Coroner blames helmet collision for death of college football player
Tyler Ulrich, a 21-year-old safety at Southern Nazarene University, died of a brain bleed five days after a group tackle during an October game.
By Haruka Ivanov ·
A coroner's report has identified a traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed as the cause of death for Tyler Ulrich, a 21-year-old safety at Southern Nazarene University. The report, obtained by ESPN and released on October 30, states that Ulrich was hit helmet to helmet, which resulted in a subdural hematoma.
Ulrich was hospitalized on October 10 following an away game against Ouachita Baptist University. He died five days later at a nearby hospital. Head coach Dustin Hada said Ulrich was injured while involved in a group tackle. Paramedics attended to him on the field for nearly an hour before transporting him.
The university had previously described the cause as a traumatic injury without providing specifics. A spokesperson said on Friday that the school had not yet received the coroner's report. The family did not respond to requests for comment. A Celebration of Life service was held for Ulrich on October 25 in Azle, Texas.
Dave Myrick, the team's radio play-by-play announcer, described the moment of injury as visually unremarkable. He noted that the play itself did not appear catastrophic until teammates began waving for medical staff. Myrick said the players' reaction signaled the severity of the situation before the crowd or announcers fully understood the outcome.
According to data from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, Ulrich is one of only two football players to die from a traumatic head or neck injury during a game in the past nine years. He is the second college player to die from a game-related incident this season. MicahJo Barnett of William Jewell College collapsed on the sideline in early August, though his cause of death was not disclosed.
Southern Nazarene finished the game in which Ulrich was injured but skipped the following week's contest. The team returned to play on October 24, winning 60-37 against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Ulrich was a redshirt sophomore and one of the team's top three tacklers before his death.
Coach Hada, who has led the program since 2019, said the team is processing the loss. He described Ulrich as an outstanding player and a quiet leader in the locker room.
Source: ESPN
