National Football League

Four-time Pro Bowl DL McGlockton dies

Published Nov. 30, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Stanford assistant coach and four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Chester McGlockton has died.

The school said Wednesday that McGlockton died overnight of an apparent heart attack. He was 42.

A first-round pick of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992, McGlockton worked for Stanford’s football program the past two seasons as a defensive assistant.

“Everyone in the Stanford Football family is deeply saddened by the passing of Chester McGlockton,” Stanford football coach David Shaw said in a statement. “For the past two seasons, Chester has been a valuable member of our football staff and a wonderful friend to us all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chester’s wife Zina and their two children.”

A native of Whiteville, N.C., McGlockton starred at Clemson before being selected 16th overall by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992. He played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and New York Jets. He made all four of his Pro Bowl appearances while with the Raiders from 1994-97.

''I had the privilege to coach Chester with both the Raiders and the Chiefs, and he was a quality person and a consummate pro — everything you could ever want in a football player,'' Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said. ''I will forever cherish the opportunity to have coached him.''

McGlockton's best season came in 1994, when he had a career-high 9 1/2 sacks with three forced fumbles and 48 tackles.

''The thoughts and prayers of the Raider Nation are with the McGlockton family during this difficult time,'' Raiders CEO Amy Trask said.

Denver Broncos coach John Fox, who coached McGlockton when he was with the Raiders in the mid-1990s, also was stunned by the news.

''Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,'' Fox said. ''Chester was a great player, a Pro Bowl player. I had him while I was with the Oakland Raiders. Like I said, I'm still a little bit in shock, but he was a tremendous player. ''

After his playing career, McGlockton returned to school and earned his undergraduate degree from Tennessee-Martin in 2010. He had lived in San Ramon, Calif., with his wife and two children while serving as a Stanford defensive assistant the past two seasons.

Big Chet, as he was known by many, was around 335 pounds during his career. But he had lost weight in recent years after undergoing laparoscopic weight-loss surgery and improving his workout and eating habits.

''We had done walks together, we played racquetball together quite a bit the last year, he was in very good shape for being a big man,'' said Steve Wisniewski, a friend and former teammate.

''I spoke to Chester yesterday, as a matter of fact,'' Wisniewski said. ''He had a great day with his girls and was looking forward to kind of a few slow weeks as Stanford prepares for a bowl (game), so he could have some more family time. Anybody who knows Chester, he loved his wife and girls to the moon.

''Again, I just can't express how tragic it is to lose someone like that at 42.''

Funeral arrangements were pending.

The Associated Press and NewsCore contributed to this report.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League