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“Saddened”: Patriots & Giants Mourn Tragic Death on Draft Day 1 as Ex-NFL OT Korey Cunningham Passes Away

Published 04/26/2024, 1:27 PM EDT

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Former offensive tackle for the New York Giants, Korey Cunningham passed away on April 25, 2024, at around 3:30 PM local time at his Clifton, New Jersey residence. At just 28 years of age, he reportedly died due to a self-inflicted cause. A family member called the police after receiving no response from him, after which his body was removed from the property by the State Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

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The New York Giants and the New England Patriots both took to their social media handles to mourn the offensive lineman who contributed proactively to their runs during the late and early 2020s. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham. He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room,” wrote the former on X (formerly Twitter), for whom he had appeared for a total of 13 NFL games between the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

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Playing a total of 12 games over two seasons for the Patriots, Cunningham played a role in their 2019 playoff run. Remembering the same, the team extended their “heartfelt sympathies” to Cunningham. Furthermore, several of his former teammates poured their condolences and expressed their remembrance of his positivity and cheerful attitude with Justin Pugh even bringing to light how the late soul joined them for team dinners, even after his severance.

In a career spanning years, the athlete played his hand with significant contributions to the sport during his professional career.

The legacy and career of Korey Cunnigham

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Towering to a formidable 6-foot-6 and weighing over 311 pounds, the Alabama athlete started his career by playing college football for Cincinnati. Korey Cunnigham made his big splash when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. A year later, he followed a trade to the Patriots and made himself come across as a dependable offensive lineman under the mentorship of Bill Belichick.

In 2021, he signed on to the practice squad of the New York Giants with an active promotion soon after. However, his contract was terminated a year down the line but was again re-signed by the team as a reserve/future contract until his release on August 2023 after which he stayed off the field. With six starts and a total of 31 NFL games throughout his career, Cunningham found a dedicated place as a team player with the ability to step up when called upon.

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Written by:

Imteshal Karim

6Articles

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Edited by:

Garima Yadav