Tragedy Strikes NFL as Three Former Stars Pass Away Over the Weekend — Names Revealed

March 29, 2026, 5:57pm EST 2K+ • By Orlando Silva

The league suffered three tragedies in recent hours.

The start of 2026 wasn’t precisely positive for the NFL. Many fans learned about the passing of multiple stars in the first months of the year, and the situation hasn’t changed that much in March.

In mid-February, Neal Dahlen, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family at his Aurora home. He worked as an executive for the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos after his successful career.

This week gave fans terrible news involving three former NFL players who left a big mark on their respective teams.

3 Former NFL Players Died Over The Weekend

The NFL shield logo a midfield (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
It hasn’t been the easiest 48 hours for NFL fans. On Friday, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that former Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins died at the age of 52. Robbins’ death drew plenty of reactions from his former teammates. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

On Saturday, former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jeff Siemon died at the age of 75. Siemon made a strong impression during his college days. He was considered the best linebacker in the country at Stanford before joining the Vikings. He became a four-time Pro Bowler in Minnesota.

Sunday also hit fans with tragic news. Joey Browner, a former Vikings defensive back and a Hall of Famer, died at 65. He was a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor after becoming a three-time First Team All-Pro during his 10-year career.

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Robbins played in the league from 1995 through 2003, while Siemon spent his entire 11-year career with the Vikings from 1972 through 1982.