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Jordan McNair, a redshirt freshman for the Maryland football program, passed away on Wednesday at age 19. The offensive lineman’s death comes two weeks after he was hospitalized following a team workout. The Maryland athletic department confirmed the news of his passing. Terrapins head coach DJ Durkin issued a statement on McNair’s death.
“Our team is heartbroken with the loss of Jordan McNair,” Durkin said in a statement. “Jordan was an incredible young man, and his passion and enthusiasm made him an invaluable and beloved member of our team. Jordan was a hard worker and he always had a smile on his face. He was an extremely talented football player and a humble and genuine human being. He embodied the essence of what it means to be a teammate. Jordan was a fighter. Over the past few weeks, Jordan never gave up with his family, friends and team by his side. Our team will continue to be inspired by the spirit of this brave fighter. Please continue to pray for Jordan’s family during this difficult time.”
McNair was forced to finish a workout despite clear signs that something was going wrong, according to an ESPN report.
But multiple witnesses at the workout told ESPN that McNair had physical difficulty before the workout ended and needed two teammates to help him complete the 10th sprint.
“There’s no way he finished on his own,” one of the players at the workout told ESPN.
“There were multiple people that said, ‘Wow, Jordan looks f—ed up, he doesn’t look all right,'” the player said. “We knew he was really exhausted, but we didn’t know he was in danger of his life. But that doesn’t mean that a medical professional shouldn’t know to put him in an ice tub.”
Multiple sources said that after the 10th sprint finished, Wes Robinson, Maryland’s longtime head football trainer, yelled, “Drag his ass across the field!”
A second player at the workout told ESPN: “Jordan was obviously not in control of his body. He was flopping all around. There were two trainers on either side of him bearing a lot of weight. They interlocked their legs with his in order to keep him standing.”
The current information on McNair’s cause of death can be seen below.
Jordan McNair Cause of Death: Heat Stroke
Watch the University of Maryland’s press conference regarding the death of Maryland football player Jordan McNair. https://t.co/bw0aP00I7a
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) June 14, 2018
McNair passed away from a heat stroke after being forced to finish a workout despite complete exhaustion in the summer heat.
“We have learned Jordan did not receive appropriate medical care, and mistakes were made by athletic training personnel,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said in a statement addressing McNair’s death. “The university accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes that our training staff made on that fateful workout day of May 29.”
The 6-foot-4, 325-pounder was hospitalized on May 29 following an organized team workout. McNair was airlifted to the local hospital after the session, though the university has remained quiet about the exact details that led to his hospitalization. While in the hospital, McNair received a liver transplant and was “fighting for his life.”
Maryland acting athletic director Damon Evans issued a statement confirming McNair’s death on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our student-athletes, sophomore football player Jordan McNair,” Evans said. “Jordan was a tremendous athlete, student, teammate and friend, and he will be sorely missed. We offer our deepest condolences to his parents, family and friends. … For those who had the opportunity to know Jordan, you understand the sadness we are feeling.
“Our thoughts and support continue to be with his family as they grieve the loss of this outstanding young man.”
About Jordan McNair
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Jordan McNair was a four-star recruit for the Terps out of McDonogh High School. McNair had long been on the radar of Division I programs from the moment he was named to MaxPreps’ Sophomore All-American team. During his time at McDonogh, McNair was a two-time All-Metro offensive guard. As a true freshman at Maryland, McNair appeared in one game.
