Jordan Devey, the offensive lineman who won a championship with the New England Patriots, has died at 38. According to a GoFundMe page set up for his wife Linsey and their four children, Devey took his own life.
The fundraiser, which had collected over $92,000 toward a $200,000 goal as of Saturday morning, described the circumstances of his death. His mother, Leslie Devey, told Fox 13 in Salt Lake City that she believed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a brain injury associated with repeated head trauma, may have contributed to his death on Tuesday.
Devey's path to the NFL was unconventional. He didn't play football in high school, stepping away from the sport after his junior year due to a knee condition that causes inflammation and pain in young athletes. Instead, he played tuba in his school band. After completing a two-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he enrolled at Snow College in Utah, where he played two seasons of football as his knee improved. He finished his college career at the University of Memphis.
Going undrafted in 2013, Devey signed with the Baltimore Ravens and later joined the New England Patriots' practice squad that September. The following year, 2014, the 6-foot-7 lineman was promoted to the active roster just as the Patriots prepared for their championship run. New England defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, making Devey part of a winning team.
His NFL tenure extended across multiple franchises. He appeared in 15 games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, his career high, starting in nine of those contests. He subsequently played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills through the 2020 season. In total, Devey appeared in 44 NFL games, with 21 starts.
After retiring from professional football, Devey remained involved in the sport at the grassroots level. He coached youth teams and served as a high school football coach in Idaho, staying connected to the game that defined much of his adult life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US is available by calling or texting 988. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org or text HOME to 741741.
Author James Rodriguez: "Devey's story underscores the persistent questions about player safety and long-term health consequences that haunt professional football, even for those who played relatively limited snaps."
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