Korey Stringer facts for kids
Korey Stringer with the Minnesota Vikings.
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| No. 77 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | May 8, 1974 Warren, Ohio |
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| Died: | August 1, 2001 (aged 27) Mankato, Minnesota |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 346 lb (157 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Warren G. Harding (OH) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State (1992–1994) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Korey Damont Stringer (born May 8, 1974 – died August 1, 2001) was an American football player. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. Korey played college football at the Ohio State University. He was even named an All-American for his great skills. The Minnesota Vikings picked him in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Sadly, Korey Stringer died on August 1, 2001. This happened because of problems from heat stroke during the Vikings' training camp.
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Early Life and High School Football
Korey Stringer was born in Warren, Ohio. He went to Warren G. Harding High School in his hometown. There, he was a key player on the Harding Raiders high school football team. In 1990, his team won the state championship in football.
College Football Career
After high school, Stringer chose to attend Ohio State University. He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1992 to 1994. Some of his teammates at Ohio State included Orlando Pace, Eddie George, and Robert Smith. In 1994, during his junior year, he was recognized as a top All-American player.
Professional Football with the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings chose Korey Stringer as the 24th pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played for the Vikings from 1995 to 2000. Korey was a very strong player on the offensive line. In his last season, 2000, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is a special honor for the best players in the NFL.
During his six seasons in the NFL, he played in 93 regular season games. He started 91 of those games. Korey was liked by many people, both on and off the field. Once, after a game, he stopped to help a fan change a flat tire. He also gave his Pro Bowl check to a youth football program in his hometown.
Tragic Death at Training Camp
Korey Stringer suffered from heat stroke during the Vikings' training camp in 2001. This happened on the second day of camp. He died from complications on August 1, 2001. On July 30, Korey could not finish the first practice session. He felt very tired. He did not join the afternoon practice that day.
The next day, July 31, he returned to practice. He completed the morning session, which lasted 2.5 hours. He felt weak and dizzy afterward. The heat index reached 99 degrees Fahrenheit that day. When he arrived at the hospital, his body temperature was 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Korey was unconscious until he passed away early on August 1. An autopsy confirmed he died from organ failure caused by heat stroke.
Korey Stringer's Lasting Legacy
Korey Stringer's death led to important changes in the NFL. These changes focused on preventing heat stroke. His death also made people think about the pressure on players to gain a lot of weight. Korey was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 335 pounds when he died. This was his lowest weight in his pro career.
Now, many professional football teams train differently. They use lighter uniforms. Water and shade are always available. A team doctor is also at every practice session.
The Korey Stringer Institute
Korey's wife, Kelci, worked to create an institute to prevent heat stroke. On April 23, 2010, the NFL and Gatorade helped start the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI). This is a non-profit group at the University of Connecticut. KSI works to prevent sudden deaths in sports. It especially focuses on exertional heat stroke.
The institute's goal is to do research and educate people. It also helps athletes, soldiers, and workers stay safe. It aims to prevent sudden death and improve safety.
On the 20th anniversary of Korey's death, his brother Kevin spoke. He said that major changes often happen after someone gets hurt or dies. He felt Korey's death was his family's turn to pay that cost. He hopes that even if heat-related injuries still happen, there is more awareness of what to do.
See also
- List of sportspeople who died during their careers
- Jordan McNair
