Former NFL offensive lineman Jordan Devey, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and later coached high school football in Idaho, has died by suicide at 38, leaving behind a widow, four children, and a community in grief.

Devey's family confirmed his death through a GoFundMe campaign posted last week, writing that he "tragically took his own life, leaving his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time." His widow, Linsey Devey, shared the news on Instagram on what would have been the couple's 15th wedding anniversary, posting photos of herself at his hospital bedside and another from their wedding day.

The former guard started 21 of his 44 career NFL games across stints with the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills. He holds a distinction no other player in league history can claim: he blocked for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, three of the most prominent quarterbacks of his era, Fox News reported.

From undrafted free agent to Super Bowl ring

Devey played college football at the University of Memphis before beginning his professional career on the Ravens' practice squad. The Patriots picked him up in 2014, and he started six games that season. New England won the Super Bowl that February, giving Devey a championship ring in just his first year on an active NFL roster.

He bounced across rosters after that, San Francisco, Kansas City, Oakland, Buffalo, the kind of journeyman career that demands toughness and adaptability from an offensive lineman who never had the security of a high draft pick. A photo caption in Fox News's report placed Devey alongside Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Oct. 21, 2018, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Another showed him in a Bills uniform at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Aug. 28, 2021.

After his playing days ended, Devey settled in Eagle, Idaho, where he poured himself into coaching and community work. The New York Post reported that he had been serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eagle High School at the time of his death, a more substantial role than a casual volunteer position.

'Deeply loved by the players who saw him as a mentor'

The family's GoFundMe page described Devey as "a cherished member of the Eagle community, known for his unwavering dedication to serving others." The campaign detailed a man whose post-NFL life revolved around his family, his players, and his church.

His family wrote on the fundraising page:

"He was a devoted husband to Linsey and a loving father to their four children. Jordan spent countless hours volunteering as a coach for his own children's teams and for the athletes at Eagle High School, where he was deeply loved by the players who saw him as a mentor, role model, and friend."

The statement continued: "His commitment to uplifting those around him extended far beyond sports, as he faithfully served in his church, offering support, counsel, and friendship to anyone in need."

Devey's death adds to a painful pattern of former professional athletes, across multiple sports, dying by suicide. Earlier this year, NHL legend Claude Lemieux was found dead by suicide at a family business in Florida, a case that shook the hockey world.

Family suspects CTE played a role

Breitbart reported that Devey's family believes he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries and commonly associated with contact sports like football. The condition can only be definitively diagnosed after death through brain examination, and the family indicated that confirmation was not possible due to the manner of Devey's death.

CTE has been linked to depression, impulsive behavior, and cognitive decline in former NFL players. If the family's suspicion proves accurate, Devey would join a long and growing list of former football players whose post-career struggles trace back to the physical toll the game exacted on their brains.

The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $92,000 to help the family with financial burdens in the wake of Devey's death. Just The News confirmed the suicide and the fundraising effort, noting that Devey's wife Linsey had announced his passing publicly.

Devey's last Instagram post came on June 1. No details about its content were available. The silence that followed now carries a weight his followers could not have anticipated.

A widow's farewell on their anniversary

Linsey Devey's Instagram tribute, posted alongside photos from their wedding and from his hospital room, spoke directly to her late husband:

"We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs. We brought 4 beautiful children into this world that have your eyes, freckles, and compassion. 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.'"

The timing, their 15th wedding anniversary, makes the post all the more difficult to read. The couple had four children together. Their names and ages have not been made public.

Devey's mother also spoke publicly in the aftermath. "That help is there, and there's nothing wrong with you for reaching out," she said. "You're not fighting the battle alone."

Suicide has claimed the lives of public figures from the music industry to church leadership, and each case renews the same urgent question about whether the people around those who are suffering know how to recognize the warning signs, and whether the systems meant to help them are adequate.

Jordan Devey blocked for three of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. He coached teenagers in a small Idaho town. He served his church. He raised four kids. None of it was enough to outrun whatever he carried.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Help is there. Use it.