Former NFL linebacker Bryan Braman passed away at 38 years old on Thursday after battling a rare form of cancer.
Braman was diagnosed with the aggressive disease in February and had undergone several surgeries in Seattle, according to a GoFundMe set up to help him pay for the expenses of the treatment.
Braman played six seasons in the NFL, three each for the Texans and Eagles, after starring at West Texas A&M.
The Spokane, Wash. native was a part of the Eagles team that shocked the Patriots in Super Bowl LII in 2018.
That game would be the final one of his NFL career.
Braman has two daughters, Blakely, 11, and Marlowe, 8.
“The main problem has been that Bryan has not been able to recover from the procedures because of his lowered immunity due to all of these treatments,” the GoFundMe read. “By the time he was able to recover so he could continue with the chemo, the cancer has grown exponentially faster, and is is now growing around his vital organs.”
The GoFundMe has raised more than $88,000 with more than 900 unique donations, as of Thursday morning.
“Today is a tough day that hits close to home. I always admired Bryan’s ability to overcome life’s obstacles, his passion for the game, and the love he had for his friends and family,” Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ star lineman who was teammates with Braman in Philadelphia, wrote on X. “Rest in peace, Brother.”
Emmanuel Acho, a sports media personality who played with Braman on the Eagles in 2014, added: “I didn’t intend on crying this morning. Then I read the news on my teammate, Bryan Braman. Love you Braman. You lived a hard life, and you never complained about it. A champion in life and a warrior in death.”
“Rest in Peace brother,” added JJ Watt. “Gone far too soon.”
Braman made 56 tackles in his NFL career, including the game-ending tackle in Super Bowl LII.
He endeared himself to fans by becoming a key member of the special teams unit, making key plays on punt and kick returns.
In one especially notable moment from a 2011 game with the Texans, Braman — without a helmet — came from across the field on a punt return for a highlight-reel tackle on the Titans’ Marc Mariani.
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