Former NFL offensive lineman Jordan Devey has died at the age of 38, and his family says he died by suicide. Devey, who won Super Bowl XLIX with the New England Patriots, passed away this week, leaving behind his wife Linsey and their four children.
A GoFundMe page set up to support the family shared the news, describing Devey as a devoted husband and father who spent countless hours coaching his children’s teams as well as athletes at Eagle High School in Idaho, where he had settled after his playing career ended.
A Career Blocking for Three Star Quarterbacks
Devey’s football journey began at Memphis before he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He later joined the Patriots practice squad and earned his first Super Bowl ring during the 2014 season.
From there, his career took him to the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders, and finally the Buffalo Bills before he retired in 2021.
Over parts of seven NFL seasons, Devey appeared in 44 regular-season games and made 21 starts. He holds a distinctive place in league history as the only offensive lineman known to have blocked for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Family Points to CTE and Urges Others to Seek Help
Speaking with a local news station in Salt Lake City, Devey’s mother Leslie said the family suspects he may have been dealing with CTE, the degenerative brain disease often linked to repeated head trauma in football. Because of the circumstances surrounding his death, the family will not be able to test for the condition.
Devey’s parents, Kerry and Leslie, described their son as an energetic and generous person who grew up in American Fork, Utah, and once played tuba in his high school band before returning to football at Snow College, where he met his future wife. He later served an LDS mission in Costa Rica.
His mother said the family wants to use his story to encourage others to speak openly about mental health struggles and to remind people that reaching out for support is nothing to be ashamed of.
Linsey Devey shared a tribute on social media this week on what would have been the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary, reflecting on their years together and the four children they raised.
Devey’s family also shared that he was an organ donor, something they only learned after arriving at the hospital, and said it brought some meaning to an otherwise devastating loss.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.
