A History of Athletes Who Died During Their Prime

Payne Stewart

Age: 42 (January 30, 1957 to October 25, 1999)
Cause of Death: Airplane crash

A seamless swing and throwback attire made Payne Stewart a fan favorite and a photographer’s dream. Over the course of his 20 year pro career, cut tragically short by a plane crash on the way to a tournament, Stewart soared all the way to No. 3 in the world, and won 11 PGA Tour events. In his early 30s, he set course records and challenged Greg Norman for the top of golf’s totem pole. By his early 40s, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were losing to him in the US Open. What Stewart could’ve accomplished in middle age remains one of golf’s greatest what ifs.

Tyler Skaggs

Age: 27 (July 13, 1991 to July 1, 2019)
Cause of Death: Accidental Asphyxia due to opiates

Barry Zito comparisons and a four-seam fastball took Tyler Skaggs to the big leagues, making his MLB debut at 21 years old. A ten-year professional career saw Skaggs rise from the ranks of minor league prospect to Arizona Diamondbacks starter, eventually courting no-hitters as a Los Angeles Dodger. Sadly, opioid issues haunted Skaggs. A request for painkillers ahead of a road game against the Texas Rangers led to an accidental death at the age of 27.

Terrence Clarke

Age: 19 (September 6, 2001 – April 22, 2021)
Cause of Death: Car crash

John Calipari and Rich Paul revered Terrence Clarke, the five-star standout at Kentucky who died in a car accident just months before the 2021 NBA Draft. An infectious energy, youthful bounce, and flair for fakes made Clarke an athletic two-guard who could play with pace and explode without warning. A late growth spurt took Clarke to 6’8 ahead of what appeared to be a promising pro career sure to be filled with highlight dunks and high-fiving energy. To lose a player with that much potential and personality makes it all the more heartbreaking.

Agnes Tirop

Age: 25 (October 23, 1995 to October 13, 2021)
Cause of Death: Murder

Kenyan cross country star Agnes Tirop was violently murdered at age 25, still years away from reaching her peak. An acclaimed junior career made Tirop a global star in her sport, soon representing her home country in events all over the world. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she’d place fourth in the 5000 meter, just a second shy of medalling. Months later she’d be killed by multiple stab wounds with many believing the culprit to be her husband.

Johnny Gaudreau

Age: 31 (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024)
Cause of Death: Hit by a drunk driver while cycling

Johnny Gaudreau was a giant in the game of hockey despite standing only 5’9. As an underclassman at Boston College, Johnny Hockey helped the Eagles win a National Championship, becoming a fixture of the Frozen Four and the eventual winner of the 2014 Hobey Baker Award. His pro career was just as impressive, making seven NHL All-Star teams and even landing an All-NHL First Team nod in 2022. Tragically, on the eve of his sister’s wedding, Johnny and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a drunk driver while they were out on an evening bike ride. Subsequent tributes from the hockey community spanned the 2024-25 NHL season with former USA teammate Cole Caulfield switching his jersey number to honor Gaudreau.

Marshawn Kneeland

Age: 24 (July 8, 2001 - November 6, 2025)
Cause of Death: Self-inflected gun shot

Marshawn Kneeland defied odds and expectations to make his NFL dreams come true. Lightly recruited out of high school, the Grand Rapids, MI linebacker landed at nearby Western Michigan, finding star status on the Broncos’ defensive line. His 6 '3, 270 lb size meshed with 4.75 40-yard-dash speed shot him up NFL Draft boards to be selected 56th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. In his 18 career games and four starts before dying of a self-inflected gunshot wound, Kneeland appeared on his way to being a fixture of the Cowboys’ front-seven, already making an impact in their passrush and on special teams.

Diogo Jota

Age: 28 (December 4, 1996 – July 3, 2025)
Cause of Death: Car crash

Portuguese soccer star Diogo Jota started his futbol journey at 9 years old, playing locally for Gondomar SC with the academy later being named after him. Playing multiple forward positions made Jota a Swiss army knife for the Portugal national team and later Liverpool, and he was well regarded for his feel, finesse, and finishing. In April 2025, Jota would score his last goal for Liverpool - a gamewinner - just months before dying in a single-car collision in which his brother also passed. An offseason lung surgery forced him to drive rather than fly that day, ending in tragedy due to a blown tire on his Lamborghini.

Dwayne Haskins

Age: 24 (May 3, 1997 – April 9, 2022)
Cause of Death: Killed by motorist

An award-winning run at Ohio State placed Dwayne Haskins high on NFL Draft boards, and he was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 15th overall pick. Haskins struggled in the nation’s capital though, eventually leaving the team late in his second season. A fresh start with the Pittsburgh Steelers was cut short in April 2022 when Haskins was hit by a dump truck when crossing the highway on foot. As perceived first round busts such as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold found their stride later in their NFL career, one has to wonder what Haskins could’ve been had he ended up in the right situation.

Jaylon Ferguson

Age: 26 (December 14, 1995 – June 21, 2022)
Cause of Death: Accidental overdose

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson came into his own in college, setting multiple records at Louisiana Tech. Size, speed, and strength had Ferguson seeing NFL action, recording multiple tackles and sacks over the course of his first three seasons. Ahead of the 2022 NFL Season, Ferguson passed away in what was deemed a ‘questionable’ death. An autopsy later revealed that an accidental overdose of cocaine and fentanyl led to his death.

Kelvin Kiptum

Age: 24 (December 2, 1999 – February 11, 2024)
Cause of Death: Car crash

The Kenyan distance runner Kelvin Kiptum achieved greatness at the young age of 23, setting a world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon; Kiptum finished just 35 seconds shy of running the race in two hours. Tragically, Kiptum lost control of his car while driving to Kaptagat to train with his coach months later, cutting his life and career short right as he was becoming one of the greatest marathoners in the world.

Lou Gehrig

Age: 37 (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941)
Cause of Death: ALS

Gehrig remains one of baseball’s most iconic players over 85 years after his last game. He tore up the majors in the 1920s and 30s, finishing his career with a .340 lifetime average. Gehrig played a whopping 2,130 consecutive games — a record that seemed unbreakable at the time. But in 1939, something wasn’t right. Gehrig was batting just .143 eight games into the season, and decided to bench himself for the good of the team, missing his first game in 14 years. Gehrig would never play again, as he soon found out he was suffering from ALS. That Fourth of July, he gave his famous speech, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in a special election that December. Baseball writers waived the typical six-year wait period so that Gehrig would live to see his induction. He passed away in 1941, less than three weeks shy of his 38th birthday.

Ernie Davis

Age: 23 (Dec. 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963)
Cause of Death: Leukemia

Davis was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961, while playing running back for Syracuse. He looked to be headed into a promising NFL career and was taken No. 1 in the draft by the Redskins, before later being traded to the Browns. Sadly, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted in 1962, and never played in an NFL game.

Brian Piccolo

Age: 26 (Oct. 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970)
Cause of Death: Cancer

Piccolo spent five years with the Bears as a reserve running back before his cancer diagnosis in 1969, and was the subject of the classic TV movie “Brian’s Song” in 1971. Piccolo rushed for 927 yards over four seasons, serving as the backup to his close friend and Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. Chicago retired Piccolo’s No. 41 shortly after his death, making him one of 14 Bears players to have his number retired by the team.

Roberto Clemente

Age: 38 (Aug. 18, 1934 – Dec. 31, 1972)
Cause of Death: Airplane crash

When Clemente recorded his 3,000th hit in his final regular-season at-bat of the 1972 season, there was no indication it would be his last. He had just batted .312, and showed no sign of decline, despite the fact that he had reached 38 years of age. But when Nicaragua was hit by an earthquake in December of 1972, Clemente felt compelled to act, and almost immediately arranged to go to Nicaragua to provide relief. He took off on New Year’s Eve in 1972, and never returned. His plane crashed, and all five passengers on the plane were killed. MLB now awards the Roberto Clemente Award to the player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual's contribution to his team." The award, which was originally called the Commissioner's Award, was re-named for Clemente in 1973.

Don Wilson

Age: 29 (Feb. 12, 1945 – Jan. 5, 1975)
Cause of Death: Carbon monoxide poisoning

A career-long Astro, Wilson was one of the better pitchers of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. He posted a lifetime 3.15 ERA, pitched two no-hitters, and was an All-Star in 1971. Wilson died after he left his car running in his garage in 1975 (his death was ruled an accident). The Astros retired his number the following season.

Lyman Bostock

Age: 27 (Nov. 22, 1950 – Sept. 23, 1978)
Cause of Death: Murder

At the time of his murder, Bostock was establishing himself as one of baseball’s best hitters. He had batted .311 over four MLB seasons, and received MVP votes in his final two. He was murdered while driving his friend and her sister home late in the 1978 season. His friend’s sister’s husband confronted them with a gun, after concluding that his wife was having an affair with Bostock — despite the fact that Bostock had just met the woman that night. He intended to kill his wife, but killed Bostock instead.

Thurman Munson

Age: 32 (June 7, 1947 – Aug. 2, 1979)
Cause of Death: Airplane crash

The Yankees captain and 1976 AL MVP took up flying in order to see his family in Ohio more often. Unfortunately, Munson was killed while practicing landings in 1979, in one of the most tragic moments in baseball history. Munson’s locker at old Yankee Stadium remained untouched from the time of his death until the stadium was demolished in 2008. It currently rests in the Yankees museum at the new stadium.

Pelle Lindbergh

Age: 26 (May 24, 1959 – Nov. 11, 1985)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Just before his death, Lindbergh had won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie in 1985. He was killed in a single-car crash the following season; his blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit at the time of the crash.

Len Bias

Age: 23 (Nov. 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986)
Cause of Death: Cocaine overdose

A two-time All-American and two-time ACC Player of the Year, Len Bias was one of the most dominant college basketball players in the country during his time in Maryland. He was then drafted second overabll by the defending champion Boston Celtics. But Bias never had the chance to team with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. Two days after he was drafted, Bias died of a cocaine overdose at just 23 years old.

Hank Gathers

Age: 23 (Feb. 11, 1967 – March 4, 1990)
Cause of Death: Heart disorder

Gathers was a monster for Loyola Marymount University in the 1980s. He became just the second player in NCAA history to lead Division I in both scoring and rebounds when he did it in the 1988-89 season, and was well on his way to the NBA. However, Gathers collapsed during a game against Portland on March 4, 1990, and died shortly after that. He had been suffering from a heart condition, and had reportedly cut back on his medication dosages because he felt they had adversely affected his playing ability. Gathers’ death remains one of the most tragic on-court scenes in sports history.

Jerome Brown

Age: 27 (Feb. 4, 1965 – June 25, 1992)
Cause of Death: Car accident

After a standout career at Miami during the program’s heyday, Jerome Brown established himself as one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL. Paired with Reggie White, the Eagles’ defensive line quickly became one of the most difficult for opposing teams to prep for. Brown posted 20.5 sacks from 1989-91, and was named All-Pro in his final two seasons. But tragedy struck in 1992, when Brown and his 12-year-old nephew were killed in a car crash. White emotionally broke the news to many Eagles fans at a Billy Graham crusade event on the night of Brown’s death. He was scheduled to speak about his faith, but found out just moments before he was supposed to go up that Brown had been killed.

Drazen Petrovic

Age: 28 (Oct. 22, 1964 – June 7, 1993)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Petrovic was one of the greatest EuroLeague players of all time before coming to the NBA in 1989. He had won two league championships, and was named one of the league’s 50 greatest players in 1991. It took Petrovic a few years to establish himself in the NBA, but he looked well on his way to stardom with the Nets when he was killed in a car accident, shortly after the 1992-93 season.

Reggie Lewis

Age: 27 (Nov. 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993)
Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest

Less than two months after Petrovic was killed, tragedy struck the NBA again. Celtics star Reggie Lewis suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a practice in late July, and died instantly. Lewis’ death left the Celtics without their biggest star—Lewis had been the team’s leading scorer in each of the prior two seasons, and he was named to the All-Star team in 1992.

Bobby Phills

Age: 30 (Dec. 20, 1969 – Jan. 12, 2000)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Phills was a solid player throughout his nine NBA seasons with the Cavs and Hornets, averaging double figures six times. His life were cut short when he was killed in a car accident midway through the 1999-00 season.

Derrick Thomas

Age: 33 (Jan. 1, 1967 – Feb. 8, 2000)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Few pass rushers were more prolific than Derrick Thomas was in the 1990s. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and is 18th all-time in sacks; he even recorded seven sacks during a single game in 1998. Thomas was speeding through a snowstorm, going 100 miles per hour without a seatbelt on, when he got into a car accident in January 2000. He was paralyzed from the chest down and passed away a few weeks later due to complications.

Malik Sealy

Age: 30 (Feb. 1, 1970 – May 20, 2000)
Cause of Death: Vehicular manslaughter

Sealy averaged 10.1 points per game in eight NBA seasons, serving as a solid swingman with the Pacers, Clippers, Pistons, and Timberwolves. In Minnesota, Sealy became very close with Kevin Garnett, and attended his 24th birthday party. On his way home from the party, he was killed by a drunk driver driving on the wrong side of the road. As a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Garnett wore No. 2 in honor of Sealy, who wore the number with the Timberwolves.

Korey Stringer

Age: 27 (May 8, 1974 – Aug. 1, 2001)
Cause of Death: Heat stroke

Stringer was a pivotal part of the dominant Vikings teams of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s as the team’s left tackle. He was named a Pro Bowler in 2000 for his standout ability to protect his quarterback's’ blind side. Sadly, Stringer suffered heat stroke during training camp practice in 2001, and died the next day. Today, the Korey Stringer Institute exists at UConn to prevent sudden deaths in sports.

Darryl Kile

Age: 33 (Dec. 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002)
Cause of Death: Coronary disease

Kile’s pitching career included three All-Star nods, two top-five Cy Young voting finishes, and a no-hitter in 1993. He was one of the better pitchers of his day. But prior to a June day game between Kile’s Cardinals and the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Kile was absent. When someone from the Cardinals organization went to his hotel room to check on him, Kile was found dead in the room. Then-Cubs catcher Joe Girardi made a tearful announcement to the fans that day that the game had been canceled, although he did not say specifically that Kile had passed away. “I regret to inform you that because of a tragedy in the Cardinals' family, today's game has been canceled," Girardi said. "Please be respectful when you find out eventually what has happened. I ask that you say a prayer for the St. Louis Cardinal family."

Pat Tillman

Age: 28 (Nov. 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004)
Cause of Death: Friendly fire

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Tillman declined a $3.6 million contract offer from the Cardinals to join the U.S. Army. He served tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq before being killed during a friendly fire incident in 2004. Tillman’s decision to forgo a multi-million dollar NFL contract for the military has since become a cornerstone tale of heroism in American lore.

Cory Lidle

Age: 34 (March 22, 1972 – Oct. 11, 2006)
Cause of Death: Plane crash

Lidle was a solid starting pitcher in eight big-league seasons, winning over ten games five times. He was flying a small private airplane when he crashed into a residential building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, killing both Lidle and his flight instructor, and injuring 26 others. The Yankees wore black armbands the following year to commemorate Lidle.

Darrent Williams

Age: 24 (Sept. 27, 1982 – Jan. 1, 2007)
Cause of Death: Murder

A Broncos second-round pick in 2005, Williams quickly emerged as a legitimate starting cornerback. He started 14 games in 2006, while recording four interceptions and nine passes defensed. Sadly, during a 2007 New Year’s Eve celebration at a Colorado nightclub, Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Sean Taylor

Age: 24 (April 1, 1983 – Nov. 27, 2007)
Cause of Death: Murder

A 2X Pro Bowl selection, Taylor was one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL during his time with Washington. Midway through his fourth season, Taylor was murdered in a home invasion.

On November 26, 2007, burglars entered Taylor’s house, and one of the intruders shot Taylor in the leg, hitting a femoral artery. He suffered severe blood loss and died shortly after the initial shot. Five people were charged in Taylor’s death, and all five were convicted.

Chris Henry

Age: 26 (May 17, 1983 – Dec. 17, 2009)
Cause of Death: Head trauma

Henry spent five seasons as a solid reserve wide receiver with the Bengals. However, his time with the team was marred with several run-ins with the law, including gun, assault, and drunk driving charges. Henry was killed after he fell off the back of a moving truck that his fiancé was driving, following a domestic dispute. After his death, doctors found that Henry had been suffering from CTE.

Oscar Taveras

Age: 22 (June 19, 1992 – Oct. 26, 2014)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Taveras was supposed to be the next great Cardinals position player. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 2 prospect in the game headed into the 2013 season, ahead of current MLB stars like Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, and Carlos Correa. He made his MLB debut in 2014, and was well on his way to stardom. During the 2014 offseason, Taveras drove into a tree in his native Dominican Republic, killing both himself and his girlfriend, who was a passenger in the car. Taveras’ blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was about six times the legal limit in the Dominican Republic.

José Fernández

Age: 24 (July 31, 1992 – Sept. 25, 2016)
Cause of Death: Boat accident

Fernández was a superstar from his inaugural campaign in 2013 until his death in 2016. As a rookie, Fernandez posted a 2.19 ERA, finished third in the Cy Young voting, and was named Rookie of the Year. After missing much of the next two seasons with Tommy John surgery, Fernandez came back in 2016 to his typical All-Star form. This was sadly his last season in the majors. Fernández and two other men were killed in a boating accident late in the 2016 season; his boat was found overturned on a jetty. Fernández was operating the boat at the time of the crash, and toxicology reports revealed he had both alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.

Yordano Ventura

Age: 25 (June 3, 1991 – Jan. 22, 2017)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Ventura was a pivotal part of the Royals AL pennant-winning team in 2014 and the 2015 World Series champion team, going a combined 27-18 for Kansas City. Ventura had limitless potentai. He consistently touched 100 miles per hour on his fastball, and figured heavily into the Royals’ future. Ventura was killed when he lost control of his car, while in his native Dominican Republic. Ventura was pronounced dead at the scene.

Edwin Jackson

Age: 26 (Dec. 19, 1991 – Feb. 4, 2018)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Edwin Jackson made his way from an undrafted free-agent cut by the Cardinals in camp to a starting linebacker for the Colts. He started eight games in 2016, recording 42 tackles and two sacks. Jackson and an Uber driver were killed by a drunk driver after pulling over on the side of the road.

Steve Prefontaine

Age: 24 (Jan. 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Prior to the running boom of the '70s, it was a rare occurrence to see average Joes jogging around the neighborhood block. One of the figures behind that uptick (and one of the few who could make running seem badass) was Steve Prefontaine. He set records in several track events ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 meters and won gold at the 1971 Pan American Games. As he prepared for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Prefontaine was killed when he lost control of his car just outside of the Oregon University campus.

Salvador Sanchez

Age: 23 (Jan. 26, 1959 – Aug. 12, 1982)
Cause of Death: Car accident

With a record of 44-1-1 (32 KOs), Sanchez is considered one of the greatest featherweight boxers of all time. At 21, he won the WBC featherweight title and went on to successfully defend the title 10 times in a two-year period. Sadly, less than a month after his final bout he was killed in a car accident while driving in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.

Tim Richmond

Age: 34 (June 7, 1955 - Aug. 13, 1989)
Cause of Death: AIDS

Prior to Tim Richmond, the average sports fan's historic view of NASCAR drivers might've been good ol' boys from down South who live just to drive around in circles for hours on end. But Richmond's playboy charisma shook up the world of NASCAR. Oh yeah, he could race, too. He won the 1980 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award and won 13 races over his eight season career, including one over the late Dale Earnhardt at Pocono in 1986. But by the end of that year Richmond fell sick and was eventually diagnosed with AIDS. He would have one last victory at the Budweiser 400 in 1987 before dying from the disease two years later.

Dale Earnhardt

Age: 49 (April 29, 1951 – Feb. 18, 2001)
Cause of Death: Skull fracture suffered during the 2001 Daytona 500

With seven Winston Cup Series championships and 76 career victories, it's safe to say that few, if any, in NASCAR history raced as hard as Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidator's aggressive style on the track made him a favorite among NASCAR fans and a hated rival among some drivers. Earnhardt's death came in a seemingly innocuous crash on the fourth turn of the final lap at 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt will always be remembered for passing at the same race he had won three years earlier, and competing with the same relentless style that led to his Hall of Fame career.

Dan Snyder

Age: 25 (Feb. 23, 1978 – Oct. 5, 2003)
Cause of Death: Car accident

Snyder signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as an undrafted free agent in 1999 after spending years improving his game as a junior player in Canada. Not the most skilled player, but a winner and team leader at every stop of his career, Snyder died after playing only 49 NHL games in parts of three seasons, the victim of a car crash in a vehicle driven by star teammate Dany Heatley.

Antonio Puerta

Age: 22 (Nov. 26, 1984 – Aug. 28, 2007)
Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest; arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

In his first season with Sevilla, Puerta scored this pivotal game-winning goal to beat Schalke in the 2006 UEFA Cup semifinals. The next season Puerta would come through in the clutch again by netting a penalty kick in Sevilla's victory over Espanyol in the 2007 UEFA Cup Final. Three months later, during the club's first match of the season, Puerta collapsed on the pitch from cardiac arrest and died three days later. His condition was later found to be an inherited form of heart disease.

Nick Adenhart

Age: 22 (Aug. 24, 1986 – April 9, 2009)
Cause of Death: Killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.

On the night of the first start of what looked to be his first full major league season, Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver while riding with friends not far from the Anaheim Angels home stadium. Once seen as a potential first round pick, Adenhart injured his elbow in his final high school game, but rehabbed quickly from Tommy John surgery to become one of the most promising young arms in baseball.