Retired NFL wide receiver Terry Glenn has passed away at the age of 43.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver spent time with the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys over the course of his 12-year career.
Glenn passed away at Parkland Memorial Hospital following a car crash in Dallas early Monday morning.
The news was confirmed moments ago by Fort-Worth Star Telegram columnist Mac Engel, who tweeted:
“Member of Irving FD told me that former #Cowboys #Patriots & #OhioSt WR Terry Glenn was killed in a car wreck in Irving.”
After surviving a tumultuous childhood, during which his mother was beaten to death when Glenn was just 13 years old, Glenn earned an athletic scholarship to Ohio State University, where he was named an All-American.
Following three standout seasons with the Buckeyes, Glenn was chosen by the New England Patriots as the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft.
Though plagued by injuries throughout his career, Glenn turned in multiple 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999.
Glenn famously caught Tom Brady’s first touchdown pass during that same season.
In the later years of his career and after being released by the Cowboys in 2008, Glenn struggled in his personal life, getting arrested five times on charges ranging from public intoxication to assault of the mother of his first son.
He managed to turn things around in his final years, re-entering the football world as offensive coordinator of the Texas Revolution of the Champions Indoor Football League in 2015.
Tributes to Glenn from fans, friends, and former teammates have been pouring in on social media:
“Incredibly sad to hear about my buddy Terry Glenn. Overcame a ton of adversity to become an excellent person. May your soul rest in peace my friend,” tweeted former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
“Awful news on Terry Glenn…most gifted receiver I’ve ever played with,” wrote another former Pats QB, Scott Zolak.
Glenn is survived by his wife and three children.
Our thoughts go out to the family of Terry Glenn during this difficult time.
