Ryan Reed, a University of Minnesota Duluth football player, was pronounced dead after going into cardiac arrest during a team workout in the weight room on November 28.
Reed went into cardiac arrest on November 21 and was determined to be a result of an undetected genetic heart condition. The obituary described his heart as large and loving.
Minnesota Football Player Ryan Reed Pronounced Dead
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 09: Fans rush the field as the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrate on the field after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions, 31-26, at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Reed's obituary reported that the athletic training team immediately performed CPR to regain his pulse, and the ICU staff at St. Mary's-Duluth hospital did everything possible to regain his consciousness. However, they were not able to recover his pulse.
UMD head football coach Curt Wiese said that the staff and other players were devastated by Reed's passing. He said that Reed pushed himself to be better every day at whatever task was at hand.
He added, "Reed helped bring out the best in others with his positive attitude, infectious smile, and genuine care for the people around him. We were fortunate to have Reed on our team, and he made our program, our department, and our community a better place in a short period of time."
UMD director of athletics Forrest Karr released a statement and said that Reed positively impacted many people. He described Reed as a kind, caring, thoughtful young man who enjoyed bringing people together.
Reed received the 2018 Tim Kumrie Award, an award given to the most outstanding high school senior defensive lineman in Wisconsin. He was also named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year before spending four years on a full scholarship with the North Dakota State University football team.
Reed helped the North Dakota State team win two NCAA Division I AA FCS National Championships in 2019 and 2021. He was also labeled a high school wrestler, achieving 100 career wins in four years.
Cardiac Arrest Among Athletes
According to NBC News, Bronny James, the son of NBA great LeBron James, was rushed to a hospital as he suffered a similar cardiac arrest due to an underlying congenital heart defect in July.
The family spokesperson of James said his heart defect was a treatable condition that would not keep James from his promising basketball career. He collapsed at a University of Southern California basketball team workout but was immediately cleared to return to the court.
In January, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin also suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during his 'Monday Night Football' game. The medical staff on the field performed CPR, and Hamlin survived, who had already returned to the game.
The Buffalo Bills tweeted on X, formerly Twitter, that Hamlin's brain function appeared to be in good condition following days of uncertainty and worry after his cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Related Article: NFL Player Matt Ulrich Dead at 41
