Former offensive lineman for the Jaguars Uche Nwaneri has passed away at the age of 38.
The Lafayette Journal & Courier reported that Nwaneri collapsed in a bedroom at his wife’s home in West Lafayette, Ind. He was discovered early Friday morning by his wife, who called 911.
Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello told the outlet that autopsy results showed no signs of foul play, and preliminary tests revealed that Nwaneri may have suffered a heart attack.
Nwaneri was selected by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He played in 104 games, and started in 92, for the team between 2007 and 2013.
During the 2014 offseason, he signed with the Cowboys but did not make the team’s regular season roster.
After his career in professional football, Nwaneri began to develop a YouTube channel in which he covered the Jaguars and other football teams, covering news, games and other major developments in the league. His channel, the Observant Lineman, amassed more than 23,000 subscribers.
The Jacksonville Jaguars official Twitter page posted a brief tribute to Nwaneri, writing, “we are saddened to learn about the passing of Uche Nwaneri.”
“Sad to hear of the passing of Uche Nwaneri,” Cole Pepper, a sports anchor at WJXT in Jacksonville, tweeted. “One of the most interesting Jaguars in team history. I spoke with him several times in the past few years about the Jaguars struggles. He was unabashed in his opinions. Rest in Peace.”
Gene Frenette, a columnist and sports writer for the Florida Times-Union, tweeted, “Uch was one of the coolest cats to ever occupy that locker room. Opinionated and so loveable. What a tragedy to be taken so young.”
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