Foxborough, Massachusetts: The Baltimore Ravens say former tightend Konrad Reuland has died following a brain aneurysm. He was 29.
Coach John Harbaugh opened his post-game news conference after Monday night’s loss to the New England Patriots by announcing Reuland’s death.
Reuland was attempting to recover from a brain aneurysm he suffered last month. A Ravens spokesman says Reuland’s mother informed the team that he died on Monday.
“We love Konrad Reuland,” Harbaugh said. “Every single guy in that locker room loves him.”
Harbaugh offered his condolences to Reuland’s family and quoted from the Biblical book of Psalms, saying: “God is our refuge and our strength.”
Besides the Ravens, Reuland spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. He played in 30 games over three seasons, catching 12 passes for 90 yards.
Each of the NFL teams for which he played, and Stanford University, where Reuland finished his college career after two years at Notre Dame, issued statements of sympathy. Several former teammates also took to social media to express their shock and sadness at the news.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie played with Reuland with the Jets, and they were in camp together this past summer in Indianapolis. Cromartie was at the funeral on Monday of another former Jets teammate, Joe McKnight, who was shot and killed on December 1 during a road-rage incident in suburban New Orleans.
“Man, we were just in Indy together talking about everything from our football careers, our family,” Cromartie wrote on Instagram. “And the great meeting we had in the hot tub at the Jets facility. You will be miss(ed) bro. You always walked around with a smile on your face. A hard worker and would do everything he could for the team. I love you man. Rest In Paradise.”
In an email, Reuland’s agent Eric Metz wrote: “God Bless Konrad and his family. He was a wonderful person.”
