Key keywords: Jordan Devey, Memphis football offensive lineman, 38-year-old sports figure death, former NFL player, University of Memphis Tigers football, New England Patriots alumni, 2014 Super Bowl champion, American football community tribute The global American football community is mourning the unexpected passing of Jordan Devey, a standout former offensive lineman for the University of Memphis football program and veteran NFL player, who died earlier this week at the age of 38. The news was first confirmed by Devey’s immediate family through an official statement shared by the University of Memphis Athletic Department, with no specific cause of death disclosed to the public per the family’s request for full privacy as they navigate their grief. Devey built his reputation as a relentless, team-first lineman during his four-year collegiate career with the Memphis Tigers from 2009 to 2012. He earned 33 career starts across guard and tackle positions, claiming All-Conference USA honorable mention honors in his senior season after anchoring an offensive line that helped the Tigers’ rushing attack gain more than 1,800 yards and score 16 rushing touchdowns that year. Though he went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, Devey earned a spot on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad as a rookie, before signing with the New England Patriots ahead of the 2014 season. During his year with the Patriots, Devey emerged as a critical depth piece for the team’s injury-hit offensive line, appearing in 15 regular season games with seven starts, and contributing to the franchise’s Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Across his seven-year professional career, Devey also logged playing time for the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills, appearing in 45 total regular season NFL games before announcing his retirement in 2020. After leaving the NFL, Devey returned to Tennessee, where he dedicated himself to youth sports development in the greater Memphis area. He ran free off-season football camps for underprivileged young athletes, volunteered as a mentor for high school offensive linemen across the region, and made frequent visits to the University of Memphis to speak with current Tigers players about navigating professional sports and giving back to their communities. In their official statement, Devey’s family noted he is survived by his wife and three young children, and described him as a man who centered his life around supporting his family and lifting up everyone he crossed paths with. The University of Memphis football program has announced it will hold a moment of silence in Devey’s honor ahead of its next home game, and will retire his collegiate jersey number at a ceremony later this season.