Former LSU coach Steve Kragthorpe is no more! Sure Brian Kelly and his Tigers were up to a shocker this August 4th when the death news of their former mastermind hit.

The 59-year-old Kragthorpe was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in late 2011, just a few months after taking the quarterback coaching job at LSU. Over a decade later, the disease is believed to have taken his life. 

The LSU officials confirmed his passing and shared an obituary on Instagram with a heartfelt caption: “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of former LSU coach and staff member Steve Kragthorpe.” Soon, former LSU players quickly flocked in, expressing their grief. Miami Dolphins linebacker Blake Ferguson, who played long snapper for the Tigers during Kragthorpe’s tenure, commented, “Loved that dude.” He was soon joined by former tight end Thaddeus Moss, who left a heart emoji in tribute to the late coach.

Now, Kragthorpe’s reputation as a quarterback mastermind dates back to his playing days in the ’80s when he starred as a QB for West Texas and Eastern New Mexico teams. Later, LSU recognized his talent and brought him on board in 2011. Although Parkinson’s eventually forced him to step down from coaching, he stayed on as an analyst for the team until 2018.

Being a part of LSU’s program for 8 years, he’s helped them win 11 SEC titles and play in 8 bowl games. It’s crazy how much he meant to the program, as its alumni are left heartbroken. 

NFL stars mourn ex-LSU coach Steve Kragthorpe

Now, LSU didn’t spot Kragthorpe’s coaching talent first. For seven seasons, Kragthorpe led Tusla, and Louisville weaving plays as their head coach. He put up a scoreboard of 44 wins, and 43 losses, before moving to LSU. Now, the Tusla team remembers him fondly, as they’re throwing a Memorial celebration at Chapman Stadium this Friday. 

But wait, there’s more! After his Tusla stint, Kragthorpe packed his playbook and headed to LSU. There, he really developed a handful of NFL stars. One of them is Malachi Dupre, the former LA Chargers wide receiver. Drupe, too, chimed in on Kragthorpe’s obituary post, commenting, “We lost a great one! RIP! ❤️” And the hits keep coming! Jake Franklin, a former Tight end, tipped his helmet: “Thank you for everything, Coach.” Soon, Jeremy Hill, the ex-Patriots running back, kept it crisp, commenting, “Rip coach.” Now, these offensive stars sure speak Kragthorpe’s legacy!

While talking about Kragthorpe’s offensive stars, we can’t leave the legendary Drew Bledsoe. The former quarterback had a season for the ages with the Buffalo Bills in 2001. He managed 24 touchdowns and a pass completion rate of 62%. And guess who was backstage, pulling the strings? Yep, Kragthorpe. Looks like he’ll sure be missed by everyone in the NFL.