This is a list of sports people who have died either during their career or due to career-ending injury or disease at an age when they could still have been active. It includes both on-duty and off-duty deaths, although there are separate lists for the former in sports which have an especially high number. People who had announced their retirement from sport despite still being at an age when they could still have been active are not listed.
Air sport
Does not include those who died in aircraft sport crashes such as aerobatics and air racing. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to List of people who died in aviation-related incidents .
- Carl Boenish
- Patrick de Gayardon
- Rob Harris, American skydiver
- Roger Nelson
American football
Pro Football
Arena Football League
- Al Lucas, Los Angeles Avengers, Defensive Tackle fatal neck injury, 2005
- Justin Skaggs, Utah Blaze, Wide Receiver, brain cancer, 2007
Arenafootball 2
- Julian Yearwood, Bakersfield Blitz, collapsed on the field
National Football League
This list includes players who left the NFL for active military service. Each player is listed with his last team, even if it is not the team with which he is typically associated.
- Jeff Alm, DT, Houston Oilers, suicide, 1993
- Ralph Anderson, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (AFL), diabetic reaction, 1960
- Eric Andolsek, OG, Detroit Lions, car accident, 1992
- Troy Archer, DE, New York Giants, car accident, 1979
- Brad Beckman, TE, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1989
- Al Blades, S, San Francisco 49ers, car accident, 2003
- Ricky Bell, RB, San Diego Chargers, complications of dermatomyositis, 1984
- Leon Bender, DT, Oakland Raiders, seizure, 1998
- Al Blozis, OT, New York Giants, died in World War II, 1945
- Jerome Brown, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, car accident, 1992
- Brandon Burlsworth, OL, Indianapolis Colts, car accident, 1999
- J.V. Cain, TE, St. Louis Cardinals, heart attack, 1979
- Rusty Chambers, LB, Miami Dolphins, car accident, 1980
- Marquis Cooper, LB, Oakland Raiders, lost at sea, 2009
- David Croudip, DB, Atlanta Falcons, drug overdose, 1988
- Rodney Culver, RB, San Diego Chargers, plane crash, 1996
- Shane Curry, DL, Indianapolis Colts, homicide, 1992
- Ernie Davis, Syracuse RB, leukemia, 1963 (appeared in uniform prior to a preseason game with the Cleveland Browns)
- Joe Delaney, RB, Kansas City Chiefs, drowned trying to save 3 children in a pond, 1983
- Bo Farrington, TE, Chicago Bears, car accident, 1964
- Willie Galimore, RB, Chicago Bears, car accident, 1964
- Blenda Gay, DE, Philadelphia Eagles, homicide, 1976
- Howard Glenn, OG, New York Titans (AFL), neck injury, 1960
- Larry Gordon, LB, Miami Dolphins, heart attack while jogging, 1983
- David Griggs, LB, San Diego Chargers, car accident, 1995
- Thomas Herrion, G, San Francisco 49ers, Ischaemic heart disease, 2005
- Mack Lee Hill, FB, Kansas City Chiefs (AFL), pulmonary embolism, 1965
- Marquise Hill, DE, New England Patriots, drowned, 2007
- Chuck Hughes, WR, Detroit Lions, heart attack during a game, 1971
- Stone Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (AFL), neck injury, 1963
- Bob Kalsu, OL, Buffalo Bills (AFL), killed in Vietnam War, 1970
- Fred Lane, RB, Carolina Panthers, homicide, 2000
- Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers, drug overdose, 1963
- Stan Mauldin, T, Chicago Cardinals, heart attack, 1948
- Damien Nash, RB, Denver Broncos, collapsed and died after a charity basketball game, 2007
- Ralph Norwood, OT, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1989
- David Overstreet, RB, Miami Dolphins, car accident, 1984
- Brian Piccolo, FB, Chicago Bears, embryonal cell carcinoma, 1970
- Don Rogers, FS, Cleveland Browns, drug overdose, 1986
- Corey Smith, DE, Detroit Lions, lost at sea, 2009
- Dave Sparks, DT, Washington Redskins, heart attack, 1954
- Andy Spiva, LB, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1978
- Korey Stringer, OT, Minnesota Vikings, heat stroke during practice, 2001
- Sean Taylor, FS, Washington Redskins, homicide, 2007
- Derrick Thomas, LB, Kansas City Chiefs, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in a car accident, 2000
- Pat Tillman, DB, Arizona Cardinals, friendly fire in war in Afghanistan, 2004
- Stacey Toran, DB, Los Angeles Raiders, car accident, 1989
- Eric Turner, DB, Oakland Raiders, stomach cancer, 2000
- Dave Waymer, DB, Los Angeles Raiders, heart attack, 1993
- Darrent Williams, CB, Denver Broncos, homicide, 2007
NFL Europa
- Donald Sellers, WR, Scottish Claymores, car accident, 2001
XFL
- Troy Stark, OL, New York/New Jersey Hitmen, complications from surgery, 2001
College football
NCAA football
- Sal Aunese, University of Colorado, quarterback, stomach cancer
- Eraste Autin, University of Florida, fullback, heat stroke
- Marlin Barnes, University of Miami, homicide
- Brook Berringer, Nebraska Cornhuskers, quarterback, plane crash
- Taylor Bradford, Memphis Tigers, defensive tackle, homicide
- Mario Danelo, USC kicker, accident
- Devaughn Darling, Florida State, linebacker, cardiac arrhythmia
- Keeley Dorsey, University of South Florida Bulls, long QT syndrome
- Todd Doxey, University of Oregon, defensive back, drowned
- Trent DiGiuro, University of Kentucky, homicide
- Butch Duhe, Louisiana State University, brain hemorrhage
- Brandon Fails, Texas A&M, blood clot in leg
- George Gipp, Notre Dame, infection
- Vernon Grant, Oklahoma State University, car crash
- Jasper Howard, Connecticut, homicide (stabbed)
- Chucky Mullins, University of Mississippi, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision in a game vs. Vanderbilt
- Aaron O'Neil, University of Missouri, defensive back, heat stroke
- Bryan Pata, University of Miami, homicide
- Greg Pratt, Auburn University, fullback, collapsed on practice field
- Shannon Smith, University of Hawaii kicker, drowned
- Freddie Steinmark, University of Texas defensive back, osteosarcoma
- Jack Trice, Iowa State University, lung hemorrhage and internal bleeding due to injuries sustained in game against the University of Minnesota
- Rashidi Wheeler, Northwestern University defensive back, heat stroke
- Curtis Williams, University of Washington, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision
- McCollins Umeh, University of Arizona, Enlarged heart
Association football
Does not include footballers who died on the pitch during a game or training, or because of injuries or other health issues suffered on the pitch. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to the article List of footballers who died while playing.
- Saad Al-Dosari, 27, Saudi Arabian midfielder, car accident (2004)
- Martin Aldridge, 25, English forward, car accident (2000)
- George Allan, 24, Scottish forward, tuberculosis (1899)
- Shalva Apkhazava, 23, Georgian striker, heart attack (2004)
- Georgi Asparuhov, 28, Bulgarian striker, car accident (1971)
- Valerio Bacigalupo, 25, Italian goalkeeper Superga air disaster (1949)
- Alemão, 23, Brazilian striker, car accident (2007)
- Aldo Ballarin, 27, Italian defender, Superga air disaster (1949)
- Dino Ballarin, 23, Italian goalkeeper, Superga air disaster (1949)
- Harry Bamford, 38, English defender, motorcycle accident (1958)
- Maurice Banach, 24, German striker, car accident (1991)
- Patrick Banda, 22, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Mike Barrett, 24, English winger, cancer (1984)
- Elson Becerra, 27, Colombian striker, homicide (2006)
- Mario Beltrán, 23, Colombian midfielder, car accident (2009)
- Julio César Benítez, 27, Uruguayan defender, food poisoning (1968)
- Geoff Bent, 25, English defender, Munich air disaster (1958)
- Einar Örn Birgisson, 27, Icelandic midfielder, homicide (2000)
- Milo Bongiorni, 28, French midfielder, Superga air disaster (1949)
- Luc Borrelli, 33, French goalkeeper, car accident (1999)
- Othman Boughanmi, Tunisian defender, heart defect
- Gary Bownes, 26, Irish striker, suicide (2005)
- Robert Bradley, English defender, died during his sleep
- Thomas Bradshaw, 26, English winger, consumption (1899)
- Shane Brennan, 23, Irish winger, collapsing roof accident (2005)
- Roger Byrne, 28, English defender, Munich air disaster (1958)
- Eusebio Castigliano, 28, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster (1949)
- Ramiro Castillo, 31, Bolivian midfielder, suicide (1997)
- Luciano Re Cecconi, 28, Italian midfielder, shot during practical joke (1977)
- David Efford Chabala, 33, Zambian goalkeeper, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Whiteson Changwe, 23, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Wisdom Mumba Chansa, 29, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Moses Chikwalakwala, 19, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Samuel Chomba, 29, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster (1993)
- Andriy Chopenko, 26, Ukrainian midf
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