Jordan Devey, 38, the American Fork native and former NFL offensive lineman who earned a Super Bowl ring, died by suicide on Tuesday, leaving behind his wife and four children. In the days since, his parents have stepped forward to talk openly about mental health, organ donation and the toll that repeated head injuries can take. Devey had settled in Idaho after retiring from football and had been coaching at the high school level in his local community.
Parents Speak Out After The Loss
Leslie and Kerry Devey described their son to reporters as “always energetic, athletic, kind, generous, full of laughs,” and urged anyone struggling with mental health to reach out for help. The family said they suspect repeated head trauma may have played a role in Jordan’s struggles, while stressing that they do not have definitive answers. Those comments were reported by FOX 13.
From Marching Band To The NFL And Back To Coaching
Devey took an unconventional path to the pros. He marched in the band at American Fork High School, then walked on at Snow College before transferring to Memphis. He signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2013, earned a Super Bowl ring during the 2014 season, and later had roster stints with the 49ers, Chiefs, Raiders and Bills before stepping away from the league in 2021. Those career details appear on his Wikipedia entry, and national outlets have reported on his recent role coaching in Eagle, Idaho.
CTE Questions And Organ Donation
Leslie Devey said the family believes Jordan “possibly suffered from CTE,” echoing concerns that families of former contact-sport athletes often raise after sudden deaths. Researchers note that chronic traumatic encephalopathy can currently be diagnosed only by examining brain tissue after death, although work is under way to identify markers that could be detected in living patients. The Deveys also said they discovered Jordan had registered as an organ donor when they arrived at a Boise hospital, a fact they said has brought some meaning amid the grief. Boston University research explains the limits of current CTE testing and ongoing research efforts.
Fundraiser And Community Reaction
A GoFundMe organized to support Devey’s wife, Linsey, and their four children shows hundreds of donations and had raised more than $84,000 at the time of publication. Eagle High School and former teammates have posted tributes on social media, calling Devey a mentor who invested in kids and community, and several pro teams and former players have offered condolences online. The fundraiser page and national coverage document those posts and the community response; see the GoFundMe and recent reporting by Yahoo/USA TODAY for more detail.
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit the 988 Lifeline site for chat options and local resources. Trained counselors are available 24/7 to provide free, confidential support; see 988 Lifeline.
