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DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 31: Peyton Manning looks on during a Ring of Honor induction ceremony at halftime of the game between the Washington Football Team and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 31, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

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DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 31: Peyton Manning looks on during a Ring of Honor induction ceremony at halftime of the game between the Washington Football Team and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 31, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The NFL lost a Super Bowl champion recently. Ex-Denver Broncos running back, Ronnie Hillman, passed away on the 21st of December 2022. The running back was 31 years of age. Messages of condolences flooded in from the NFL community. Fans and players alike have been sending condolences to those close to Hillman. Chief among them has been Hillman’s ex-teammate, Peyton Manning.
The duo played together when they joined the Denver Broncos. Notably, the QB-RB duo had major success as they both went on to win a championship and reportedly had a well-meaning professional relationship.
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Peyton Manning mourns Ronnie Hillman’s passing away
The ex-Broncos quarterback had taken to Instagram to share his thoughts. He had shared a couple of pictures, captioned with an emotional message that indicated his somber emotions after the loss.
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The quarterback had nothing but love for the young soul. He mentioned that he was honored to be teammates with Hilman and bid him a peaceful rest. He also said via Instagram, “We joined the Broncos the same year. Honored to be your teammate for four years in Denver. Great player, great person, great smile. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.”
The running back was beloved by the cities he played in, especially Denver. Thousands of fans mourned the death of the young player. The running back suffered from a rare disease. He suffered from renal medullary carcinoma.
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Fans mourn the passing away of Hillman
Hillman’s family revealed that the running back had been suffering from renal medullary carcinoma (RMC). RMC is a rare but aggressive cancer that affects the kidneys. After the news, Broncos and NFL fans mourned alike, showcasing their support for Hillman’s family and their love for the player.

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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 31: Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks during a ceremony to reveal his name on the stadium Ring of Fame at halftime during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Football Team at Empower Field at Mile High on October 31, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Peyton Manning’s kind words and love for Hillman were heart-wrenching. The passing away definitely took the NFL community by shock and sadness. One can only hope that Ronnie Hillman is now in a better place, surrounded by only peace and no pain.
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