Former Buccaneers LB Geno Hayes in Hospice Care with Liver Disease

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistApril 22, 2021

Tampa Bay Buccaneer line backer Geno Hayes reacts to what he believes is a bad call during an NFL preseason football game in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes has entered into hospice care because of liver disease, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine:

JennaLaineESPN @JennaLaineESPN
If you'd like to send Geno Hayes and his family love and well-wishes, as his two children (who are his whole world) like to pick up his phone to play pranks on him by tweeting photos of him sleeping, his handle is @55_AlwaysLive.

The Bucs selected Hayes in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft, and he appeared in 56 games for the team. The 33-year-old also enjoyed spells with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. His last appearance came in Jacksonville's 2014 season finale.

Frankie Carroll, who coached Hayes at Madison County High School and visited him recently, spoke to the Tallahassee Democrat's Jim Henry about Hayes' situation.

"Geno's in need of prayers," Carroll said. "He's fighting for his life. It's tough. Geno's a fun-loving guy."

Prior to arriving in the NFL, Hayes was a first-team All-ACC linebacker at Florida State in 2007. After becoming a regular starter for the Seminoles defense as a sophomore, he posted 139 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two interceptions over two years.