Jordan Devey Dies at 38; Family Raises CTE Concerns

Former NFL offensive lineman Jordan Devey has died at the age of 38, his family confirmed. The family said the cause of death was suicide.

Devey, a Utah native, spent eight seasons in the professional league and was part of the New England Patriots team that won Super Bowl XLIX. He entered the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Memphis.

Career path across five teams

Over his career, Devey appeared in 44 regular-season games and made 21 starts. Officials and team records list him as having played for several clubs, including the Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills.

For offensive linemen, playing time typically involves repeated high-impact contact on every snap, even when injuries are not publicly reported. In Devey’s case, the record of steady league participation over multiple seasons indicates years of routine exposure to collisions inherent to the position.

Family points to possible CTE, but no diagnosis

Devey’s family has raised concerns about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease often associated with repeated head trauma in contact sports. They said, however, that the circumstances of his death mean a post-mortem medical examination needed for a formal CTE diagnosis cannot be carried out.

As a result, the family’s concerns remain unverified by a definitive medical finding. They have indicated they suspect head trauma may have played a role in his decline, but no confirmed diagnosis has been reported.

Renewed focus on long-term player health

Devey’s death has added urgency to ongoing debate in American football over the long-term health of retired players. The case underscores a recurring challenge: without a post-mortem examination, questions about whether CTE was present can remain unresolved.

The family’s statements also highlight a broader difficulty for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand how widespread CTE may be among former players and how it relates to mental health outcomes after retirement. In this instance, the lack of medical confirmation leaves the specific medical explanation unknown.

Devey is survived by his wife and four children. The NFL and player associations continue to grapple with how to best support former players dealing with health issues that may be connected to their playing careers, officials have said.