1. Jovan Henry Allen Belcher was an American professional football linebacker who played his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.
34 Facts About Jovan Belcher
1. 2.
Jovan Belcher grew up in West Babylon, New York and was a standout high school athlete before attending and graduating from the University of Maine, where he played for the Maine Black Bears football team.
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Jovan Belcher was considered a strong small-school NFL prospect but was not selected in the 2009 NFL draft.
4.
Jovan Belcher was later signed as a free agent by the Chiefs and became a regular starter at inside linebacker in 2010.
5.
Jovan Belcher was re-signed by Kansas City before the 2012 season and played in the team's first 11 games before his death.
6.
Jovan Belcher died on December 1,2012, in a murder-suicide, killing his girlfriend, 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins, before driving to the Chiefs' training facility and shooting himself in the head with a handgun.
7.
Jovan Belcher wrestled and played football there under head coach Albert Ritacco between 2001 and 2004.
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Jovan Belcher was a three-time All-American as a wrestler, and played as a linebacker, offensive tackle, nose guard, and fullback on the football team.
9.
Jovan Belcher was captain of the football team for two seasons and led West Babylon to two Long Island Football Championships playoff appearances, although the team did not reach the title game.
10.
Jovan Belcher attended the University of Maine, a Division I FCS school, and played on its Black Bears football team.
11.
Jovan Belcher had a standout season as a junior after he was switched from linebacker to defensive end.
12.
Jovan Belcher led Maine's collegiate conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, with 10 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss.
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Jovan Belcher was named a second-team preseason All-American by Lindy's Publications before his senior season in 2008, when he served as a team co-captain.
14.
Jovan Belcher led the CAA again with 17.5 tackles for losses.
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Jovan Belcher had 7.5 sacks and was the association's defensive player of the year.
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Jovan Belcher was projected by Sports Illustrated as a sixth-round draft pick.
17.
Jovan Belcher became a regular starter in the 2010 season, registering 53 tackles and 31 assists.
18.
Jovan Belcher continued as a starter in the 2011 NFL season, recording 61 tackles and 26 assists.
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Jovan Belcher was involved in community activities in Kansas City in 2011, visiting a nearby military base and a local elementary school to promote an NFL program for children.
20.
Jovan Belcher traveled back to West Babylon every year and gave motivational speeches to students.
21.
Jovan Belcher and Perkins were introduced through Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, whose wife was a first cousin of Perkins.
22.
Jovan Belcher was in the Power and Light District with a different woman.
23.
Jovan Belcher told the police he was waiting for his girlfriend, and forgot the code to her apartment.
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Jovan Belcher was later buzzed into the building by neighbors and allowed to stay for the night.
25.
Jovan Belcher returned home between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM and had another argument with Perkins.
26.
The baby was heard crying in the background when Jovan Belcher's mother called the police.
27.
Jovan Belcher stepped out of the car with a gun pointed to his head when he encountered Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.
28.
Jovan Belcher told Pioli that he had just murdered his girlfriend, and thanked him before asking for Pioli and Chiefs owner Clark Hunt to take care of his daughter.
29.
Jovan Belcher had chronic traumatic encephalopathy at the time of his death, according to a medical report.
30.
Pioli and one of Jovan Belcher's uncles spoke at the closed service.
31.
The police revealed that the handgun Jovan Belcher used to kill his girlfriend was different from the one he used to take his own life.
32.
Jovan Belcher had other guns at his house, some of which he would use at a shooting range.
33.
On December 31,2013, Jovan Belcher's mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Missouri state court against her son's former team, the Kansas City Chiefs.
34.
Jovan Belcher was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.