Former NFL offensive lineman Jordan Devey has died at the age of 38, and many fans are now searching to understand how did Jordan Devey die and what led to the sudden loss of the retired Super Bowl champion. Devey passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2026, according to a family statement shared publicly by his wife, Linsey. The news has sent shockwaves through the football community, with former teammates, coaches, and fans across several NFL organizations expressing grief and disbelief over his passing.
Devey built an eight-year career in the NFL, playing for multiple franchises and earning a Super Bowl ring along the way. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Memphis Tigers, the New England Patriots, the Kansas City Chiefs, and other teams he represented throughout his career. Below is a detailed look at what is known about his passing, his football journey, and the legacy he leaves behind.
What Is Known About Jordan Devey’s Death
According to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support his family, Jordan Devey died by suicide on July 23, 2026. His wife, Linsey, shared the news in an emotional social media post on Friday, July 24, 2026, revealing that Thursday, the day he died, would have been the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary. The timing of his passing added an especially painful layer to the family’s grief, and the tribute from his wife highlighted the depth of their relationship and the sudden nature of the loss.
Reports from multiple outlets, including Yahoo Sports and Fox4 Kansas City, confirmed that Devey had reportedly been dealing with a mental health struggle prior to his death. There is no official confirmation from medical examiners or law enforcement regarding a formal cause of death report at this time, and further details beyond what the family has shared publicly have not been released. Out of respect for the family and given the sensitivity of the circumstances, no additional speculation should be added beyond what has been confirmed through the GoFundMe statement and his wife’s public tribute.
Devey is survived by his wife, Linsey, and their four children. The family had relocated to Eagle, Idaho, following his retirement from professional football, where he had settled into life away from the NFL spotlight.
Jordan Devey’s Early Life and Path to College Football
Jordan Devey was born on January 11, 1988, in American Fork, Utah. Unlike many future NFL players, Devey did not play football in high school. He was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease as a young teenager, a condition that causes pain and swelling below the knee during periods of rapid growth in adolescence. Because of this, he was unable to participate in football during his high school years.
Instead of the football field, Devey found his outlet in music and basketball. He played tuba, trombone, and violin, and performed in the American Fork High School marching band while also playing for the school’s basketball team. After graduating, he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica. It was during this period that his knee pain subsided, opening the door for him to pursue football for the first time.
Devey enrolled at Snow College in Utah in 2009, where he began his football career, before transferring to the University of Memphis in 2011. Playing for the Memphis Tigers from 2011 to 2012, Devey quickly became a standout on the offensive line. He started all 24 games during his two seasons with the Tigers, earned Second-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2012, and received the DeAngelo Williams Most Valuable Player Award after playing all 1,568 offensive snaps that season. Former Memphis head coach Justin Fuente once described him as an outstanding asset to the program, both on and off the field.
Jordan Devey’s NFL Career
Devey went unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft but signed shortly afterward as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. After being released by Baltimore, he joined the New England Patriots’ practice squad. His perseverance paid off during the 2014 season, when he was promoted to the Patriots’ active roster and started six games at guard. That season, the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl XLIX, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24, giving Devey a championship ring early in his professional career.
In August 2015, Devey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. After a one-year tender with San Francisco, he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs in May 2016. Devey spent three seasons with the Chiefs, from 2016 to 2018, becoming a familiar name to Kansas City fans during that stretch. His NFL journey continued with stints on the Las Vegas Raiders and the Buffalo Bills, where he signed a one-year contract extension in February 2021 before being released that August, marking the end of his eight-year professional football career.
Throughout his time in the league, Devey earned a reputation as a durable, hardworking offensive lineman who was respected in every locker room he was part of. His path from an undrafted free agent to a Super Bowl champion made him a relatable and inspiring figure among fans who followed his career.
Life After Football and Public Interest in His Passing
After stepping away from professional football, Devey and his family settled in Eagle, Idaho. He stayed connected to the sport he loved by becoming a volunteer coach and mentor at Eagle High School, where he worked with young athletes at the time of his passing. Those who knew him during this chapter of his life described him as dedicated to giving back to the next generation of players.
Public interest in how Jordan Devey died has grown rapidly since news of his passing broke, with many searching for updates on his cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it. Given his history as a Super Bowl champion and his time with multiple well-known NFL franchises, tributes have poured in from former teammates, coaches, and organizations. Current Memphis head coach Charles Huff offered condolences to the Devey family, noting the program’s willingness to support them during this difficult time.
Fans have also taken to social media to share memories of Devey’s playing days, his personality off the field, and his post-retirement commitment to mentoring young athletes. The emotional tribute from his wife, shared just one day before what would have been their 15th wedding anniversary, has resonated widely and added to the outpouring of sympathy from the football community.
Latest Updates on the Devey Family
As of this writing, the Devey family has not released any additional public statements beyond the GoFundMe campaign and Linsey Devey’s social media tribute. The fundraiser was created to help support Devey’s wife and their four children during this difficult period, and it has already drawn contributions and messages of support from across the country. There is no official confirmation of a formal autopsy report or additional details from authorities at this time, and any further information will likely come directly from the family or official sources as it becomes available.
Given the sensitivity of the situation, readers are encouraged to rely on verified statements from the family rather than unconfirmed reports circulating online. The football community, including former teammates from the Patriots, Chiefs, 49ers, Raiders, and Bills, has largely focused its public response on honoring Devey’s memory rather than speculating about the circumstances of his death.
Final Thoughts
Jordan Devey’s death at 38 has left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him, from his college days at Memphis to his eight seasons in the NFL and his life afterward as a mentor in Idaho. His journey from a teenager who couldn’t play high school football due to a medical condition to a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots is a story that resonated with fans throughout his career. For those asking how did Jordan Devey die, the family’s own statement points to a mental health struggle, underscoring the importance of awareness and support around mental health issues, even among those who appear to have achieved great success.
Devey is remembered not only for his accomplishments on the field but for the person he was to his wife, his four children, and the young athletes he mentored in his final years. As tributes continue to come in from across the football world, his legacy as a determined athlete, devoted father, and committed mentor remains at the center of how he is being remembered.
Share your memories and thoughts on Jordan Devey’s legacy in the comments, and stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.