers player died in March 2022 at age 40. Three months later, E! News reported that the New York native died from "hypertensive heart disease," with the contributory cause of death attributed to "obesity." While playing in the NFL, Olivea developed an addiction to painkillers, checking in to rehab in 2008. He later said that he took 125 Vicodin tablets per day at the height of his addiction, estimating that he spent nearly $584,000 on pills.