Adrian Dingle, a former defensive end for the San Diego Chargers, passed away on November 8. He was 45 years old.
Although his cause of death hasn’t been published yet, his fiance Amy Bell has spoken to People Magazine about the days following his passing and all of the love and support that’s come from Dingle’s teammates and friends. She said that Adrian was “so much more than football,” despite that being what many knew him for.
“In the few short days since his passing, I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of stories and memories. The common theme is his infectious smile and his selfless love. I’ve never met any other person who could meet someone once and go on to be a groomsman in a wedding. His smile will live on through his gorgeous babies who loved their daddy beyond measure,” Bell told the outlet.
The support has flowed through social media from people who knew him well. Marcellus Wiley, one of his former teammates, wrote on Twitter, “
RIP to my teammate @AdrianDingle. We were just hanging, laughing, swapping war stories, and talking family. Rest easy, big dog!”He added a photo along with his words of Dingle being honored as a Chargers legend.
Dingle’s college football career began at Clemson University in South Carolina, and the team announced the news of his passing became public.
“Clemson Football mourns the passing of former defensive end Adrian Dingle,” They attached an article written honoring his accomplishments at the school through the game and the impact he left on the University.
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Dingle was a fifth-round draft pick, brought on to the San Diego Chargers in 1999 as a defensive end. He was an active player for five seasons before he retired in 2004.