Former Lions linebacker Jessie Lemonier has passed away, aged just 25 years old.
No details have yet been given on why Lemonier died suddenly.
The Detroit Lions confirmed his passing in a statement released Thursday, saying “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of former Detroit Lion Jessie Lemonier. Jessie was a model teammate and a wonderful young man who is gone far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 26, 2023
Commenting on that post, people said things like “He was my favorite player when he played at Liberty! He was always smiling and joking – he loved the game, his teammates, and putting on a show for the fans! I loved watching him on the sidelines after he made a huge play and he did that a lot! Now he is with King Jesus 😍”
The Los Angeles Chargers, who drafted Lemonier in 2020, also released a statement, saying “Gone too soon. Our hearts are with Jessie’s family, friends and loved ones.”
ESPN, reporting on what had been going on in his career before his sudden death, said:
Lemonier, who was drafted by the XFL’s Arlington Renegades in November, instead recently signed with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers for the upcoming season before being traded to the Birmingham Stallions.
He appeared in seven games with the Lions during the 2021 season, finishing with 15 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals last summer and registered a sack in a preseason game but was later released during training camp.
Lions linebacker coach Kelvin Sheppard, speaking about Lemonier in a December of 2021 interview, said:
“He’s a guy that has this laid-back (attitude). I tell him he belongs on the beach because he has this laid-back demeanor to him. He needs to be pushed. As long as you push him, you hold him accountable, he answers that bell every time. I’m definitely impressed with his growth and development.”
Adding even more tragedy to the story, ESPN reports that “His agent, Drew Smith of DEC Management, told ESPN that Lemonier and his girlfriend were expecting a child.”
Here’s a clip of one of Lemonier’sgreat sacks that he retweeted:
Lemonier, French for SACKED!#GBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/WJKDAUzfCq
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 9, 2022
Lemonier isn’t the only young athlete to die suddenly recently. A young baseball player from Canada also died suddenly, as we reported, saying:
Yet another young student has “died suddenly,” this time in Canada. That would be Theo Gibbs, an 18-year-old baseball player. He died suddenly in his sleep, passing away at his family’s home in Regina on December 30, 2022.
Gibbs, the Western Standard reports, “began his baseball career at the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League’s Regina White Sox before going to the Martin Sports Academy and the Regina Red Sox Academy.” Gibbs was at home recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered while playing collegiate baseball when he passed away.
But that bright career in baseball was snatched from him, as he “died suddenly” in his sleep like numerous other young adults, such as a senior in high school in the Las Vegas area.
Featured image credit: screengrab from embedded video
By: Will Tanner. Follow me on Twitter @Will_Tanner_1
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