Thomas Herrion Biography

Professional football player Thomas Herrion was an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers who collapsed and died following an exhibition game in August of 2005. Herrion grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played football for Fort Worth Polytechnic High School. He then played for Kilgore Junior College before moving on to the University of Utah. As a pro, Herrion was on the practice squads of the Dallas Cowboys and the 49ers, and he played briefly in Europe. In 2005 he was released by Dallas and picked up by San Francisco; at the time of his death he was trying to earn a spot on the 49ers final roster. On 20 August 2005, after a preseason game against the Denver Broncos, Herrion collapsed in the locker room and could not be revived. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after collapsing. Normally healthy, Herrion’s sudden death was a surprise and a mystery. An autopsy did not reveal the cause of death, and toxicology tests were ordered.