This is just crushing news, absolutely heartbreaking. Former NFL guard and Super Bowl champion Jordan Devey has passed away at just 38 years old. We’re talking about a man who poured his life into the game, a true grinder, and his family is now sharing that he died by suicide. It’s an incredibly tough pill to swallow, knowing the pain he must have been going through.
The Unbearable Weight of Loss and Unanswered Questions
The GoFundMe page set up for Jordan’s family puts it plainly: “Tragically, Jordan took his own life, leaving his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time.” His mother, Leslie, spoke to Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, and what she said is going to stick with you: the family believes he “possibly suffered from CTE.” But here’s the gut punch: they won’t be able to test for that neurodegenerative disease because of how he died. Think about that, the struggle for answers, for understanding. It’s a cruel twist.
His wife, Lindsay, posted a picture of Jordan in his hospital bed, on what should have been their 15th wedding anniversary. Can you even imagine that pain? Her Instagram post lays bare the raw grief: “We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs.” She talked about their “4 beautiful children” who have his “eyes, freckles, and compassion.” And then, the quote that just shatters you: “You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you. And as you said in your last words to me, ‘we’ll talk soon.’” Those last words, man, they hit different.
A Champion’s Journey Cut Short
Jordan Devey’s journey to the NFL was the kind of story that inspires. Undrafted out of Memphis in 2013, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He pushed, he fought, and by early September that year, he was on the New England Patriots’ practice squad. Then, in 2014, he finally got his shot: seven games, four starts, and get this, a Super Bowl XLIX ring with the Patriots. He earned that.
He moved on to the San Francisco 49ers in summer 2015, where he saw his most action, playing in 15 games with nine starts at guard. After three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2016-18, he rounded out his career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and the Buffalo Bills in 2020. Forty-four regular-season games, twenty-one starts. That’s a serious career for an undrafted guy.
It’s a stark reminder, folks. We watch these guys on the field, we see the triumphs, but we often don’t see the silent battles they’re fighting off it. Jordan Devey’s passing is a tragic loss, a champion gone far too soon, leaving behind a family searching for peace and understanding. Our hearts go out to Lindsay, his four children, his mother Leslie, and everyone who knew and loved Jordan. We will miss seeing what he could have achieved next, but more importantly, we grieve the life he lost.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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