Former NFL Guard Jordan Devey, 38, Died by Suicide, Family Says
A Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, Devey died days before his 15th wedding anniversary. His mother says the family believes he suffered from CTE.
Former NFL offensive guard Jordan Devey died Tuesday at age 38, with his family saying he died by suicide. His wife, Linsey, wrote in a social media post that he died days before the couple's 15th wedding anniversary. Devey won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots during the 2014 season and played seven seasons in the league across five teams.
What was Devey's NFL career?
Devey appeared in 44 career games with 21 starts over seven seasons. He played seven regular-season games for New England during the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning 2014 campaign, then started nine of 15 games for the San Francisco 49ers the following year. He retired in 2021 after appearing in one game for the Buffalo Bills in 2020.
What has his family said?
Devey's mother, Leslie, told Fox 13 in Salt Lake City that the family believes he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, but said they will not be able to test for the disease given the circumstances of his death. His wife, Linsey, wrote that the couple's four children share his "eyes, freckles, and compassion."
Where does this fit into the broader conversation about player health?
Devey's family is far from alone in raising CTE as a concern after a former player's death; the degenerative brain condition, linked to repeated head trauma, can currently only be diagnosed posthumously through examination of brain tissue. His family's public comments add another voice to a conversation the NFL and its players have been navigating for years over the long-term toll of the sport.
Sources
- ESPN: Former NFL guard Jordan Devey, 38, died by suicide, family says
