The world of football is mourning the death of former Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions cornerback LeRoy Irvin at the age of 68.
Irvin played for the Rams for 10 seasons in the 1980s, and was twice voted to the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1986.
The sad news of his death was first revealed on Instagram by his former teammate Eric Dickerson, the Hall of Famer who played alongside him for five years in LA.
‘Devastated to hear about the passing of my brother, teammate, and Rams legend Leroy Irvin,’ he posted to his 68,000 followers. ‘Leroy wasn’t just a lockdown corner and a fierce competitor on the field; he was a true friend and a great man who always brought incredible energy.
‘Rest in peace, my brother. Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Irvin family and all of Rams Nation.’
A cause of death has not yet been revealed for the former football star, who ended his career in Detroit in 1990.
LeRoy Irvin is pictured in 2015 at an annual Hall of Fame Golf Invitational charity event
Eric Dickerson (center) posted a photo of himself alongside Irvin (R) at a different charity day
Irvin is pictured during his time with the LA Rams back in July 1988
Fans immediately poured into the comments of Dickerson’s Instagram post, with one writing: ‘Nooooo! One of the original Darkside Defense in the Los Angeles Rams 1986 season. No, I can’t believe this news!
‘This just hit me as [hard as] the death of Carl Ekern, Gary Jeter, and Kevin Greene. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this difficult time.’
Terrell Owens, meanwhile, added: ‘So sorry for your loss my friend,’ while another fan wrote: ‘We lost a great Rams player.’
Alongside the post, Dickerson shared a photo of himself smiling alongside Irvin at a charity event in their post-playing days.
