Damion Cook has died at the age of 36.
The retired NFL lineman died on Friday, June 26, after suffering from an apparent heart attack.
Bethune-Cookman Athletics, where Cook played college football, confirmed the news, and it was first reported by Ron Clements of Sporting News.
BCU took to Twitter to make the announcement that Damion Cook had passed away.
“A Wildcat great is now with the Lord. #RIPDamionCook and thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Cook led ‘Cats to ’98 Heritage Bowl,” they tweeted .
Cook had a successful career at Bethune-Cookman University, and even made a Heritage Bowl appearance in 1998. In 2001, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens. Within eight years, Damion played 26 games for five different NFL teams- Ravens, Dolphins, Bears, Browns, and Lions. He also played in the UFL, CFL and Arena League , according to the Bleacher Report .
A Wildcat great is now with the Lord. #RIPDamionCook and thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Cook led ‘Cats to ’98 Heritage Bowl.
— BCUathletics (@BCUAthletics) June 26, 2015
Cook also served as the head football coach of Atholton High School in Maryland in 2014. One of his assistant coaches Bruce Cummings spoke highly of Damion and the impact he made on student’s lives.
“Damion was someone who genuinely cared about student athletes. He wanted to use football as a tool to help at-risk youth,” Cummings said. “We’re going to take that message and let his spirit guide us.”
One of Cook’s former teammates Gerald Alexander also took the time to remember his friend. “Cant believe the news I heard about my former teammate who I just saw a few months ago. Rest In Peace Damion Cook,” he tweeted.
Cant believe the news I heard about my former teammate who I just saw a few months ago. Rest In Peace Damion Cook pic.twitter.com/lV9eQ2HriB
— Gerald Alexander (@GAlexander21) June 27, 2015
George Foster, another former teammate, also shared a series of memorial tweets in honor of the NFL player.
REST EASY, my good brother @DClive_ pic.twitter.com/1BjjWQzsHF
— R.I.P. Cook (@GeorgeFoster72) June 26, 2015
Me and my brother @DClive_ . Gonna miss you, bro. Rest Easy. pic.twitter.com/sI2eOfMPmK
— R.I.P. Cook (@GeorgeFoster72) June 26, 2015
If you remember the first season of Hard Knocks, you saw my Bro Damion do this Ray impression. R.I.P. Bro http://t.co/Yp8s62HJhz
— R.I.P. Cook (@GeorgeFoster72) June 27, 2015
Damion is survived by his wife, JaNiece, and three children.
[Photo by NFL Photos/Getty Images]
