Former NFL star Jessie Lemonier has passed away aged 25, it was confirmed on Thursday.
Lemonier was a former linebacker in the NFL, spending time with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers after signing as an undrafted free agent. It is not yet known what was the cause of his death, but his agent confirmed to ESPN that he and his girlfriend were expecting a child together.
The American football star would have turned 26 on Tuesday, and tributes have come flooding in for the ex-NFL hopeful. His most recent team, the Chargers, released a statement which read: "Gone too soon. our hearts are with Jessie's family, friends and loved ones."
"We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of former Detroit Lion Jessie Lemonier," the Lions also said in a statement. "Jessie was a model teammate and wonderful young man who is gone far too soon.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time," their statement ended. Lemonier arguably enjoyed his best season with the Lions, playing in seven games and even starting twice in the 2021 campaign.
Lemonier made six tackles during that time and even recorded a sack on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which was a career highlight. Lemonier would've been 26 in a matter of days, and if it wasn't tragic enough, his agent, Drew Smith of DEC Management, revealed that a child was on the way.
The former Lions and Chargers star was the younger brother of Corey Lemonier, who was picked in the third round of the 2013 draft. His brother went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets, the Lions, and the Cleveland Browns during his career.
Lemonier joined the Arizona Cardinals last March, but was later released at the end of their August training camp. The linebacker had been without an NFL side since, but joined the XFL instead.
The XFL is a professional American football minor league consisting of eight teams located across the United States. Lemonier participated in the 2023 XFL draft and ended up with the Birmingham Stallions after trading between Arlington Renegades and Houston Gamblers.
Lemonier was a native of Florida, but enjoyed his college football with Liberty Flames before eventually being picked up by the NFL. "Remember watching him my freshman year at Liberty, gone way too soon," one student of Liberty tweeted.
