Tragedy as ex-Denver Broncos offensive lineman dies at just 35 after going into cardiac arrest on a run as heartbroken wife reveals their daughters asked to listen to his morning playlist when she broke the news

  • Paul Duncan, who has two young daughters with wife Ellen, died aged 35 
  • He went into cardiac arrest on July 15 and next day was pronounced brain dead
  • Duncan was an offensive lineman for Notre Dame and for Denver Broncos 
  • Ellen said when she first told the children their father had died, their daughter Dillon asked to listen to the song that 'Dad just added to the morning playlist' 

By Rachael Bunyan For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Paul Duncan, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman who had a brief NFL career with the Denver Broncos, has died aged 35 after he went into cardiac arrest while on a run in his neighborhood in Georgia. 

The Georgia native, who has two young daughters with his wife Ellen, fell unconscious on July 15 and was pronounced brain dead in the following days. 

'We will have a medical examination to understand cause of death,' Ellen wrote on Instagram. 'His body will be donated to people in need of organs and to medical research.'

Paul Duncan, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman who had a brief NFL career, has died aged 35 after he went into cardiac arrest while on a run in his neighborhood in Georgia. The former Notre Dame football star, who has two young daughters with his wife Ellen (right), fell unconscious on July 15 and was pronounced brain dead in the following days

Paul Duncan, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman who had a brief NFL career, has died aged 35 after he went into cardiac arrest while on a run in his neighborhood in Georgia. The former Notre Dame football star, who has two young daughters with his wife Ellen (right), fell unconscious on July 15 and was pronounced brain dead in the following days

Denver Broncos rookie lineman Paul Duncan carries teammates' pads off the field following NFL football training camp in 2010
Paul Duncan #72 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moves to block De'Shon Matthews #96 of the Washington Huskies on October 3, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Washington 37-30 in overtime

Duncan had a brief NFL career with the Broncos following 18 collegiate starts at Notre Dame

Duncan, a Georgia native, met his wife Ellen when they both attended Notre Dame. In this picture. In this picture, the couple attends a Georgia-Notre Dame game in Athens in 2019

Duncan, a Georgia native, met his wife Ellen when they both attended Notre Dame. In this picture. In this picture, the couple attends a Georgia-Notre Dame game in Athens in 2019

Ellen, Duncan's college sweetheart, posted a message on Instagram saying that when she first told the children their father had died, their daughter Dillon asked to listen to the song that 'Dad just added to the morning playlist'

Ellen, Duncan's college sweetheart, posted a message on Instagram saying that when she first told the children their father had died, their daughter Dillon asked to listen to the song that 'Dad just added to the morning playlist'

EXERCISE-RELATED SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

The American College of Cardiology says most experts are confounded by sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in sports as athletes are generally viewed as healthier and less likely to experience heart attacks. 

Exercise-related SAC typically occurs to men who are 35 and older, with the vast majority having a history of coronary artery disease, 84 percent, or other heart complications. 

The ACC found that more than a third of those who experience SCA during exercise reported cardiovascular symptoms during the week leading up to the heart attack. 

The survival rate for such attacks was about 58 percent for younger athletes. 

In North America and Europe, these cases range from 500 to 1,000 per million per year in the general population. 

In the world of sports, about 22 cases occur per million athletes per year.  

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Ellen, Duncan's college sweetheart, said that when she first told the children their father had died, their daughter Dillon asked to listen to the song that 'Dad just added to the morning playlist.'

'I didn't know what she meant so I looked on our Amazon music app and she pointed to ''I can only imagine'' by MercyMe,' Ellen wrote on Instagram as she posted a video of Duncan dancing at a family gathering. 

'Paul definitely danced meeting Jesus,' Ellen said, adding: 'Thank you for the ongoing love and support.'

Dancing was a large part of Duncan's life with his daughters, according to his obituary in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

'Dillon and Sloane loved Paul's impromptu dance parties in the kitchen and his adventures with them in the water, whether it was at the lake with family or at the pool with friends,' the obit read. 

Duncan was an offensive lineman for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team from 2005 to 2009 and then played briefly for the NFL's Denver Broncos. 

Duncan was a 'proud Southerner,' according to his obituary, which says he was named the best offensive lineman in Georgia as a student at East Paulding High School, where he also excelled in basketball.

He made 18 starts at Notre Dame before signing with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

Duncan also volunteered with AmeriCorps to build homes for needy in Indiana. 

Ellen posted a note on Instagram telling friends and fans that he had died while out running

Ellen posted a note on Instagram telling friends and fans that he had died while out running

Duncan met his wife, Ellen (right), when the two were enrolled at Notre Dame

Duncan met his wife, Ellen (right), when the two were enrolled at Notre Dame 

Duncan lived in the Atlanta area with his family, where he worked in construction management

Duncan lived in the Atlanta area with his family, where he worked in construction management

That interest in building led Duncan to go into construction management in Chicago and Atlanta working on projects that included schools and highways.

The Notre Dame football team said in a statement: 'Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Paul Duncan. A great teammate, but more importantly a loving husband and father.' 

Duncan's funeral mass will be held on Monday in Brookhaven, Georgia, where the family lives.   

The Notre Dame football team paid tribute to their former player Paul Duncan

The Notre Dame football team paid tribute to their former player Paul Duncan 

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