Since 2021, Sports Illustrated (back in 2023) reported that 44 current or former NFL players under 50 have died—many from suicide. It’s not just about the hits on the field. The concussions. But the fear of losing it all because of those hits. It gets real behind the scenes. The isolation that never makes it into the stat sheet. Football breeds toughness, but rarely does it leave room for vulnerability. And that’s where the cracks form. Now, Kyren Lacy’s story has unfortunately added to the tragic list.

A family member confirmed the news that Former LSU wide receiver Lacy took his own life after the authorities reported he committed suicide in Houston. This is one of those incidents that doesn’t just break your heart but haunts you. Especially for those who have laced up cleats and shared locker rooms, who know what it’s like to carry the invisible weight when the cameras are off and the crowd noise fades to silence.

Dak Prescott knows those cracks well. He lost his mom to cancer in 2012. Eight years later, his brother Jace died from suicide. So, now, when he heard the news of Lacy, a promising young weapon, he just couldn’t hold back. “Please! Ask 4 help. It doesn’t have to end that way! It takes all of us!” he posted on his Instagram story after the news of Lacy’s death broke.

The message? Simple, raw, and necessary. Prescott’s Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation has become a solace for those silently struggling, helping turn personal loss into collective action. Then, there’s Tank Dell, who has echoed the urgency, too.

“Sh*t crazy. Praying for the fam. That mental health be real—check on yo people.” Tank wrote. But he knows all too well about the importance of mental awareness. He’s lived it. Dell survived a mass shooting this offseason and has been using his voice—and his cleats—to raise awareness. Through the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, he’s spotlighted issues that matter, turning trauma into a platform.

This isn’t just about one loss or one player. It’s about a culture. One where pain gets buried under toughness, where “next man up” is a badge of honor—but silence is the cost. Kyren Lacy declared for the NFL Draft that is just weeks away. A young man with potential. And now, a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.

Because the warning signs are there. The grief is real. And as Prescott put it, “What we go through is always gonna be too much for ourselves… but never too much for a community.” That community just needs to be willing to listen—and ask 4 help.

The football world sends tribute to Kyren Lacy

You might remember Kyren Lacy’s name from headlines back in December. He was accused of causing a crash that killed a 78-year-old man, then reportedly fled the scene without calling for help. Two days later—yes, just two—he declared for the NFL Draft.

Police said Lacy had been speeding, crossing into oncoming traffic in a no-passing zone, which triggered the fatal chain reaction. The crash left Herman Hall dead. Lacy later turned himself in, posted bail, and awaited a grand jury hearing.

It’s a lot to carry. For anyone. Let alone a 24-year-old still trying to outrun the ghosts of that December night while chasing his NFL shot. He was at LSU’s pro day just last month. He still had hope. But something cracked. And the silence after his death has been louder than any combine crowd.

Across the league, players and fans are reacting. Russell Wilson shared Lacy’s image and wrote: “Praying for everyone. This hurts. Too young.” Yes, he was, indeed, too young. 24. Dreams to go pro. But now, he has left the NFL world in shock.

Anthony Brown posted: “Damn… RIP King.” The former QB surely he knows an elite receiver when he sees one. Kyren did not just have promise, he was HIM. Lacy started at Louisiana-Lafayette, then leveled up at LSU, where he led the Tigers in receiving in 2024. By the end of his college run, he racked up 162 catches, 2,360 yards, and 26 touchdowns. Numbers don’t lie. Neither did the tape.

Then, even Jayden Daniels’ mom, Regina Jackson, posted a photo of Lacy in his LSU jersey with just two words: “RIP Kyren.” Play the clip of JD throwing a dart to Kyren, back in the day. Or the one where Kyren was hyping up Jayden for getting drafted in Round 1 and the QB said: “You next, though.” Alas, no one knows how many battles Lacy was fighting internally.

But the most gut-wrenching tribute came from Rontrell Sandolph, Lacy’s close friend. A former high school basketball teammate, Rontrell wrote: “2, why would you leave me, bro?… If nobody was here for you, Rontrell is, and you know this, bro!” He described praying for Lacy’s health every night—even waking up mid-sleep to do it. It was a brotherhood built on shared dreams. One making it to the NFL, the other overseas.