Lew Bush, Former Chargers Linebacker, Dead at 42

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Lew Bush has died of a heart attack, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. He was 42.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of former #Chargers LB Lew Bush, who passed away today. Keep Lew’s family in your prayers. #RIPLew,” the Chargers organization posted via their official Twitter page.

With his passing, Bush, who played for San Diego for seven seasons before finishing his career as a Kansas City Chief, became the seventh member of the 1994 Chargers team — the only squad in the franchise’s history to make a Super Bowl — to suffer a premature death.

Other members of the 1994 Super Bowl team who have died are running back Rodney Culver, linebackers Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, defensive tackle Shawn Lee, defensive end Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley, the Chargers said.

Griggs died in a 1995 car crash (he was 28); Culver was killed in a 1996 plane crash (he was 26); Miller was struck and killed by lightning in 1998 (he was 28); Whitley overdosed in 2008 (at age 39); Mims died of an enlarged heart the same year and Lee suffered cardiac arrest in February of this year (he was 44), according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

San Diego lost the 1994 Super Bowl 49-26 to the San Francisco 49ers.

Prior to his death, Lew Bush recently served as a pre-game commentator for the Chargers radio broadcasts on KIOZ. Funeral arrangements for the former NFL player are pending.

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