The Indiana Colts announced the death of one of its players, Matt Ulrich, at the age of 41 on Wednesday (November 8). Ulrich was an offensive lineman when his team won the Super Bowl in 2006.
A cause of death has not been revealed.
"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich," Coles owner Jim Irsay wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Matt was with us only two seasons but left his mark on many. Great guy, I hear he was a great dad---and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family."
He was survived by his wife Allison and their four sons. In a Facebook post, Allison also confirmed her husband had died.
"Matt, we love you so so much," she wrote. "You are profoundly missed. We all want you back for just one more day. ... Please pray for peace and comfort for the boys. They have lost their greatest fan, coach, and friend."
A GiveSendGo fundraiser has been launched to help support Ulrich's family. As of writing, over $53,000 has been raised.
Ulrich's Gridiron Career, Work After Retirement
According to CBS Sports, Ulrich began his football career at Northwestern University and went on to play two seasons in the NFL, in 2005 and 2006.
He eventually participated in Harvard University's Football Players Health Study, "which examines the multifactorial causes that impact the health and wellbeing of former NFL players." During his stint there, he served as an advisor to players in the study, which looked at the impacts of football on their short and long-term health.
Ulrich cofounded DexaFit LLC, a chain of body fat and metabolic testing centers. He also served as managing director and partner at Profitable Ideas Exchange, leading a peer network for executives.
Death by COVID Vaccine?
Meanwhile, Newsweek reported that conspiracy theories sparked regarding Ulrich's death on social media, saying it was due to the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Ex-NFL player dies suddenly at 41," one user wrote. "Praying for everyone who took (or was forced to take) an experimental mRNA jab that damages the heart."
"COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Sudden deaths are at an all-time high," said another.
"So sad. So young," a third added. "I assume vax until proven otherwise."
"Super Bowl champ Matt Ulrich dead at 41 / poison vaccine strikes again," a user named Robert Hollister said on X, formerly Twitter.
Despite claims that Ulrich was fully vaccinated, there was no evidence that he ever received the COVID-19 vaccine, with the possibility that he was unvaccinated.
In addition, Rich Bianco, a man claiming to be Ulrich's cousin, took to social media to discredit any misinformation about Ulrich's death.
"He's my cousin and he didn't die from the shot like a lot of people are saying," he wrote on X. "Please stop the rumors. Will miss you, Matt."
