First Coast News: Football Star Louis Nix, 29, Found Dead after Being Reported Missing

Days after former football player Louis Nix III was reported missing, he has sadly been found dead. The star’s missing report was initially filed in the middle of last week.

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, Louis Nix III, 29, was reported missing, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). He went missing in the Jacksonville, Florida, area.

Officers responded to the area of 1700 West 42nd Street for the missing report. On Saturday evening, the Sheriff's Office issued an advisory revealing that they were attempting to locate Nix to determine his safety.

Sadly, on Saturday night, February 27, 2021, the former National Football League (NFL) star was found dead. His mother confirmed the news of the former star’s death.

Police officers pulled out a vehicle from a retention pond near Nix’s apartment on Broxton Bay Drive on Saturday evening. The car matched the former athlete’s vehicle’s description.

Soon afterward, the sheriff's office announced the NFL player’s death; however, no further details were given. His death came after the former athlete was a victim of an armed robbery in December 2020.

During the incident, the former Notre Dame defensive tackle was shot at. Late on the day Nix was found, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tweeted that the star had been “located” but didn’t provide further details.

It wasn’t clear yet if a cause of death has been determined. The athlete was drafted in 2014 by the Houston Texans after having had a notable collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

According to the University of Notre Dame, those who knew him in college called him “Big Lou” or “Irish Chocolate." The college made the statement while announcing his death on Sunday.

They described him as a four-star prospect who helped "anchor the defensive front" for his team as they played for championship titles. The late player was an All-American in his junior year.

He started his senior year on Bednarik Award and Maxwell’s watch lists. However, in his final year, he suffered a knee injury at Notre Dame, and it continued to ail him as he played in the NFL.

The Raines High School football player needed surgery before he could go to the Texans training camp. According to NBC Sports, he had another surgery before the end of his rookie season.

He had short stays with the New York Giants, the Texans, the Washington Football Team, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. These all happened during his three NFL seasons.

Another NFL player who died recently was Vincent Jackson, 38. On Monday, February 15, 2021, the twelve-year veteran of the NFL was found dead in his Florida hotel room.

The wide receiver’s body was discovered after he was checked on a month prior. Authorities said they saw no sign of trauma at the scene, but an investigation has been opened.