The world of sports mourned the deaths of athletes and sports figures throughout 2025. Among the legends lost were Hulk Hogan, the man responsible for pro wrestling entering the mainstream, two-time heavyweight champion of the world George Foreman, baseball, football, basketball, and hockey Hall of Famers, and former MLB and NFL commissioners.
Tears were shed for athletes like Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away during the prime of his career, Nick Mangold, who died far too young from an illness, and Greg Biffle, who died in a plane crash. We now Remember the Athletes Who Died in 2025.
This post has been updated.
George Altman
March 20, 1933 — November 24, 2025 (92 years old)
One of three people to play in the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball, and the Nippon Professional Baseball, Altman was a three-time National League All-Star. Though he battled colon cancer in the 1970s, no cause of death was revealed.
Greg Biffle
December 23, 1969 — December 18, 2025 (55 years old)
Known as "The Biff," Biffle was the 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Rookie of the Year, the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck championship, the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year, and the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series championship, before winning 19 races in the NASCAR Sprint Truck Series. He died after a private jet he owned crashed at a North Carolina airport.
Junior Bridgeman
September 17, 1953 — March 11, 2025 (71 years old)
For Junior Bridgeman, an NBA career was just the start. The career 13.6 points per game scorer became a billionaire in retirement and eventually purchased a ten-percent stake in the Milwaukee Bucks. Bridgeman died after suffering a heart attack.
Elden Campbell
July 23, 1968 — December 1, 2025 (57 years old)
A skilled power forward with slick post moves, Campbell was a Lakers stalwart in the 1990’s— that brief era sandwiched between the Showtime squad and the Kobe/Shaq teams. Campbell died of an accidental drowning while fishing in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Victor Conte
July 10, 1950 — November 3, 2025 (75 years old)
In 1984, Conte, the former bass player for Tower of Power founded the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), a sports nutrition center later tied to steroid scandals involving athletes such as Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, and Bill Romanowski. Conte, who served time in prison for conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, died from pancreatic cancer.
Alex Delvecchio
December 4, 1931 — July 1, 2025 (93 years old)
Delvecchio, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, played 22 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. A cause of death was not reported.
Octavio Dotel
November 25, 1973 — April 8, 2025 (51 years old)
A longtime relief pitcher with 13 different clubs, Dotel is one of ten pitchers in MLB history with at least 700 appearances and 10 strikeouts per nine innings. The Dominican Republic native died in the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo.
Ken Dryden
August 8, 1947 — September 5, 2025 (78 years old)
The six-time Stanley Cup winning goalie of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Dryden, who served as a member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011, died from cancer.
Kenny Easley
January 15, 1959 — November 14, 2025 (66 years old)
One of the greatest defensive backs of his era, the Seattle Seahawks legend made four All-Pro teams and was named 1984 Defensive Player of the Year during a seven-year career that was cut short by kidney disease. A cause of death was not announced for the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
George Foreman
January 10, 1949 — March 21, 2025 (76 years old)
Big George won his first heavyweight title with a brutal second-round knockout of Joe Frazier in 1973, then shocked the world again two decades later in 1994 when he became world champ again at 45. He fought Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle; made hundreds of millions from the George Foreman Grill; and was a beloved boxing color commentator on HBO. No cause of death was given.
Mike Greenwell
January 10, 1949 — March 21, 2025 (62 years old)
The longtime Boston Red Sox outfielder, who finished as a runner-up in the 1988 American League MVP voting, died from thyroid cancer.
Ricky Hatton
October 6, 1978 — September 14, 2025 (46 years old)
A three-time world champ in two weight classes, the Hitman was named Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 2005. He died from suicide by hanging.
Hulk Hogan
August 11, 1953 — July 24, 2025 (71 years old)
Born Terry Bollea, Hulk Hogan was one of the most beloved and recognizable pro wrestlers of all time. He provided the foundation for WWE’s explosion in popularity during the 1980s and ushered in another boom period in the mid-1990s as leader of the villainous nWo in WCW. Hogan died from a heart attack in his Clearwater, Florida home.
Jim Irsay
August 11, 1953 — July 24, 2025 (65 years old)
The owner of the Indianapolis Colts battled addiction and mental health issues for decades. His death certificate lists cardiac arrest caused by pneumonia and heart disease as his cause of death.
Bobby Jenks
March 14, 1981 — July 5, 2025 (44 years old)
The closer for the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox died from stomach cancer.
Davey Johnson
January 30, 1943 – September 5, 2025 (82 years old)
A two-time World Series champion as second baseman of the Baltimore Orioles, Johnson also managed the New York Mets to a World Series title in 1986. Johnson, who, as a manager, was a pioneer in utilizing sabermetrics, died from a long illness in a hospital in Sarasota, Florida.
Diogo Jota
December 4, 1996 — July 3, 2025 (28 years old)
A versatile forward, Jota starred at Liverpool and on the Portuguese national team. He died in a car crash in Spain.
Marshawn Kneeland
July 8, 2001 — November 6, 2025 (24 years old)
Three days after scoring a touchdown on Monday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys second-year defensive end was involved in a police pursuit following a traffic violation. He died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Nick Mangold
January 13, 1984 — October 25, 2025 (41 years old)
One of the best interior offensive linemen of his era, Mangold died from complications from kidney disease.
Jim Marshall
December 30, 1937 — June 3, 2025 (87 years old)
A member of the Minnesota Vikings’ famed Purple People Eaters, Marshall holds the record for most seasons played by a defensive player and most games played by a defensive player. He died at a Minnesota hospital following a long hospitalization.
Doug Martin
January 13, 1989 — October 18, 2025 (36 years old)
A two-time Pro-Bowl running back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Martin died in Oakland police custody during a mental health-related episode. No cause of death has been released.
Bill McCartney
August 22, 1940 — January 10, 2025 (84 years old)
The longtime head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team died from complications of dementia.
Steve McMichael
October 17, 1957 — April 23, 2025 (67 years old)
A defensive tackle on the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, McMichael was a four-time All-Pro during his 15-season career. Following his retirement from the NFL, Mongo wrestled in WCW and was a member of the famed Four Horsemen. He died due to complications from ALS.
Oliver Miller
April 6, 1970 — March 12, 2025 (54 years old)
The Big O played 10 seasons in the NBA following a standout career at the University of Arkansas. He died from cancer in Phoenix.
Jesus Montero
November 28, 1989 — October 19, 2025 (35 years old)
A former top prospect with the New York Yankees, Montero died in a hospital in his native Venezuela two weeks after a motorcycle accident.
Lawrence Moten
March 25, 1972 — September 30, 2025 (53 years old)
The leading scorer in Syracuse basketball history was found dead in his Washington D.C. home. No cause of death has been revealed.
Shigeo Nagashima
February 20, 1936 — June 3, 2025 (89 years old)
One of the most beloved and most accomplished player in Nippon Professional Baseball, Nagashima was an 11-time Japan Series champion with the Yomiuri Giants and a five-time Central League MVP. He died from pneumonia.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki
January 24, 1947 — December 23, 2025 (78 years old)
Nicknamed Jumbo for the length of his drives and his outgoing personality, the most successful player of all time on the Japan Golf Tour died from colon cancer.
Bernie Parent
April 3, 1945 — September 21, 2025 (80 years old)
One of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history, Parent won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers in the mid-1970s. The Hockey Hall of Famer died in his sleep in his New Jersey home.
Dave Parker
June 9, 1951 — June 28, 2025 (74 years old)
A World Series champion with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1979) and Oakland Athletics (1989), the Cobra also won two National League batting titles and the 1978 NL MVP. Parker died from complications of Parkinson's Disease 29 days before he was scheduled to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Micheal Ray Richardson
A four-time All-Star and two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, Richardson was banned from the NBA in 1986 after testing positive for cocaine for the third time in three seasons. Though reinstated in 1988, he never played another game in the NBA. He died shortly after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Rodney Rogers
June 20, 1971 – November 21, 2025 (54 years old)
An All-American at Wake Forest, Rogers played 12 seasons in the NBA and was awarded Sixth Man of the Year in 2000. Rogers was paralyzed from the shoulders down following an ATV accident in 2008. He died from complications from his spinal cord injury.
Sabu
1963/1964 — May 11, 2025 (61 years old)
Sabu (born Terrance Michael Brunk) found fame in ECW as “The Homicidal, Genocidal, Suicidal, Death-Defying Maniac” of hardcore wrestling. No cause of death was released.
Ryne Sandberg
September 18, 1959 — July 28, 2025 (65 years old)
A beloved longtime Chicago Cub, Ryno was a 10-time All-Star, 9-time Gold Glove winner, and in 1984 was named National League MVP. He died from cancer in his Illinois home.
Boris Spassky
January 30, 1937 — February 27, 2025 (88 years old)
The Russian chess grandmaster lost the most widely covered chess match of all time—dubbed the Match of the Century—to American Bobby Fischer in 1972 during the apex of the Cold War. No cause of death was given.
Paul Tagliabue
November 24, 1940 — November 9, 2025 (84 years old)
Tagliabue served as NFL Commissioner for 17 years and was later elected to the Football Hall of Fame. He died at his Maryland home from heart failure and complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Jeff Torborg
November 26, 1941 — January 19, 2025 (83 years old)
A manager with five MLB franchises, Torborg died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Bob Uecker
January 26, 1934 — January 16, 2025 (90 years old)
Following a short playing career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Mr. Baseball found greater success in the broadcasting booth, serving as the Brewers play-by-play announcer for 54 seasons. Also known for his acting, late-night guest appearances, and commercials, Uecker died in his Wisconsin home from lung cancer.
Fay Vincent
May 29, 1938 — February 1, 2025 (86 years old)
Vincent, who served as MLB commissioner for three tumultuous years, died from bladder cancer in a Vero Beach, Florida hospital.
Lenny Wilkens
October 28, 1937 — November 9, 2025 (88 years old)
A nine-time All-Star as a player, Wilkens would go on to win an NBA Championship in 1979 as head coach of the Seattle Supersonics and become the NBA’s all-time leader in games coached. The Basketball Hall of Famer died in his home in Washington. No cause of death was revealed.
Gus Williams
October 10, 1953 — January 15, 2025 (71 years old)
A two-time All-Star who led the Seattle Supersonics to the 1979 NBA Championship, Williams died from complications of a stroke he suffered in 2020.
Fuzzy Zoeller
November 11, 1951 — November 27, 2025 (74 years old)
Though he won the 1979 Masters and the 1984 U.S. Open, Zoeller was best known for racist jokes he made about Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. His family says he died from cardiac arrest.