Jordan Devey, a former NFL offensive lineman who blocked for three of the league's biggest quarterbacks and won a Super Bowl ring, has died by suicide at 38, leaving behind a wife, four children, and a family that suspects the degenerative brain disease CTE played a role.
Devey's wife, Linsey, announced his death late Thursday night in an Instagram post that landed on what would have been the couple's 15th wedding anniversary. Family members discovered him, Fox News reported, and a GoFundMe page set up in the family's name confirmed the manner of death.
The crowdfunding page stated plainly what the family wanted known. "Tragically, Jordan took his own life, leaving his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time," the New York Post reported, quoting the page directly.
In her Instagram post, Linsey Devey shared photos from her husband's hospital bedside and wrote a message that made clear the depth of the family's loss:
"We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs... You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you."
The couple had four children together. No details about the children's ages have been released.
That the announcement fell on their wedding anniversary added a layer of grief that no family should have to carry. The GoFundMe page was created to help the Deveys manage what comes next, though the page's creator was not publicly identified, and Just the News noted no direct link to the fundraiser was provided in initial reporting.
Devey carved out a professional career across five franchises: the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills. He played guard, one of the most physically punishing positions on the field, and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2015.
Fox News noted a distinction that set Devey apart in league history: he was the only NFL player to have blocked for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, three quarterbacks who have combined for multiple Super Bowl appearances and MVP awards. That record speaks to a journeyman lineman who kept earning roster spots through sheer durability and competence.
The NFL community has lost several prominent figures in recent months. Former Rams cornerback LeRoy Irvin, a two-time Pro Bowler, died at 68, and the sports world also mourned Hall of Fame Braves manager Bobby Cox, who passed at 84.
At the time of his death, Devey had been coaching at Eagle High School in Idaho, working with young players in the same sport that had defined his adult life. The transition from NFL lineman to high school coach is a common path for former players, and one that often strips away the support structures, medical attention, and financial cushions that come with an active roster spot.
That context matters because of what Devey's family believes was happening inside his brain.
Breitbart reported that the family suspected Devey suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. CTE can only be definitively diagnosed through a post-mortem brain examination, and the family indicated that Devey's manner of death made confirmation impossible.
CTE has become one of the most consequential health issues facing former football players at every level. The disease has been linked to depression, impulsive behavior, memory loss, and suicidal ideation. The family of Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland recently revealed a CTE diagnosis months after his own suicide, underscoring how often the disease surfaces only after it is too late.
Jordan Devey's mother spoke publicly in the aftermath of her son's death, directing her words at anyone facing similar struggles. Her message was direct:
"That help is there, and there's nothing wrong with you for reaching out. You're not fighting the battle alone."
It is a statement that deserves to be heard plainly, without commentary. A mother who just lost her 38-year-old son chose her first public words to try to save someone else's child.
The questions that remain, whether CTE was formally present, what warning signs the family may have seen, what resources were or were not available to Devey after he left the NFL, are the kind of questions that families in similar situations have pressed investigators to answer in other high-profile cases. They deserve answers here, too.
Jordan Devey spent his career protecting quarterbacks. The system that profited from his toughness owes his family, and every family like his, more than a GoFundMe page.
