Former Jaguars Uche Nwaneri passed away
Dallas’ Uche Nwaneri – Jaguars & Cowboys Ex – Passes Away at 38
FRISCO – Former NFL offensive lineman Uche Nwaneri, a Dallas native who ended his career with the Dallas Cowboys, died Friday at the age of 38.
“Uche was a great guy,” his former agent Jordan Woy told CowboysSI.com. “He was a very interesting person and had deep, valuable and enlightening thoughts about sports, politics and life.”
Nwaneri spent seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting 92 games between 2007 and 2013. A 6-3, 310-pound product of Garland’s Naaman Forest High School, Nwaneri starred at Purdue before becoming the Jags’ fifth-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
He was the starting right guard for the Jaguars for five years before signing with his hometown Cowboys in 2014.
He joined Dallas in June of that year, but was among the final cuts during the team’s final roster cuts in August.
Nwaneri was found dead at his family’s home in West Lafayette, Indiana, according to West Lafayette police and the county coroner.
Police said Nwaneri was traveling from Georgia to his wife’s residence when he apparently collapsed. The coroner’s office is awaiting toxicology results, but it suggests a possible heart attack.
After his retirement, Nwaneri – whose first name is Uchechukwu and means “God’s Wish” in his parents’ native Nigeria – ran the YouTube channel ‘The Observant Lineman’.
Nwaneri, 38, was reportedly found unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom by his wife at around 1 am on Friday, December 30, per West Lafayette police via the Lafayette Journal and Courier. He had reportedly driven up to Indiana from Georgia where he collapsed at his wife’s home. The report states that per County Coroner Carrie Costello, no signs of foul play were found during his autopsy on Monday. A “possible heart attack” may be to blame, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Taking to social media, a fan of Jaguars, revealed that Uche Nwaneri has passed away. His sudden death has shocked many fans of Jaguars
A fan wrote: “#Jaguars fans will be sad to hear passing of former G Uche Nwaneri at 38, collapsing from a possible heart attack in wife’s home in West Lafayette. Uch was one of the coolest cats to ever occupy that locker room. Opinionated and so loveable. What a tragedy to be taken so young.”
Another fan took to social media to confirm the death of Uche Nwaneri. He wrote: “I didn’t want to comment on this until I had contact with his family but now it’s gone public.
“Uche Nwaneri passed away. He was a great guy and he really loved G+G. Until I get more info from his family, I probably will not comment any further.
RIP Brother.”
Uchechukwu Eberechukwu Nwaneri (March 20, 1984 – December 30, 2022) was an American football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at Purdue and was selected by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. After retiring, he ran “The Observant Lineman” channel on YouTube.
Jacksonville Jaguars[edit]
Nwaneri saw limited action as a rookie during the Jaguars’ 2007 playoff run, playing in 9 games with 1 start. The next season, he was elevated to starter after an injury to starting guard Vince Manuwai. In all, he appeared in 15 games during the 2008 season, starting 15 of them. He allowed 4.5 sacks during the season.
In 2009, Nwaneri and fellow guard Maurice Williams competed for the starting guard position opposite the returning Vince Manuwai. Nwaneri won the job; Williams was deactivated for much of the season before being released on December 5, 2009.[3] Nwaneri appeared in all 16 games, starting 13 of them. He was only credited with allowing one-half of a sack. Nwaneri was also not penalized during the 2009 season.[4]
Nwaneri was released on March 4, 2014.
Dallas Cowboys
Nwaneri signed with the Dallas Cowboys on June 25, 2014. He was cut during final roster cuts on August 30, 2014.
YouTube career
In 2019, Uche launched the YouTube channel The Observant Lineman, where he discussed sports, gaming, and DC Comics-related material.
