The football world is mourning the tragic loss of a young star.
Demaryius Thomas, the retired wide receiver who rose to NFL stardom with the Denver Broncos, has died. The football star was set to turn 34 on Dec. 25.
On Thursday, Dec. 9, police responded to a cardiac arrest-related call for Thomas, who was not conscious nor breathing, according an incident report obtained by E! News. Police found him dead in a bedroom shower inside his Roswell, Ga. home. Preliminary information indicates his death stemmed from a medical issue, according to the police. "Our investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise," a spokesperson for the Roswell Police Department told E! News.
Having spent most of his football career with the Broncos, Thomas became a Super Bowl champion when the team beat the Carolina Panthers in February 2016. In 2018, the two-time second-team All-Pro went on to play for the Houston Texans, followed by the New England Patriots and New York Jets.
In June, he announced his retirement after more than a decade in professional football. "It was a tough decision, a real tough decision," Thomas said at the time of his announcement. "Always as a kid or always when I did something, it was always [giving] my best to go and go and go. And football was my go. Every year I tried to get better and better, and I knew I was aging, of course. It was something tough, but I'm grateful I did 10, 11 years. I'm so grateful for that and now I can move on. I'm happy, I'm healthy. And now I can try to find my next itch."
Following his sudden death, the NFL paid tribute to him online. "The NFL family mourns the tragic loss of Demaryius Thomas," the league's Twitter account read, "and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."
The Denver Broncos also expressed their heartbreak in a statement shared to social media. "D.T. was beloved by our entire organization, his teammates and coaches, and our fans. Recently retiring as a Bronco, we were very much looking forward to celebrating Demaryius for years to come as one of the greatest players in franchise history. During nine seasons in Denver, Demaryius established himself as a dominant, record-setting wide receiver who was an instrumental part of two championship runs and our victory in Super Bowl 50," their statement read. "His legacy as a Bronco extended far beyond the playing field as a caring, generous member of our community. D.T. loved giving back—especially spending time with children—and impacted countless lives through the Broncos Boys and Girls club, hospital visits, his annual football camp and many other genuine interactions. Demaryius' humility, warmth, kindness and infectious smile will always be remembered by those who knew him and loved him."
"We have lost an incredible player and a special person in Demaryius Thomas," the team said. "Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the Thomas family and who are grieving this unimaginable loss."
Fellow football stars have also spoken out and shared memories on social media to mourn their beloved colleague. His former teammate Peyton Manning said he had just texted with Thomas on Tuesday, Dec. 7. "D.T. was a better person than he was a player, and he was a Hall of Fame player," he said. "That tells you how good of a person he was."
Tom Brady remembered Thomas as a "source of light."
"We were all blessed with his humility and positive spirit," the football star tweeted, "and we will all miss him."
Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker said he doesn't want to believe Thomas' death. "He was my roommate, confidant, Batman to my robin, record setting teammate," he wrote in an Instagram post. "We shared many travels together, he was in my wedding, held my babies and was always in my corner. His smile was infectious- transformed a room when he arrived. His heart was gold! He brought joy all our lives. I am forever grateful to have Demaryius in my life. He is truly one of a kind and will forever be missed."
His wife, Jessie James Decker, told Instagram followers she doesn't know if they "will ever truly heal from this one."
"When we got the call last night I dropped to my knees and I couldn't believe it. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life and the tears just won't stop. I've never seen Eric like this before, his heart is in pieces. We loved Demaryius like he was family," she wrote. "The relationship he and Eric had was beautiful and special. His heart, his infectious smile, his kindness, his soul. Eric and Demaryius were truly like brothers and anyone that was around them could feel how special their friendship was together on and off the field."
She concluded, "I will cherish the beautiful memories we all had together in Denver and I know he will be looking down on all of us from heaven. Demaryius was a man of faith which is why he would quote almost every single day 'Thank God for another day.'"