Cullen Finnerty was one of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history. Many people helped search for Finnerty after it was reported he went missing over the weekend. The search sadly ended Tuesday night after his body was found in the woods of northern Michigan near his family's cottage in Webber Township.
It is believed that Finnerty had gone fishing near the cottage. He last spoke to a family member the night he went missing saying in a phone call that "he was nervous about something," Sheriff Robert Hilts told the Associated Press.
The family suspected Finnerty was "having some kind of mental episode" and might have been afraid causing him to run into the woods, Hilts added.
Authorities said they had been tracking his cellphone until it went dead. The search for the star football player drew scores of police and volunteers, including players and staff from Grand Valley State.
Finnerty, 30, led Grand Valley State University to three Division II national titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006. He also assisted in more than 50 wins during his four years as a starter, last decade. He was also briefly a member of the Baltimore Ravens and later the Denver Broncos.
The cause of death has not been determined but Dennis Robinson, Lake County Undersherriff, said foul play was not suspected. An autopsy is needed to determine how Finnerty died.
Current Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelley, who helped search for the athlete, was Finnerty's coach during the 2003 national championship season.
"It's very chilling. He led me to a national championship as a true freshman. When I left, coach Martin took over and won two more national championships. My heart goes out to the family and to his beautiful wife."
