Jordan Devey, a former NFL offensive lineman who earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots, passed away at the age of 38. His death, confirmed by family and a GoFundMe page, was by suicide. Devey is survived by his wife, Linsey, and their four young children.
Devey’s parents, Leslie and Kerry Devey, have spoken publicly about the importance of mental health conversations and the potential impact of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) on athletes. Leslie Devey believes that brain injury may have contributed to her son’s death, stating that she suspects this neurodegenerative disease, commonly linked to the sport, played a part in his passing. However, due to the circumstances of his death, definitive testing for CTE will not be possible.
Born and raised in American Fork, Utah, Devey’s path to the NFL was unconventional. He did not play high school football, having given up the sport after junior high due to a disease that caused knee inflammation and pain. Instead, he played the tuba in the school band. After serving a two-year mission with the Church of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica, his knee condition improved, allowing him to return to football.
Devey’s Football Journey and Legacy
Devey began his collegiate football career at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, playing for two years. During this time, he met his wife, Linsey. He then transferred to Memphis for his final two seasons, playing for the Tigers in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he was recognized with the Memphis Football’s DeAngelo Williams Most Valuable Player Award and was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
After going undrafted in 2013, Devey signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was later signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad in September of that year and was promoted to the active roster in 2014. That season, he started six games at left guard for the Patriots, contributing to their Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
His NFL career spanned eight years, during which he played for six different teams. Following his time with the Patriots, he played with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, appearing in a career-high 15 games with nine starts. He then had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, the then-Oakland Raiders, and the Buffalo Bills, playing through the 2020 season. In total, Devey participated in 44 NFL games, making 21 starts.
Life After the NFL and Community Impact
After retiring from professional football in 2021, Devey settled in Idaho with his family. He became actively involved in his community, volunteering as a coach for his children’s sports teams and serving as a high school football coach in Idaho. His parents described him as the “ultimate family dad,” highlighting his energetic, athletic, kind, generous, and humorous character.
The Raiders honored Devey’s life with an “In Memoriam” social media post on July 24, acknowledging his contributions on the field and the relationships he built. In a selfless act, Devey was also an organ donor, a fact his parents discovered after his death. His parents noted that this act transforms a tragedy into something meaningful, allowing him to bless the lives of others.
The family has established a GoFundMe page to support Linsey and their four children, which had collected over $92,000 towards a $200,000 goal as of Saturday morning. His parents emphasize the importance of reaching out for help with mental health struggles, stating that support is available and no one should fight alone. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.
Source: theguardian.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.