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Former NFL defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has experienced tremendous personal tragedies in just a few weeks.
During that span, the six-time Pro Bowler mourned the loss of five of his former teammates and NFL colleagues, all of whom died before their 40th birthday.
The Baltimore Ravens announced the death of Super Bowl champion Arthur Jones on October 3. He was 39 years old. McCoy and Jones were members of the 2010 NFL Draft class and spent time training together before the scouting combine. Reports surfaced Saturday about the death of former running back Doug Martin.
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The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was in police custody at the time. He was 36 years old. McCoy played alongside Martin during his time in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium on September 7, 2014. (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)
Earlier this month, McCoy also learned that his uncle passed away.
Shortly after learning of Martin’s death, McCoy urged others to check in with their loved ones. “Man, that’s the fifth teammate I’ve lost. Yeah, I’m done for today. Go check on everyone,” McCoy wrote on X.
McCoy told The Athletic that he hoped to avoid being moved to a detached status due to the series of heartbreaking events.
“You don’t want to get to a point where you become desensitized,” McCoy told the outlet. “It’s just hard to deal with and it’s unbelievable. This keeps happening.”
DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT THE DEATH OF FORMER NFL STAR DOUG MARTIN
In addition to Martin’s death, McCoy has recently had to deal with the loss of former NFL players: Geno Hayes, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson. McCoy spent time with all of those players at different times during his long tenure with the Buccaneers.
Te’o-Nesheim and Jackson were posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease that has been linked to repeated head trauma.
MartÃn’s family sought help until the last hours of his life.
“Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support,” read a statement from Martin’s former agent, Brian Murphy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93), running back Doug Martin (22) and receiver Vincent Jackson (83) pose for a photo at the NFC media day for the 2013 Pro Bowl at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort on January 25, 2013 in Ko Olina, Hawaii. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
“Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where police detained him. An investigation is underway into what occurred while he was detained.”
McCoy recalled the special bond he developed with Jackson and his admiration for how he lived up to his nickname “The Ultimate Pro.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) leaves the field after a loss to the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
“How he carried himself in the building, how he did interviews, how he practiced,” McCoy said. “How he took care of his body, how he was with his family, everything. That’s who V-Jack was. So when we lost him, it was like, ‘not him, of all people’. He was Captain America. So that was probably the one that affected us the most.”
McCoy finished his decade-long professional football career with 59.5 sacks. He transitioned to broadcasting after his playing days ended and currently works as an analyst for the NFL Network.
