Allen Aldridge, the former NFL star who won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, has died at the age of 52.
The cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Aldridge spent eight seasons in the NFL, four with the Broncos, playing middle linebacker during Denver's Super Bowl-winning 1997 season, before spending the next four seasons with the Detroit Lions.
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Allen Aldridge of the Detroit Lions claps as he enters the field for a Miami Dolphins game at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. (Tom Pigeon/All Sports)
He has been the head coach at Fort Bend Bush High School in Richmond, Texas since 2008.
Prior to his NFL career, Aldridge played in college for his hometown team, the Houston Cougars, who released a statement about Aldridge via social media.
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“Houston Football mourns the loss of highly decorated Cougar and former NFL star Allen Aldridge,” a statement from X read. “Our thoughts are with his family, former teammates and the Fort Bend Bush High School community.”
The Broncos also released a statement on the matter, saying they were “saddened to learn of the passing of former Broncos linebacker and Super Bowl XXXII champion Allen Aldridge Jr..”
Ted Purdy, Aldridge's former teammate with the Cougars, told the Houston Chronicle that “he wasn't just a freshman” when he arrived on campus. The team knew he was destined for greatness at the highest level.
“The day he got to UH, everybody knew he was different,” Purdy said. “… The key was how to get him on the field as quickly as possible, because he was so talented.”
Chicago Bears running back Edgar Bennett carries the ball against Detroit Lions linebacker Allen Aldridge at Soldier Field. (Peter Brouillet – USA Today Network)
Aldridge got a chance to show the NFL world just how good he could be when the Broncos selected him in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. After a limited playing time during his rookie season, he had his big break in 1995, totaling 89 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in 16 games (12 starts).
As a result of that season, the Broncos decided to hire Aldridge as a true starter at center linebacker on defense the following season, and he played a key role in the team's run to the Super Bowl the following year.
In the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1997 season, Aldridge intercepted Kordell Stewart in the end zone to help his team win the game. The Broncos ultimately defeated the Green Bay Packers to win Super Bowl XXXII.
Aldridge joined the Lions for the 1998 season and recorded 70 tackles, three sacks, one fumble recovery touchdown and nine tackles for loss in his debut season, before staying with them for three more seasons before his final season in 2001.
Aldridge finished his career with 10.5 sacks, 482 tackles, one interception, five forced fumbles and 18 tackles for loss in 128 games played.
Denver Broncos linebacker Allen Aldridge stands on the sideline against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium. (Peter Brouillet – USA Today Network)
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As a high school coach, the Houston Chronicle reported that his teams made the playoffs eight times, including a 10-2 record in 2012, the best in team history.
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