List of sports people who have died during their playing career

This is a list of sports people who have died either during their playing career or due to career-ending injury or disease at an age when they could still have been playing. It includes both on-the-field and off-the-field deaths, although there are separate lists for the former in sports which have an especially high number. People who had announced their retirement from sport despite still being at an age when they could still been playing are not listed.

Air sport

Does not include those who died in aircraft sport crashes such as aerobatics and air racing. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to "List of people who died in aviation-related incidents".
* Carl Boenish
* Patrick de Gayardon
* Rob Harris, American skydiver
* Roger Nelson

American football

Pro Football

Arena Football League

* Al Lucas, Los Angeles Avengers, fatal neck injury, 2005
* Justin Skaggs, Utah Blaze, wide receiver, brain cancer, 2007

Arenafootball 2

* Julian Yearwood, Bakersfield Blitz, collapsed on the field

National Football League

Includes players who left the NFL for active military service.

* Jeff Alm, DT, Houston Oilers, suicide, 1993
* Ralph Anderson, WR, San Diego Chargers, diabetic reaction, 1960
* Eric Andolsek, OG, Detroit Lions, car accident, 1992
* Troy Archer, DE, New York Giants, car accident, 1979
* Brad Beckman, TE, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1989
* Leon Bender, DT, Oakland Raiders, seizure, 1998
* Al Blozis, OT, New York Giants, died in World War II, 1945
* Jerome Brown, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, car accident, 1992
* Brandon Burlsworth, OL, Indianapolis Colts, car accident, 1999
* J.V. Cain, TE, St. Louis Cardinals, heart attack, 1979
* Rusty Chambers, LB, Miami Dolphins, car accident, 1980
* David Croudip, DB, Atlanta Falcons, drug overdose, 1988
* Rodney Culver, RB, San Diego Chargers, plane crash, 1996
* Shane Curry, DL, Indianapolis Colts, homicide, 1992
* Ernie Davis, Syracuse running back, leukemia
* Joe Delaney, RB, Kansas City Chiefs, drowned trying to save 3 children in a pond, 1983
* Willie Galimore, RB, Chicago Bears, car accident, 1964
* Howard Glenn, OG, New York Titans, neck injury, 1960
* Larry Gordon, LB, Miami Dolphins, heart attack while jogging, 1983
* David Griggs, LB, San Diego Chargers, car accident, 1995
* Mack Lee Hill, FB, Kansas City Chiefs, pulmonary embolism, 1965
* Marquise Hill, DE, New England Patriots, drowned, 2007
* Chuck Hughes, WR, Detroit Lions, heart attack during a game, 1971
* Stone Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs, neck injury, 1963
* Bob Kalsu, OL, Buffalo Bills, killed in Vietnam War, 1970
* Fred Lane, RB, Carolina Panthers, homicide, 2000
* Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers, drug overdose, 1963
* Stan Mauldin, T, Arizona Cardinals, heart attack, 1948
* Damien Nash, RB, Denver Broncos, collapsed and died after a charity basketball game, 2007
* Ralph Norwood, OT, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1989
* David Overstreet, RB, Miami Dolphins, car accident, 1984
* Brian Piccolo, FB, Chicago Bears, embryonal cell carcinoma, 1970
* Don Rogers, FS, Cleveland Browns, drug overdose, 1986
* Dave Sparks, DT, Washington Redskins, heart attack, 1954
* Andy Spiva, LB, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1978
* Korey Stringer, OT, Minnesota Vikings, heat stroke during practice, 2001
* Sean Taylor, FS, Washington Redskins, homicide, 2007
* Derrick Thomas, LB, Kansas City Chiefs, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in a car accident, 2000
* Pat Tillman, DB, Arizona Cardinals, killed in war in Afghanistan, 2004
* Stacey Toran, DB, Oakland Raiders, car accident, 1989
* Eric Turner, DB, Oakland Raiders, stomach cancer, 2000
* Darrent Williams, CB, Denver Broncos, homicide, 2007

NFL Europa

* Thomas Herrion, OG, San Francisco 49ers/Hamburg Sea Devils, heart failure, 2005
* Donald Sellers, WR, Scottish Claymores, road accident, 2001

XFL

* Troy Stark, OL, New York/New Jersey Hitmen, complications from surgery, 2001

College football

NCAA football

* Eraste Autin, University of Florida, fullback, heat stroke
* Marlin Barnes, University of Miami, homicide
* Brook Berringer, Nebraska Cornhuskers, quarterback, plane crash
* Taylor Bradford, Memphis Tigers, defensive tackle, homicide
* Mario Danelo, USC kicker, accident
* Butch Duhe, Louisiana State University, brain hemorrhage
* Keeley Dorsey, University of South Florida Bulls, long QT syndrome
* George Gipp, Notre Dame, infection
* Vernon Grant, Oklahoma State University, car crash
* Chucky Mullins, University of Mississippi, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision in a game vs. Vanderbilt
* Aaron O'Neil, University of Missouri, defensive back, heat stroke
* Bryan Pata, University of Miami, homicide
* Shannon Smith, University of Hawaii kicker, drowned
* Freddie Steinmark, University of Texas, defensive back, bone cancer
* Jack Trice, Iowa State University, lung hemorrhage and internal bleeding due to injuries sustained in game against the University of Minnesota
* Rashidi Wheeler, Northwestern University defensive back, heat stroke
* Curtis Williams, University of Washington, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision

Canadian football

* Tom Pate, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, linebacker, brain aneurysm, 1975
* Travis Claridge, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Offensive Guard, acute pneumonia, 2006

Athletics

* Abebe Bikila, Ethiopian long distance runner, complications from spinal cord injury suffered in a car crash
*Lillian Board, British sprinter, 400m and middle distance runner, cancer
* Maria Cioncan, Romanian middle distance runner, car accident
* Ivo Van Damme, Belgian middle distance runner, car accident
*Foy Draper, American sprinter, military actions during World War II (during Battle of Kasserine Pass)
* Pål Arne Fagernes, Norwegian javelin thrower, car accident
*Rudolf Harbig, German middle distance runner, military actions during World War II
* Yutaka Kanai, Japanese long distance runner, car accident
*Wilhelm Leichum, German jumper and sprinter, military actions during World War II
* Luz Long, German jumper, military actions during World War II
*Sueo Ōe, Japanese pole vaulter, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/oe/sueo-oe-1.html]
* Wesly Ngetich, Kenyan long distance runner, murdered in the Kenyan political crisis' riots
* Steve Prefontaine, American long distance runner, car crash
* Bob Roggy, American Javelin Thrower, car accident.
* Ryan Shay, American long distance runner, collapsed during the US Olympic marathon trials
* Tomoyuki Taniguchi, Japanese long distance runner, car accident
*Kokichi Tsuburaya, Japanese long distance runner, suicide
*Hans Woellke, German shot putter, military actions during World War II. [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wo/hans-woellke-1.html]

Australian rules football

* Troy Broadbridge, Melbourne defender, swept out to sea and drowned in the 2004 Asian Tsunami, 2004
* Peter Crimmins, Hawthorn rover, testicular cancer, 1976
* Ron Doig, Sr, South Fremantle, on field injury, 1932
* Brian Gilmore, Footscray premiership player, car accident, 1959
* Darren Millane, Collingwood wingman, car accident, 1991
* Fred Phillips, St Kilda utility, blood poisoning, 1933
* Les Witto, Carlton defender, tetanus, 1926

Baseball

Players/umpires with an asterisk (*) are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Minor-league players are listed with their major-league affiliations.

* Harry Agganis, 1B, Boston Red Sox, blood clot, 1955
* Steve Bechler, P, Baltimore Orioles, complications from use of Ephedra, 2003
* Tony Boeckel, 3B, Boston Braves, car crash, 1924
* Tiny Bonham, P, Pittsburgh Pirates, appendicitis, 1949
* Lyman Bostock, OF, California Angels, homicide, 1978
* Hal Carlson, P, Chicago Cubs, stomach hemorrhage, 1930
* Ray Chapman, SS, Cleveland Indians, hit by pitch in game, 1920
* Nestor Chavez, P, San Francisco Giants, plane crash with Carlos Santeliz, 1969
* Roberto Clemente*, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, plane crash, 1972
* Brian Cole, OF, New York Mets (never played in MLB, but was announced that he made the MLB roster prior to his death), car accident, 2001
* Tim Crews, RP, Cleveland Indians (never played a regular season game with team), boat accident with Steve Olin and Bobby Ojeda, 1993
* Mike Darr, OF, San Diego Padres, car accident, 2002
* Jake Daubert, 1B, Cincinnati Reds, appendicitis, 1924
* Ed Delahanty*, OF, Washington Senators, swept over Niagara Falls, 1903
* Lou DiMuro, Umpire, American League, car accident, 1982
* Paul Edmondson, P, Chicago White Sox, car accident, 1970
* Danny Frisella, P, Milwaukee Brewers, dune buggy accident, 1977
* Tom Gastall, C, Baltimore Orioles, plane crash, 1956
* Elmer Gedeon, OF, Washington Senators, died in World War II, 1944
* Eddie Grant, 2B, New York Giants, died in World War I, 1918
* Josh Hancock, P, St. Louis Cardinals, car accident, 2007
* Willard Hershberger, C, Cincinnati Reds, suicide, 1940
* Herm Hill, OF, Minnesota Twins, drowned, 1970
* Dick Howser, Manager, Kansas City Royals, brain cancer, 1987
* Ken Hubbs, 2B, Chicago Cubs, plane crash, 1964
* Addie Joss* , P, Cincinnati Reds, meningitis, 1911
* Joe Kennedy, P, Toronto Blue Jays, hypertensive heart disease, 2007
* Darryl Kile, P, St. Louis Cardinals, heart defect, 2002
* Len Koenecke, OF, Brooklyn Dodgers, homicide, 1935
* Walter "Peck" Lerian, C, Philadelphia Phillies, car accident, 1929
* Cory Lidle, P, New York Yankees, plane crash, 2006
* Dan McGann, 1B, New York Giants, suicide, 1910
* Austin McHenry, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, brain tumor, 1922
* John McSherry, Umpire, National League, heart attack during Cincinnati Reds Opening Day game vs. Montreal Expos, 1996
* Mike Miley, SS, California Angels, off road vehicle accident, 1977
* Bob Moose, P, Pittsburgh Pirates, car accident, 1976
* Donnie Moore, P, California Angels, suicide, 1989
* Thurman Munson, C, New York Yankees, plane crash, 1979
* Steve Olin, P, Cleveland Indians, boat accident with Tim Crews and Bobby Ojeda, 1993
* Harry O'Neill, C, Philadelphia Athletics, died in World War II, 1945
* Gus Polidor, Infielder, Montreal Expos, murdered during robbery, 1995
* Charlie Peete, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, plane crash, 1956
* Doc Powers, C, Philadelphia Athletics, gangrene, 1909
* Carlos Santeliz, Atlanta Braves, plane crash with Nestor Chavez, 1969
* Mike Sharperson, IF, San Diego Padres, car accident, 1996
* Urban Shocker, P, New York Yankees, pneumonia, 1928
* Danny Thompson, IF, Texas Rangers, leukemia, 1976
* Jim Umbricht, P, Houston Colt .45's, lymphoma, 1964
* Lee Weyer, Umpire, National League, heart attack, 1988
* Don Wilson, P, Houston Astros, accidental, 1975
* Cliff Young, P, Cleveland Indians, car accident, 1993

Basketball

USA

NBA

* Ricky Berry, Sacramento Kings, suicide
* Len Bias, Boston Celtics, drug overdose
* Jason Collier, Atlanta Hawks, cardiac arrest
* Terry Furlow, Utah Jazz, car accident
* Eddie Griffin, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident
* Wendell Ladner, New Jersey Nets, ABA, plane crash
* Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtics, NBA, heart failure
* Conrad McRae, Orlando Magic (summer league), collapsed and died
* Dražen Petrović, New Jersey Nets, car accident
* Bobby Phills, Charlotte Hornets, car accident
* Malik Sealy, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident
* Nick Vanos, Phoenix Suns, plane crash

NCAA (men)

* Patrick Dennehy, Baylor Bears, homicide
* Ryan Francis, USC Trojans, homicide
* Hank Gathers, Loyola Marymount Lions, cardiac arrest
* Chris Street, Iowa Hawkeyes, car accident

WNBA

* Kim Perrot, Houston Comets, cancer

NCAA (women)

* Shawntinice Polk, University of Arizona, cardiac arrest

International

* Alphonso Ford, Olympiacos, A1 Ethniki (Greece) and Euroleague, leukemia

Boxing

Deaths in the Ring

* Pedro Alcazar, Panamanian super flyweight, injuries sustained in a bout against Fernando Montiel
* Simon Byrne, bareknuckle boxer, injuries sustained in a bout with James Burke
* Yo-Sam Choi, Korean Light-flyweight, died from injuries sustained in a bout with Heri Amol
* Leavander Johnson, American lightweight, died after a bout with Jesús Chávez
* Duk-Koo Kim, Korean lightweight killed in a bout with Ray Mancini
* Alexander McKay, bareknuckle boxer, died of a brain haemorrhage after fighting Simon Byrne
* Davey Moore, American featherweight, died after a bout with Sugar Ramos
* James Murray, British bantamweight, died after a bout with Drew Docherty
* Johnny Owen - British bantamweight, died as a result of injuries sustained seven weeks earlier in a fight with Lupe Pintor
* Kevin Payne, American welterweight, died after an eight-round bout with Ryan Maraldo
* Benny "Kid" Paret, Cuban welterweight, died as a result of injuries sustained in a fight with Emile Griffith
* Martín Sánchez, Mexican super featherweight, died after being knocked out by Rustam Nugaev
* Hayes Edward “Big Ed” Sanders, American Olympic champion, died during a heavyweight bout with Willie James
* Angelito Sisnorio, Filipino lightweight, sustained injuries after a 3 fights from January to his death on March
* Robert Wangila, Kenyan welterweight, died from injuries sustained in a bout with David Gonzales
* Frankie Campbell, American Heavyweight, died from head injuries sustained in a 10 round bout with Max Baer

Deaths outside the Ring

* Pancho Villa, Filipino world flyweight champion, Ludwig's angina
* Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena, Argentine heavyweight, homicide
* Marcel Cerdan, French middleweight champion, killed in plane crash
* Billy Collins, car accident resulting from injuries sustained in a rigged fight
* Diego Corrales, American super featherweight and lightweight champion, motorcycle accident
* Carlos Cruz, Dominican lightweight champion, killed in plane crash
*Michael Murach, German welterweight Olympic champion, military actions during World War II. [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/michael-murach-1.html]
* Jay Newby - British and International Middleweight champion, died of an AIDS related illness
* Salvador Sánchez, Mexican featherweight world champion, car accident
* Mzukisi Sikali, South African flyweight, homicide

Bullfighting

* Juanito Apinani, Spanish bullfighter, broken neck
* José Falcón, Portuguese bullfighter, injuries sustained after being gored by a bull named "Cucharero"
* José Gómez Ortega, Spanish bullfighter, gored to death by a bull
* Felix Guzman, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained when gored by a bull named "Reventón" during a bullfight
* Manolete, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained when following a goring in the right upper leg by a bull named "Islero" during a bullfight in Linares, Jaén
* Nimeño II, French bullfighter, suicide
* Paquirri, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained after being gored by a bull named "Avispado" in Pozoblanco
* Ernesto Pastor, Puerto Rican bullfighter, injuries sustained by a bull during a bullfight
* Jean-Pierre Rachou, French bull leaper, injuries sustained a bull's horn, when it tore his femoral artery
* Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, Spanish bullfighter, gored to death by a bull

Cricket

* Cyril Christiani, West Indies, malaria
* Stanley de Silva, Sri Lanka, motorcycle accident
* Ian Folley, English cricketer, heart attack after being hit in the face by a ball during a game
* Fred Grace, pneumonia
* Sajjadul Hasan, Bangladesh, motorcycle accident
* Ben Hollioake, England, car accident
* Archie Jackson, Australia, tuberculosis
* Graham Kersey, Surrey, car accident
* Raman Lamba, India, died of internal haemorrhage suffered after being hit by a ball during a game
* Trevor Madondo, Zimbabwe, malaria
* Scott Mason, Tasmania, heart attack while training
* Manjural Islam Rana, Bangladesh, motorcycle accident
* Umer Rashid, Sussex, drowned in Grenada
* Sadashiv Shinde, India, typhoid
* Wilf Slack, England, collapsed and died while playing cricket in Gambia
* Collie Smith, West Indies, car accident
* Claude Tozer, New South Wales, homicide
* Ken Wadsworth, New Zealand, skin cancer
* Hansie Cronje, South Africa, Plane Crash

Association Football

Does not include footballers who died on the pitch during a game or training, or because of injuries or other health issues suffered on the pitch. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to the article List of footballers who died while playing.
* Martin Aldridge, English forward, car accident
* George Allan, Scottish forward, tuberculosis
* Schalwa Apchasawa, Georgian striker, heart attack
* Georgi Asparuhov, Bulgarian striker, car accident
* Valerio Bacigalupo, Italian goalkeeper Superga air disaster
* Aldo Ballarin, Italian defender, Superga air disaster
* Dino Ballarin, Italian goalkeeper, Superga air disaster
* Maurice Banach, German striker, car accident
* Patrick Banda, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster
* Elson Becerra, Colombian striker, homicide
* Geoff Bent, English defender, Munich air disaster
* Milo Bongiorni, French midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Luc Borrelli, French goalkeeper, car accident
* Othman Boughanmi, Tunisian defender, heart defect
* Gary Bownes, Irish striker, suicide
* Robert Bradley, English defender, died during his sleep
* Tom Bradshaw, English winger, consumption
* Roger Byrne, English defender, Munich air disaster
* Peter Cargill, Jamaican midfielder, car accident
* Eusebio Castigliano, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Ramiro Castillo, Bolivian midfielder, suicide
* Luciano Re Cecconi, Italian midfielder, shot during practical joke
* David Efford Chabala, Zambian goalkeeper, Gabon air disaster
* Whiteson Changwe, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
* Wisdom Mumba Chansa, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Moses Chikwalakwala, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Samuel Chomba, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
* Dave Clement, English defender, suicide
* Dan Coe, Romanian winger, reportedly suicide
* Ludo Coeck, Belgian midfielder, car accident
* Eddie Colman, English midfielder, Munich air disaster
* Ernie Cooksey, English midfielder, skin cancer
* Federico Crescentini, San Marinese defender, drowned
* Laurie Cunningham, English striker, car accident
* Vitaly Daraselia, Soviet striker, car accident
* Alan Davies, Welsh winger, suicide
* Jimmy Davis, English winger, car accident
* Ruud Degenaar, Dutch-Suriname defender, Surinam air disaster
* Kazimierz Deyna, Polish midfielder, car accident
* Vladimir Dimitrijević, Serbian defender, heart attack
* Stan Docking, English midfielder, heart attack
* Lloyd Doesburg, Dutch-Suriname goalkeeper, Surinam air disaster
* Steve van Dorpel, Dutch-Suriname striker, Surinam air disaster
* Marcio Dos Santos, Peruvian striker, heart attack
* Angus Douglas, Scottish winger, flu
* Peter Dubovský, Slovakian striker, diving accident
* Edivaldo, Brazilian striker, car accident
* Duncan Edwards, English midfielder, Munich air disaster
* Andrés Escobar, Colombian defender, homicide
* Rubens Fadini, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Rommel Fernandez, Panamanian striker, car accident
* Aaron Flahavan, English goalkeeper, car accident
* Milton Flores, Honduran goalkeeper, homicide
* Andrea Fortunato, Italian defender, leukemia
* Wendel Fräser, Dutch-Suriname forward, Surinam air disaster
* Guglielmo Gabetto, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
*Hubert Gad, Polish forward, swimming accident
* Niccolò Galli, Italian defender, motorbike accident
* Lenar Gilmullin, Russian defender, motorcycle accident
* Frits Goodings, Dutch-Suriname player, Surinam air disaster
* Tommy Goodwill, English midfielder, victim of World War I
* Ruggero Grava, French striker, Superga air disaster
* Giuseppe Grezar, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Jerry Haatrecht, Dutch-Suriname player, Superga air disaster
* Jeff Hall, English full-back, polio
* Jimmy Hampson, English striker, boating accident
* Austin Hayes, English winger, lung cancer
* Conrad Hendricks, South African goalkeeper, car accident
* Dean Horrix, English striker, car accident
* Peter Houseman, English midfielder, car accident
* Ralph Hunt, English striker, car accident
* Virgall Joemankhan, Dutch-Suriname player, Surinam air disaster
* Mark Jones, English defender, Munich air disaster
* Ray Jones, English striker, car accident
* Rolston Jones, Trinidad and Tobagan, shot dead
* Godfrey Kangwa, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Ihab Kareem, Iraqi midfielder, injuries from bombing
* Oliver King-Onzila, English midfielder, stab wounds
*Alexei Klimenko, Soviet, execution by German soldiers during World War II (see "The Death Match")
* Andro Knel, Dutch-Suriname midfielder, Surinam air disaster
* Ruben Kogeldans, Dutch-Suriname defender, Surinam air disaster
*Nikolai Korotkykh, Soviet, execution by German soldiers during World War II (see "The Death Match")
* Nikola Kotkov, Bulgarian striker, car accident
* Marek Krejčí, Slovak striker, car accident
*Ernst Künz, Austrian, military action during World War II
*Ivan Kuzmenko, Soviet, execution by German soldiers during World War II (see "The Death Match")
* Adam Ledwoń, Polish midfielder, suicide
* Gift Leremi, South African midfielder, car accident
* Ortwin Linger, Dutch-Suriname defender, Surinam air disaster
* Ezio Loik, Itlaian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Michael Maidens, English midfielder, car accident
* Derby Makinka, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Stephen Malcolm, Jamaican midfielder, car accident
* Lesley Manyathela, South African striker, car accident
* Virgilio Maroso, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Danilo Martelli, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Moses Masuwa, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster
* Jason Mayélé, Congolese striker, car accident
* Valentino Mazzola, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
* Norrie McCathie, Scottish defender, carbon monoxide poisoning (accident)
* Tommy Meehan, English half-back, encephalitis lethargica
* Romeo Menti, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
* Vittorio Mero, Italian defender, car accident
* Michael Millett, English defender, car accident
* Gionata Mingozzi, Italian midfielder, car accident
* Damián Lucas Molina, Argentine goalkeeper, respiratory problems caused by heart defect
* Emiliano Molina, Argentine goalkeeper, car accident
* Lester Morgan, Costa Rican goalkeeper, suicide
* Eston Mulenga, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Winter Mumba, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
* Kelvin Mutale, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster
* Richard Mwanza, Zambian goalkeeper, Gabon air disaster
* Numba Mwila, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
* Timothy Mwitwa, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster
* Alan Nicholls, English goalkeeper, motorcycle accident
* Piero Operto, Italian defender, Superga air disaster
* Franco Ossola, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
* Fred Patrick, Dutch-Suriname midfielder, Surinam air disaster
* Simon Patterson, English striker, car accident
* David Pegg, English winger, Munich air disaster
* Mark Philo, English defender, car accident
* Federico Pisani, Italian striker, car accident
* Danijel Popović, Croatian midfielder, car accident
* Kiyan Prince, English youth team midfielder, homicide
* Aurel Radulescu, Romanian defender, died jumping off a moving train
* Avi Ran, Israeli goalkeeper, hit by speed boat
* Mel Rees, Welsh goalkeeper, cancer
* Mario Rigamonti, Italian midfielder, Superga air disaster
* Rogério Oliveira, Brazilian striker, heart attack
* Nick Ross, Scottish defender, consumption/tuberculosis
* Andy Scharmin, Dutch-Suriname defender, Surinam air disaster
* Julius Schubert, Hungarian striker, Superga air disaster
* Kenan Simambe, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
* George Smith, English defender/striker, heart attack
* John Soko, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
* Nick Stienstra, Dutch-Suriname player, Surinam air disaster
* François Sterchele, Belgian striker, car accident
* Sándor Szűcs, Hungarian international defender, execution by the communist regime for defection (banned border-crossing)
* Tommy Taylor, English striker, Munich air disaster
* Otilino Tenorio, Ecuadorian striker, car accident
* Alfredo Tomassini, Peruvian midfielder, drowned
* David Di Tommaso, French midfielder, heart attack
* Mickey Trotman, Trinidad and Tobagan midfielder, car accident
*Nikolai Trusevich, Soviet goalkeeper, execution by German soldiers during World War II (see "The Death Match")
* Petea Valcov, Romanian striker, died on the Eastern Front
* Ferry van Vliet, Dutch midfielder, car accident
* Edy Vasquez, Honduran midfielder, car accident
* Elfried Veldman, Dutch-Suriname midfielder, Surinam air disaster
* Florian Vijent, Dutch-Suriname goalkeeper, Surinam air disaster
* Wang Donglei, Chinese midfielder, car accident
*Karl Wallmüller, Austrian, military action during World War II
* Robert Watiyakeni, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
*Walter Werginz, Austrian, military action during World War II
* Liam Whelan, Irish striker, Munich air disaster
* John White, Scottish midfielder, hit by lightning
* Whayne Wilson, Costa Rican striker, car accident
* Mikhail Yeremin, Soviet goalkeeper, car accident
* Gábor Zavadszky, Hungarian midfielder, embolism
* Hicham Zerouali, Moroccan striker, car accident

=Horse Racing (Jockey)=

Does not include those who died in riding accident such as equestrian or horse racing, as there is a separate list for such, please refer to "List of horse accidents".
* Chris Antley, American jockey, drug overdose
* Silvio Coucci, American jockey, suicide
* Ron Hansen, American jockey, car accident
* Frank Hayes, American jockey, died from a heart attack while riding his horse Sweet Kiss to victory at Belmont Park
* Don MacBeth, Canadian jockey, cancer

Ice hockey

* Don Ashby, NHL, car accident
* Bill Barilko, NHL, plane crash
* Jeff Batters, NHL, car accident
* Michel Briere, NHL, car accident
* Luc Bourdon, NHL, motorcycle accident
* Steve Chiasson, NHL, car accident/drunk driving
* Jonathan Delisle, NHL, car accident
* Yanick Dupre, NHL, leukemia
* Bob Gassoff, NHL, alcohol-related motorcycle accident
* Joe Hall, NHL, pneumonia related to influenza
* Tim Horton, NHL, car accident
* Peter Karlsson (ice hockey), Swedish hockey player, homicide
* Valery Kharlamov, Soviet hockey player, car accident
* John Kordic, NHL, cocaine overdose
* Pelle Lindbergh, NHL, car accident
* Roman Lyashenko, NHL, suicide
* Duncan MacPherson, hockey, snowboarding accident in Austria, body found frozen in 2003
* Bill Masterton, NHL, on-ice brain hemorrhage from a check by Larry Cahan and Ron Harris
* Howie Morenz, NHL, blood clot from broken leg
* Stephane Morin, hockey, heart attack
* Terry Sawchuk, NHL, heart failure from blood clot
* Babe Siebert, NHL, drowning accident
* Dan Snyder, NHL, injuries from a car accident with teammate Dany Heatley
* Dmitri Tertyshny, NHL, boating accident
* Georges Vezina, NHL, advanced tuberculosis
* Sergei Zholtok, NHL, heart failure

Martial arts

* André Brilleman, Dutch kickboxer, gang related murder [ [http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/KlaasBruinsma.html Gangsters Incorporated - Klaas "De Dominee" Bruinsma ] ]
*Shelby Walker, American Mixed-martial artist, prescription pill overdose
*Evan Tanner, American Mixed-martial artist, [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/mma/09/09/tanner.obit/]
*Jeremy Williams, American Mixed-martial artist, suicide

Motorsport

Auto racing

Does not include race car drivers who died in race or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to "List of racing drivers who died in racing crashes".

* Davey Allison, NASCAR driver, helicopter crash at Talledega Superspeedway
* Edgar Barth, Formula One and sportscar racing driver, cancer [ [http://www.historicracing.com/drivers_died_year.cfm?driverID=2160&decyear=1960&died_year=1965&#dytop Historic Motor Racing - historicracing.com ] ]
* Georges Boillot, Grand Prix motor racing driver, military action during World War I
* Charlie Bradberry, NASCAR driver, car accident
* Tony Brise, Formula One driver, plane crash
* Richard Burns, World Rally Champion in 2001, brain tumour
* Peter Gregg, sportscar racer, suicide
* Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR driver, cancer
*Rudi Hasse, Grand Prix driver, illness during military service during the Eastern Front [http://forix.autosport.com/8w/brauchitsch-hasse.html]
* Ricky Hendrick, owner affiliated to Hendrick Motorsports owned by his father Rick Hendrick, plane crash, 2004
* Graham Hill, team boss of Embassy Racing and two-time Formula One World Champion as a driver in 1962 and 1968, plane crash
* Al Holbert, IMSA champion, plane crash.
* Denny Hulme, New Zealand racing driver, heart attack while competing in Bathurst 1000
* Camille Jenatzy, Belgian racing driver, shot while impersonating a wild boar
* Erwin Kremer, founder/owner of Kremer Racing, stroke
* Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR driver, plane crash in Tennessee
* Elmo Langley, NASCAR pace car driver, heart attack during an evaluation run at a NASCAR exhibition race in Suzuka Circuit
* Willy Mairesse, Belgian sportscar racer, suicide
* Gerry Marshall, British racing driver, heart attack while test driving Richard Petty's IROC Camaro
* Colin McRae, World Rally Champion in 1995, helicopter accident
*Harry Melling, owner of Melling Racing, heart attack
* Rob Moroso, NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1990, car accident
* Carlos Pace, Formula One driver, plane crash
* Didier Pironi, Formula One driver recovering from horrendous leg injuries, powerboating accident
* Harvey Postlethwaite, F1 engineer and Technical Director, heart attack while supervising a testing session for Honda
* Tim Richmond, NASCAR driver, AIDS
* Dean Roper, ARCA stock racer, heart attack while competing
* Thierry Sabine, founder and main organizer of Paris Dakar, helicopter crash
* Josef Schnitzer, founder of Schnitzer Motorsport, road accident
* Ryoji Takada, D1GP driver, truck loading accident
* Chris Trickle, NASCAR driver, drive-by shooting
* Nick Whiting, British racing driver, gang-related murder
* Bob Wollek, sportscar driver, cycling accident

Motorboat racing

Accidents during Water speed record

=Accidents during Unlimited Hydroplane racing=

Accidents during offshore powerboat racing

*Stefano Casiraghi, offshore powerboating accident in Monaco

Deaths outside racing

*Mike Thomas, hydroplane driver, construction accident [ [http://www.thunderboats.org/history/history0246.html Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser - A 40-Year Timeline ] ]

Motorcycle sport

Does not include motorcycle riders who died in race or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to "List of deaths by motorcycle accidents".
* Norifumi "Norick" Abe, Moto GP rider, scooter accident
* Kenny Carter, British motorcycle speedway rider, suicide
* Steve Hislop, British Superbike rider, helicopter crash

Wrestling

Freestyle wrestling

* Eliezer Halfin, Israeli, Munich massacre
* Richard Sanders, American, car accident
*Dave Schultz, American, murdered by John Eleuthère du Pont
* Mark Slavin, Israeli, Munich massacre

Professional wrestling

* Gary Albright, UWF International and All Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler, heart attack during World Xtreme Wrestling show
* Mike Alfonso ("Mike Awesome"), suicide by hanging
* Chris Benoit, WWE wrestler, suicide by hanging.
* Dino Bravo, WWF wrestler, murdered.
* Frank Goodish ("Bruiser Brody"), World Wrestling Council wrestler, murdered
* Chris Candido, TNA wrestler, complications from a blood clot following a leg injury
* Bobby Duncum Jr., WCW wrestler, accidental prescription drug overdose
* Mary Lillian Ellison ("The Fabulous Moolah"), WWF wrestler and personality, heart disease
* Eddie Guerrero, WWE wrestler, acute heart failure
* Owen Hart, WWF wrestler, stunt accident during live pay-per-view event at Kemper Arena
* Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect), WWF, acute cocaine intoxication (allergic reaction)
* Mike Lockwood ("Crash Holly"), WWF, apparent drug overdose
* Jerry Tuite ("Malice" and "The Wall"), All Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler, heart attack
* Jesús Solís ("Oro"), Mexican wrestler, death from a fall inside the ring
* Brian Pillman, WWF wrestler, arteriosclerotic heart disease
* Rikidozan, Japanese wrestler, murdered
* Mike Hegstrand ("Road Warrior Hawk"), WWE wrestler, heart attack
* "Ravishing" Rick Rude, WCW wrestler, heart failure
* Davey Boy Smith, last TV appearance was on "SmackDown", heart attack
* Michael DiBiase, heart attack in the ring, triggered by high cholesterol
* Chris Von Erich, World Class Championship Wrestling, suicide by gunshot
* David Von Erich, National Wrestling Alliance, heart attack triggered by acute enteritis (rumors persist that the death was drug-related, despite considerable evidence supporting the official cause)
* Kerry Von Erich, WWF, suicide by gunshot
* Mike Von Erich, WCCW, suicide by deliberate overdose
* Rodney Anoa'i ("Yokozuna"), died on an independent wrestling tour in Liverpool, England, fluid-filled lungs
*John Tenta, bladder cancer

Sumo wrestling

*Daishoho Masami, Komusubi, pancreatic cancer
*Kenko Satoshi, komusubi, pulmonary embolism
*Takashi Saito,
*Tamanoumi Masahiro, yokozuna,
*Maruyama Gondazaemon, yokozuna
*Tanikaze Kajinosuke, yokozuna

Tennis

* Menno Oosting, Dutch tennis-player, car accident
* Rafael Osuna, Mexican tennis player, plane crash

Watersports

*Herbert Adamski, German rower, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ad/herbert-adamski-1.html]
*Shigeo Arai, Japanese swimmer, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ar/shigeo-arai-1.html]
* Gavin Brown, British diver, hit-and-run
* Sergei Chalibashvili, professional diver, accident during the World University Games
* Iss Lajos, Romanian water polo player, massive stroke
* Loïc Leferme, French free-diver, drowned
* Audrey Mestre, French free-diver, drowned
*Felix Scheder-Bieschin, military actions during World War II
*Hugo Strauß, German rower, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/st/hugo-strauss-1.html]

urfing

* Eddie Aikau, drowning
* Mark Foo, surfing accident
* George Freeth, the "Father of Modern Surfing", influenza
* Nick Gabaldon, surfing pioneer, surfing accident
* Malik Joyeux, surfing accident
* Zeca Scheffer, Brazilian surfer, car accident
* Robert Wilson Simmons, drowning

Winter sports

Bobsleigh

* Reto Capadrutt, Swiss bobsledder, crashed during the four-man event of the 1939 FIBT World Championships
* Yvonne Cernota, German bobsled driver, crashed during practice run
* Felix Endrich, Swiss bobsled driver, crashed during 1953 FIBT World Championships
* Max Houben, Belgian bobsledder, crashed during practice run prior to the 1949 FIBT World Championships
* Anton Pensperger, German bobsled driver, race crash during 1966 FIBT World Championships
* Sergio Zardini, Italian bobsled driver, slid into retaining wall

Skiing/Snowboarding

Does not include skiers and snowboarders who died in competition or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to "List of skiing deaths" below.
* Richard Kröll, Austrian alpine skier, car accident
* Rudolf Nierlich, Austrian alpine skier, car accident
* Spider Sabich, American skier, homicide

Others

* Sergei Grinkov, Russian pairs figure skater, heart attack
* Robert McCall, Canadian ice dance figure skater, AIDS
* Sandra Schmirler, Canadian curler, oesophageal cancer
* Morgan Innes, Australian 2006 Novice Ladies figure skating champion, boating accident

Other Sports

Does not include those who died in wheeled sports such as cycling accident, as there is a separate list for such, please refer to "See also" below.

* Gilbert Aldana, American mixed martial artist, drowning
* David Mark Berger, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
*Georg Dascher, German handballer, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/georg-dascher-1.html]
* Nick Duncombe, English rugby union player, meningitis
* Shane Drury, American rodeo performer, cancer
* François Faber, French cyclist, military action during World War 1
* Ze'ev Friedman, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
* Lane Frost, American rodeo performer, gored by bull after completing a ride
* Tommy Hitchcock, Jr., American polo player, test plane crash
* Paul Hunter, English snooker player, cancer
* Flo Hyman, American women's volleyball player, aortic dissection caused by Marfan syndrome
*Heinz Körvers, German field handballer, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/heinz-korvers-1.html]
*Arthur Knautz, German field handballer, military actions during World War II [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/kn/arthur-knautz-1.html ]
* Octave Lapize, French cyclist, military action during World War 1
* Tony Lema, golfer, plane crash
* Lucien Mazan, Argentine cyclist, road accident whilst in military action during World War 1
* Marco Pantani, Italian cyclist, drugs overdose
* René Pottier, French cyclist, suicide
* Yossef Romano, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
* Todd Skinner, American free climber, fell from cliff
* Payne Stewart, American golfer, aboard private plane - pressurization failure
* Vladimir Smirnov, Olympic champion fencer, accident during a match

References

ee also

*List of professional cyclists who died during a race
*List of people who died in aviation-related incidents
*List of people who died in road accidents
*List of footballers who died while playing
*1979 Fastnet race