Jordan Devey, a former NFL offensive guard and Super Bowl XLIX winner with the New England Patriots, died by suicide at age 38 earlier this week, days before his 15th wedding anniversary [1, 2, 3, 4].
Devey played 44 NFL games and started 21 over seven seasons with five teams: Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills [1, 2, 3, 4]. He began his NFL career in 2013 as an undrafted free agent signed by the Ravens, before joining the Patriots' practice squad later that year and being promoted to the active roster in 2014 [1, 2, 4].
During the 2014 season, Devey appeared in seven games for New England, starting either four or six according to differing sources, and helped the team win Super Bowl XLIX [1, 2, 3, 4]. He was traded to the 49ers in 2015 and played 15 games with nine starts. He spent the next three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2016-2018, then joined the Raiders in 2019, and played one game for the Buffalo Bills in 2020 before retiring officially in 2021 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Devey was noted as the only NFL player to have blocked for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen during his career [4].
After retirement, Devey coached high school football at Eagle High School in Idaho, where he was deeply respected as a mentor by players and volunteered alongside his children’s sports teams [1, 4]. The family’s GoFundMe page said, "Jordan was a devoted husband to Linsey and a loving father to their four children... deeply loved by the players who saw him as a mentor, role model, and friend" [4]. He is survived by his wife Linsey (also spelled Lindsay in some sources) and their four children [1, 2, 3, 4].
Devey’s family believes he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain injury linked to repeated head trauma in football players, though testing cannot be performed due to the manner of his death [1, 2, 3]. His mother said, "The family believes he possibly suffered from CTE but will not be able to test for the neurodegenerative disease due to the nature of his death" [2].
Devey did not play football in high school due to a childhood knee condition and played tuba in the band instead. He resumed football in college at Snow College and then Memphis [1].
The family’s GoFundMe page said: "Tragically, Jordan took his own life, leaving his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time" [2]. His wife Linsey said, "You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you. And as you said in your last words to me, 'we'll talk soon.'" [2].
The family fundraiser has raised over $92,000 so far to support Devey’s four children [1].
