THOMAS HERRION
Name: Thomas Herrion
Born: 15 December 1981 Fort Worth, Texas
Died: 20 August 2005 Denver, Colorado
Thomas Herrion (December 15, 1981 - August 20, 2005) was an American football
player for the San Francisco 49ers. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Herrion, a 6-foot-3
(190 cm), 310-pound (140 kg) guard, played college football first at Kilgore
College at the junior college level before transferring to the University of
Utah where he blocked for current San Francisco 49ers quarterback and number one
draft pick Alex Smith. He was signed to a reserve/futures contract with the 49ers
on January 5, 2005 and spent one season playing in NFL Europe with the Hamburg
Sea Devils.
Shortly after an exhibition game against the Denver Broncos on August 20, 2005,
Herrion collapsed in the locker room and was transported to St. Anthony's
Central Hospital in Denver where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was
later determined to be Ischaemic heart disease.
On September 2, the 49ers established the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award, which
will be given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of Thomas Herrion.
On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, current 49er coach Mike Nolan
commended Herrion for being a hard worker and "musical".
Name: Thomas Herrion
Born: 15 December 1981 Fort Worth, Texas
Died: 20 August 2005 Denver, Colorado
Thomas Herrion (December 15, 1981 - August 20, 2005) was an American football
player for the San Francisco 49ers. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Herrion, a 6-foot-3
(190 cm), 310-pound (140 kg) guard, played college football first at Kilgore
College at the junior college level before transferring to the University of
Utah where he blocked for current San Francisco 49ers quarterback and number one
draft pick Alex Smith. He was signed to a reserve/futures contract with the 49ers
on January 5, 2005 and spent one season playing in NFL Europe with the Hamburg
Sea Devils.
Shortly after an exhibition game against the Denver Broncos on August 20, 2005,
Herrion collapsed in the locker room and was transported to St. Anthony's
Central Hospital in Denver where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was
later determined to be Ischaemic heart disease.
On September 2, the 49ers established the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award, which
will be given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of Thomas Herrion.
On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, current 49er coach Mike Nolan
commended Herrion for being a hard worker and "musical".