Former Tennessee Titans guard Mitch Petrus dead at 32

Former Tennessee Titans guard Mitch Petrus has tragically passed away. He was only 32.

Some terrible news to pass along, as former Tennessee Titans guard Mitch Petrus has died at the age of 32.

Petrus was pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday after being taken to the Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock for a heat-related illness, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The Pulaski County Coroner, Gerone Hobbs, listed the cause of death as heat stroke. According to the report, Petrus fell ill after working outside and in his family’s shop all day in Lonoke County.

The National Weather service had issued a heat advisory that day, with temperatures reaching the mid- to low-90’s, and a heat index that made it feel upwards of 100 degrees or more.

Petrus was drafted in 2010 in the fifth round (147th overall) by the New York Giants out of Arkansas. He spent two seasons with the Giants from 2010 through 2011, playing in 23 games (three starts).

Petrus also played in Super Bowl XLVI and earned a ring after the Giants’ victory over the New England Patriots that season.

In 2012, Petrus played for three teams, including the Giants (six games), the Patriots (two games) and Tennessee Titans (two games). He made one start for Tennessee, the last team he would play for in his NFL career. He retired in 2013.

Petrus was a walk-on at Arkansas, where he tried his hand at  tight end, linebacker and fullback. He finally stuck on the offensive line and thrived. Petrus was voted All-SEC as a guard in 2007 and in 2009, when he did not allow a sack that season.

Stories like this are absolutely gut-wrenching. It cannot be put into words how horribly tragic and sad this is for such a young man to lose his life.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this most difficult time.