Former NFL offensive lineman Korey Cunningham has died. He was 28.

On Friday, the New York Giants, who Cunningham most recently played for in 2021 and 2022, issued a statement: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham. He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey’s family, friends and teammates.”

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham. He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey’s family, friends and teammates.

— New York Giants (@Giants) April 26, 2024

According to RLS Media, Cunningham was found deceased at his New Jersey home on Thursday.

Cunningham played collegiate ball at Cincinnati before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round in 2018. He played one season in Arizona before being traded to the New England Patriots, where he played two years.

On Thursday, former teammate Justin Pugh shared a story on social media about Cunningham’s time with the Giants.

“We would invite him to the OL dinner every week even though he wasn’t on the team which doesn’t happen … ever,” Pugh wrote. “Team dinners are for players on the team only. Except for Korey….solely because he was beloved by all the guys regardless if you knew him or not! He’d tell stories and we’d laugh our asses off all night.”

I was in Arizona when we drafted Korey Cunnigham in 2018. He moved onto the NY Giants and was living in NJ this past year.

Quick story:
We would invite him to the OL dinner every week even though he wasn’t on the team which doesn’t happen…ever. Team dinners are for players on…

— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) April 26, 2024

Required reading

(Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)