Matt Ulrich, Former NFL Player, Dead At Age 41

Football player and NFL star, former offensive guard for the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Ulrich has died at the age of 41.

"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich. Matt was with us only two seasons, but left his mark on many. Great guy, I hear he was a great dad—and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family."

Matt is survived by his wife Alison, and four sons. No cause of death has been revealed.

He started off playing football at Northwestern University, before signing with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

The team went on to beat the Chicago Bears in 2007, winning the Super Bowl Championship.

Matt retired that year after playing for two seasons.

"Seeing the confetti come down Colts colors and being able to hold the Lombardi Trophy, everyone being on the field, I had to remind myself to take one moment for myself," he said in 2019.

"It was good advice I got from someone that, if you do win it, take that last moment to look back at the tunnel and just look at the scoreboard, look at the field, and just know you're at the pinnacle of sports. And that's quite an awesome feeling."

After leaving the NFL, he settled down with his family, and co-founded DexaFit, a national network of centers offering body fat testing and metabolic analysis.

He was also managing director and partner with Profitable Ideas Exchange, a community of "unique individuals with many lived experiences." 

It included former NFL players, movie producers and Peace Corp volunteers, who all aim to "drive meaningful, intimate conversations among leaders in business, non-profits, and non-government organizations looking to solve their most pressing challenges."

He also served as player advisor for the Harvard Football Players Health Study, a research program that "examines the multifactorial causes that impact the health and wellbeing of former NFL players."

He has been mourned publicly by a teammate from Northwestern. 

"My heart is broken. My lineman brother. My NU brother. One of the best hearts you could ever hope to be around. Helped me to become the player I became. RIP Chesty."