43-year-old Terry Glenn, former wide receiver for New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Dallas Cowboys died early Monday morning in a single-vehicle rollover road accident in Irving, Texas, near Dallas.
His fiancée, who survived the crash, is reportedly being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital. While the extent and severity of her injuries are not yet known, some sources have said that they are minor and not life-threatening.
According to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office, Glenn succumbed to his injuries at the Parkland Memorial Hospital at 12:52 am, reports THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. The crash had occurred at 12:18 am local time per the Irving Police Department.
Glenn, who was driving in the eastbound lane of Highway 114 at the 700 block, was ejected from his car when he crashed into the barrier between the express lane and the local lanes.
The football community is shocked at the news of the former pro footballer’s death expressing their grief on social media. Several rising stars, who were kids when Glenn was at his professional prime, have also paid their respects to the former player.
Super Bowl Champ, Packers’ All-Time Receiver, 2012 DWTS Champ, and GBP Hall of Famer, Donald Driver, tweeted that his “heart is hurting to hear about the passing of my good friend and teammate T.G aka Terry Glenn. Prayers go out to his family. #RIPBigHomieTGlenn.”
My heart is hurting to hear about the passing of my good friend and teammate T.G aka Terry Glenn. Prayers go out to his family. #RIPBigHomieTGlenn pic.twitter.com/RSNTMhjTuu
— Donald Driver (@Donald_Driver80) November 20, 2017
Former NFL Quarter Back, Drew Bledsoe, said he was “incredibly sad” to hear about his buddy’s death who “overcame a ton of adversity to become an excellent person.”
Incredibly sad to hear about my buddy Terry Glenn. Overcame a ton of adversity to become an excellent person. May your soul rest in peace my friend. #riptg88
— Drew Bledsoe (@DrewBledsoe) November 20, 2017
His former team, New England Patriots, which he played for from 1996 until 2001, said on their official Twitter account, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Terry Glenn. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends & former teammates.”
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Terry Glenn. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends & former teammates. https://t.co/gRXQcRIeHH pic.twitter.com/j4mY2NXJT7
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 20, 2017
Dallas Cowboys, his team from 2003 to 2007, said they were “saddened by the loss of Terry Glenn” and that their “thoughts and prayers are with his family.
We are saddened by the loss of Terry Glenn. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. #DallasCowboys
?: https://t.co/4ZNb3T2h38 pic.twitter.com/Ji4LNzu9S2
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 20, 2017
Michael Thomas, who currently plays for New Orleans Saints, said he used to see Glenn’s face every day in the college halls, “especially on the Biletnikoff Award list from Ohio State I wanted to be you RIP!”
Damn terrible news about Buckeye Great and NFL Legend Terry Glenn I used to see your face everyday in the halls in college especially on the Biletnikoff Award list from Ohio State I wanted to be you RIP!
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) November 20, 2017
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, Cardale Jones, said that Glenn was one of the few players he held in high esteem growing up. “Wow, Terry Glenn, 1 of the few players I looked up to growing up. To the Glenn family, Buckeye Nations is here for you. Terry, you will be missed,” he tweeted.
Wow, Terry Glenn?, 1 of the few players I looked up to growing up. To the Glenn family, Buckeye Nations is here for you. Terry, you will be missed.
— Cardale Jones (@Cardale7_) November 20, 2017
Urban Meyer, Head Football Coach at the Ohio State University, called Glenn a “Buckeye great and a friend.”
My prayers to the family of Terry Glenn. A Buckeye great and a friend. pic.twitter.com/qrqJGLCCZa
— Urban Meyer (@OSUCoachMeyer) November 20, 2017
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Glenn graduated from Brookhaven High School, Columbus, in 1992.
After playing college football for the Ohio State University he signed a six-year, $12 million contract with the New England Patriots in 1996. In his rookie season itself, Glenn achieved 90 receptions – a single-season NFL rookie record at the time – and six touchdowns.
After a four-year lean patch due to issues at the personal front and the resultant inconsistency, he returned to form with a bang in 1999 and 2000, becoming the leading receiver for the Patriots.
Prior to the 2002 season, he was traded to Green Bay Packers which, in turn, traded him to the Dallas Cowboys before the 2003 season got underway.
His 63 receptions for 1,136 yards and 7 touchdowns in the 2005 season earned him a five-year, $20 million contract extension with the team. He did well for the Cowboys in 2006, which turned out to be another 1,000-yard season for him, with six touchdowns to his name.
An arthroscopic knee surgery kept him out of the first fifteen games of the 2007 season. Although he returned for practice in December that year, he could not play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 of the season nor did he travel to Carolina for the Week 16 game. He did, however, play against the Washington Redskins in Week 17.
Because of a bad right knee and no injury clause in his contract, Dallas Cowboys released him in July 2008, which spelled the end of his NFL career.
Glenn’s NFL career stats boast a total of 137 games with 593 receptions for 8,823 yards as well as 44 touchdowns.
The former NFL pro is survived by his fiancée and five children.
May his soul rest in peace!