Former NFL LB Ronald Powell Dies at Age 32; Spent 2014 Season with Saints

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ronald Powell died at the age of 32.

Junior Galette, who was teammates with Powell in 2014, confirmed his death Monday:

The University of Florida, Powell's alma mater, and the NFL Players Association also mourned his death on X, formerly known as Twitter:

According to Patrick Magee of the Times-Picayune, the circumstances of his death remain unclear.

Powell had 79 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in four years with the Gators. His college career was disrupted by a pair of knee injuries. He tore his ACL during the 2012 spring game and suffered another tear months later while working toward his recovery.

The California native returned in 2013 and showed enough to be a fifth-round pick of the Saints in the 2014 NFL draft. As a rookie, he made 14 appearances for New Orleans, primarily in a special teams role.

The Saints waived Powell in September 2015. He subsequently joined the practice squads for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks but was unable to get back on an NFL field.