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In memory · In their names · For the next one

Before the Final Whistle

Every name on this page was an athlete: a son, a daughter, a teammate, a parent. Before we can change where this is going, we have to see clearly where it is. This is the record so far, and our plan to build a private place where athletes can heal before it's too late.

0athletes documented
0NFL & AFL players
0college athletes
0high school players
01 · PROFESSIONAL

NFL players we've lost

Every documented NFL (and AFL) player who died by suicide, newest first: years in the league, teams, and the date we lost them.

Alphonso Smith

Alphonso Smith

2009–2012 · NFL

Denver Broncos · Detroit Lions

† Sep 2, 2026

Jordan Devey

Jordan Devey

2013–2020 · NFL

Patriots · 49ers · Chiefs · Raiders · Bills

† Jul 21, 2026

Rondale Moore

Rondale Moore

2021–2025 · NFL

Arizona Cardinals · Atlanta Falcons · Minnesota Vikings

† Feb 21, 2026

Rudi Johnson

Rudi Johnson

2001–2008 · NFL

Cincinnati Bengals · Detroit Lions

† Sep 22, 2025

Reported
Terry Beasley

Terry Beasley

1972–1975 · NFL

San Francisco 49ers

† Jan 31, 2024

Reported
Bob Dahl

Bob Dahl

1992–1998 · NFL

Cleveland Browns · Washington Redskins

† Sep 25, 2023

Greg Clark

Greg Clark

1997–2000 · NFL

San Francisco 49ers

† Jul 7, 2021

CTE confirmed
Phillip Adams

Phillip Adams

2010–2015 · NFL

49ers · Patriots · Seahawks · Raiders · Jets · Falcons

† Apr 8, 2021

CTE confirmed
Jevan Snead

Jevan Snead

2010 · NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

† Sep 21, 2019

Rod Jones

Rod Jones

1987–1989 · NFL

Kansas City Chiefs · Seattle Seahawks

† Dec 8, 2018

Jason Hairston

Jason Hairston

1995–1996 · NFL

San Francisco 49ers · Denver Broncos

† Sep 4, 2018

Chris Gedney

Chris Gedney

1993–2000 · NFL

Chicago Bears · Arizona Cardinals

† Mar 9, 2018

James Hardy

James Hardy

2008–2010 · NFL

Buffalo Bills

† Jun 7, 2017

Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez

2010–2012 · NFL

New England Patriots

† Apr 19, 2017

CTE confirmed
Benny Perrin

Benny Perrin

1982–1985 · NFL

St. Louis Cardinals

† Feb 3, 2017

Rashaan Salaam

Rashaan Salaam

1995–1999 · NFL

Chicago Bears · Cleveland Browns · Green Bay Packers

† Dec 5, 2016

Dorian Boose

Dorian Boose

1998–2001 · NFL

New York Jets · Washington Redskins

† Nov 22, 2016

Lawrence Phillips

Lawrence Phillips

1996–1999 · NFL

St. Louis Rams · Miami Dolphins · San Francisco 49ers

† Jan 13, 2016

Adrian Robinson

Adrian Robinson

2012–2013 · NFL

Steelers · Broncos · Chargers · Washington

† May 16, 2015

CTE confirmed
Paul Oliver

Paul Oliver

2007–2011 · NFL

San Diego Chargers · New Orleans Saints

† Sep 24, 2013

CTE confirmed
Jovan Belcher

Jovan Belcher

2009–2012 · NFL

Kansas City Chiefs

† Dec 1, 2012

CTE confirmed
Junior Seau

Junior Seau

1990–2009 · NFL

San Diego Chargers · Miami Dolphins · New England Patriots

† May 2, 2012

CTE confirmed
Ray Easterling

Ray Easterling

1972–1979 · NFL

Atlanta Falcons

† Apr 19, 2012

CTE confirmed
Kurt Crain

Kurt Crain

1988–1989 · NFL

Houston Oilers · Green Bay Packers

† Apr 10, 2012

Reported
Mike Current

Mike Current

1967–1979 · NFL

Denver Broncos · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miami Dolphins

† Jan 16, 2012

Dave Duerson

Dave Duerson

1983–1993 · NFL

Chicago Bears · New York Giants · Phoenix Cardinals

† Feb 17, 2011

CTE confirmed
Shane Dronett

Shane Dronett

1992–2002 · NFL

Denver Broncos · Atlanta Falcons · Detroit Lions

† Jan 21, 2009

CTE confirmed
Andre Waters

Andre Waters

1984–1995 · NFL

Philadelphia Eagles · Arizona Cardinals

† Nov 20, 2006

CTE confirmed
Terry Long

Terry Long

1984–1991 · NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers

† Jun 7, 2005

CTE confirmed
Bobby Kemp

Bobby Kemp

1981–1987 · NFL

Cincinnati Bengals · Tampa Bay Buccaneers

† Feb 7, 1998

Steve Stonebreaker

Steve Stonebreaker

1962–1968 · NFL

Minnesota Vikings · Baltimore Colts · New Orleans Saints

† Mar 28, 1995

Jeff Alm

Jeff Alm

1990–1993 · NFL

Houston Oilers

† Dec 14, 1993

Mike Wise

Mike Wise

1986–1991 · NFL

Los Angeles Raiders · Cleveland Browns

† Aug 21, 1992

Bobby Futrell

Bobby Futrell

1986–1990 · NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

† Jun 1, 1992

Wes Dove

Wes Dove

1987 · NFL

Seattle Seahawks

† Mar 5, 1989

Larry Bethea

Larry Bethea

1978–1983 · NFL

Dallas Cowboys

† Apr 24, 1987

Benny Friedman

Benny Friedman

1927–1934 · NFL

Cleveland Bulldogs · Detroit Wolverines · New York Giants · Brooklyn Dodgers

† Nov 23, 1982

Jim Tyrer

Jim Tyrer

1961–1974 · NFL

Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs · Washington Redskins

† Sep 15, 1980

CTE confirmed
Jim Duncan

Jim Duncan

1969–1972 · NFL

Baltimore Colts · New Orleans Saints

† Oct 21, 1972

Obie Bristow

Obie Bristow

1920s · NFL

Cleveland Bulldogs · Kansas City Cowboys

† Dec 22, 1969

John Mohardt

John Mohardt

1922–1925 · NFL

Chicago Cardinals · Racine Legion · Chicago Bears

† Nov 24, 1961

Bob Karch

Bob Karch

1922–1923 · NFL

Columbus Panhandles · Louisville Brecks

† Nov 14, 1958

Rip King

Rip King

1920–1926 · NFL

Akron Pros · Chicago Cardinals · Hammond Pros

† Mar 4, 1950

Vern Foltz

Vern Foltz

1940s · NFL

Washington Redskins · Pittsburgh Steelers

† Dec 31, 1947

Tom Moran

Tom Moran

1925 · NFL

New York Giants

† Jul 4, 1933

A. C. Baur

A. C. Baur

1923 · NFL

Racine Legion

† Jan 18, 1931

Bodie Weldon

Bodie Weldon

1920s · NFL

Buffalo All-Americans

† May 25, 1928

Reported

Sources: public records, medical examiner rulings and published news reports (each name links to its source). CTE confirmed means a brain study after death found chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Reported means police or news reported a suicide but no final ruling has been published. Photos are used only where a free license exists; otherwise a silhouette is shown.

02 · COLLEGIATE & YOUTH

College athletes, every sport

Student-athletes who died by suicide while on, or just after leaving, a college roster since 2000, across football, soccer, track, lacrosse, basketball, softball and more.

Nic Smith

Nic Smith

University of Kentucky

Football

† Jun 8, 2026

Collin Maher

Collin Maher

Washington University in St. Louis

Track

† May 15, 2026

Lia Smith

Lia Smith

Middlebury College

Swimming & Diving

† Oct 2025

Kyren Lacy

Kyren Lacy

Louisiana State University

Football

† Apr 12, 2025

Tajh Boyd

Tajh Boyd

Liberty University

Football

† Aug 2023

Sarah Shulze

Sarah Shulze

University of Wisconsin

Cross Country & Track

† Apr 13, 2022

Jayden Hill

Jayden Hill

Northern Michigan University

Track & Field

† Apr 3, 2022

Owen Thomas

Owen Thomas

University of Pennsylvania

Football

† Apr 26, 2010

Kyle Ambrogi

Kyle Ambrogi

University of Pennsylvania

Football

† Oct 10, 2005

High school & youth football

Austin Trenum

Austin Trenum

Brentsville District High School (VA)

Football & Lacrosse

† Sep 2010

Zac Easter

Zac Easter

Former high school player (Iowa)

Football

† Dec 2015

These are only the families who went public. The NCAA's own death records count 128 student-athlete suicides from 2002–2022 alone, and most of those names were never published. We add a name only after we've confirmed it in a published source.

03 · THE NUMBERS

What the data says

The documented totals, the trend lines, and the research connecting repeated head impacts, CTE and suicide.

0athletes documented on this page
0NFL players lost since 2010
0NFL players lost since Sept 2025 alone
0NCAA athlete suicides, 2002–2022 (NCAA records)
0of 376 former NFL brains studied had CTE (91.7%)

Documented athlete suicides by decade

Names on this page, by the decade of death. The 2020s aren't over yet.

NFL / AFLCollege & high school

Suicide's share of all NCAA athlete deaths

Of 1,102 NCAA athlete deaths (2002–2022), the share caused by suicide doubled. It is now the #2 cause of death, behind accidents.

Source: Whelan et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024.

Reported NFL concussions per season

Preseason + regular season, games and practices (NFL / IQVIA injury data). 2025: game concussions rose 30% (129 → 168).

NFL suicide risk vs. MLB & NBA players

Hazard ratio for NFL players compared with MLB + NBA players (1979–2019, 34,013 players). Before 2011 the rates were the same. After 2010, NFL players' risk was 2.64× higher.

Source: Grashow et al., Harvard Football Players Health Study.

Same trend line? Here's what the data actually shows.

Reported NFL concussions peaked in 2017 (281) and fell to a record low in 2024 (182) after rule and helmet changes. Over the same years, documented suicides and CTE diagnoses kept rising. This is the key insight: CTE builds up from years of repeated hits, most of which never get diagnosed as concussions, starting in youth football. Damage done 10, 20 or 30 years ago is showing up now. Fewer diagnosed concussions today does not undo the hits already taken, and that's why former players need care now.

~1 in 2

athletes who died before age 30 and were studied by Boston University's CTE Center had CTE (Dr. Ann McKee, 2026).

BBC News
34%

of 1,980 former pro players surveyed believe they have CTE. 25% of them report thoughts of suicide or self-harm, versus 5% of those who don't.

JAMA Neurology, 2024
14

of the NFL players on this page were confirmed to have CTE after death. Most were never studied.

See the list
3–4

players are evaluated for every concussion the NFL diagnoses. The hits that never get diagnosed are the ones that add up.

NFL, 2025

Research shows strong links between repeated head impacts, CTE and suicidal thoughts, but suicide always has many causes. No single factor explains any one person's death.

04 · THE MISSION

Save 1,000 lives. Then build the athletes' Bridge.

Our mission begins at The Bridge, with a goal of saving 1,000 lives. That's our first step toward the attention, the proof and the partners we need to take on something bigger: a private, secure place built for athletes, active and retired, and their families, to get care and resources before it's too late. They should be able to heal the same way celebrities do at private treatment centers: quietly and with total privacy.

STEP 1

Prove it at The Bridge

Save 1,000 lives at The Bridge. Earn the results, the credibility and the recognition that open bigger doors.

STEP 2

License the data that funds it

Pro sports produce oceans of data: game film, player tracking, replay, wearables and training systems. We'll start with a data licensing deal with the NFL, then the other major leagues and their teams. Each team is its own business and its own possible deal. Even one league deal could fund the entire program.

STEP 3

Build the private facility

A place like The Bridge, better equipped for high-profile athletes. Private admissions, private stays and family-centered care, with no headlines.

NFLNCAANBAMLBNHLMLSUFC+ every team inside them
The MVP Program

100 MVPs. One mission.

MVPs are the people who can make this happen: former and current athletes who join as ambassadors with an upgraded membership, built for athletes, like our Kings & Queens. MVPs open the doors that matter: leagues, teams, and the brands and tech companies they already work with, including apparel, energy and sports-drink brands, wearable trackers and performance software.

The first MVP to join$50,000+ a free Hummer
MVP membership$100,000limited to 100 athletes
  • Founding ambassador status in the mission
  • An extra incentive for helping open a data licensing deal with a league or team
  • An MVP watch, with more incentives to be released as we build
  • A place in the CLARK HOF House story
The CLARK HOF House

Where it starts

I'll live in the CLARK HOF House for a year to make this happen. It's where we start building the replica of The Bridge for athletes: a home where athletes and their families can come, stay, and heal properly and privately.

  • Private, family-first stays: no cameras, no headlines
  • For active and retired athletes across every sport
  • Care and resources modeled on The Bridge
  • The first step toward a full athlete facility

MVP spot #1OPEN · $50,000 + a Hummer

Total MVP spots100

— Andrew Smart