Former New Orleans Saints Linebacker Reportedly Dead at 32
Ronald Powell, former linebacker for the New Orleans Saints reportedly died on Monday at age 32. Per TMZ, Powell's former University of Florida college football teammate Junior Galette broke the news on social media, but his cause of death is presently unknown.
"I love you forever 'til we meet again an excellent father, respected brother and a loving son," Galette posted on X, formerly Twitter. "I am saddened to shared with the rest of the world that Ronald Powell transitioned earlier today. REST IN POWER RONALD POWELL."
I Love You Forever till we meet again an EXCELLENT FATHER Respected Brother and a Loving Son I am saddened to shared with the rest of the world that Ronald Powell Transitioned Earlier today. REST IN POWER RONALD POWELL ….. pic.twitter.com/Rx9dS7J4S5
— SACKMAN LIVES (@JuniorGalette93) January 15, 2024
An alumni of Rancho Verde High School in California, Powell was the No. 1 ranked high school recruit in the class of 2010 regardless of position, accepting a scholarship to play with the Florida Gators. He became a regular starter in his sophomore year, before tearing his ACL twice in his junior year.
Following his college football career, Powell was Drafted by the Saints for the 2014 season, where he played in 14 games. After being released by the Saints in 2015, he was subsequently signed to the practice squads of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, Chicago Bears in September 2016, and Seattle Seahawks in December 2016, but never made it back as a season player.
Before the league ceased operations, in 2018 Powell signed with the Alliance of American Football's Orlando Apollos for the 2019 season, but was placed on the waived/injured list that January.
Off the field, Powell was by all accounts a dedicated father to his children, a son and a daughter, who he regularly shared photos of on Instagram.