Official Gruesome Cause Of Death Released For Los Angeles Rams Legend
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
New details have emerged regarding the death of former Los Angeles Rams cornerback LeRoy Irvin.
Irvin died earlier this month at the age of 68 after a lengthy battle with multiple health issues. His death certificate has now revealed the medical circumstances surrounding his passing.
According to the document, which was cited by the New York Post, Irvin’s immediate cause of death was acute hypoxic respiratory failure caused by neck mass obstruction, meaning a growth in his neck prevented him from getting enough oxygen.
The death certificate also listed aspiration pneumonia and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer that affects areas including the mouth, nose and throat, as contributing conditions.
Irvin was pronounced dead at 4:28 a.m. on July 2 at a San Diego hospital after dying overnight. Multiple outlets have since confirmed the details contained in the official record.
LeRoy Irvin Left Behind An Outstanding NFL Legacy
Although his final years were marked by significant health challenges, Irvin built an impressive football career that spanned more than a decade.
The former Kansas standout played 11 NFL seasons with the Rams from 1980 through 1990. During that stretch, he earned two Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors while establishing himself as one of the league’s premier cornerbacks.
His former teammate Eric Dickerson recently reflected on Irvin’s character as much as his accomplishments.
“You’ll never find anything selfish about LeRoy Irvin,” Dickerson said. “I don’t think people realize what a great player Leroy was, because the media was not as big as it is right now.”
Dickerson added that Irvin often joked about how much he would have earned in today’s NFL but never expressed bitterness over modern player salaries.
According to Dickerson, Irvin remained genuinely happy to see current players benefit from the league’s financial growth.
Irvin’s death certificate noted he also previously battled lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, hypertension and prostate cancer before his death.
