Former NFL and Clemson University defensive end Adrian Dingle’s death was announced by his fiancée last Wednesday, in addition to his public obituary. He was only 45.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Adrian K. Dingle of Winthrop, MA, formerly of Holly Hill, SC,” his obituary reads. According to the Shueller-Marshall Funeral Home, funeral arrangements for the athlete are yet to be arranged.
Amy Bell, Dingle’s fiancée, took to Instagram and shared a photograph of her partner with their son. She captioned the photo with a broken heart emoji and went on to discuss the former athlete’s death in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE Magazine.
“While Adrian was known for his football accomplishments, he was so much more than football. In the few short days since his passing, I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of stories and memories,” she said during the interview. “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,” Bell continued. “His smile will live on through his gorgeous babies who loved their daddy beyond measure.”
Marcellus Wiley, his former teammate, also expressed grief in regard to the retired NFL player’s passing. “RIP to my teammate @AdrianDingle We were just hanging, laughing, swapping war stories, and talking family. Rest easy big dog,” Wiley wrote on Twitter.
A look into the career of retired NFL player Adrian Dingle
Dingle’s football career began at Roberts High School in Holly Hill, South Carolina when his talents earned him the defensive MVP of 1994’s North-South High School All-Star game. From high school, he went on to attend Clemson University where he started as a defensive end during his last three years. “He helped the Tigers to three bowl games over his career,” said Clemson University, reflecting on his impressive college career.
According to the university, his 23 sacks continue to rank as the third-best in Clemson school history. “He had his best year in 2003 when he had six sacks and 16 total tackles for loss among his 37 tackles,” Dingle’s former school wrote.
Following his graduation, Dingle was drafted by the San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers) in the 1999 NFL draft’s fifth round. The defensive end stayed with the team up until his retirement from the sport in 2004.
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