Three young, seemingly healthy football players have died unexpectedly this offseason.
Damarius Galarza, a standout football player for Cedar Crest High School, died “unexpectedly” in his sleep over the weekend. He was just 18 years old. He was set to attend Penn State in the fall.
“My son was a senior at Cedar Crest High School, and he was looking forward to attending Penn Tech in the fall to study construction management. His laugh was contagious and he could make anyone smile, no matter what kind of day they were having. He played football, ran track, and loved fishing, skateboarding, rollerblading, and riding his bike. He cherished time with friends and family, and just got his driver’s license on Wednesday. He started working at Wendy’s when he was 15 and was proud of his independence. He was a very tall kid—6’4″—and his presence filled every room with warmth and joy,” his mother wrote.
Earlier this offseason, 16-year-old Jaren Lawson, a Texas high school football player, collapsed at practice and later died.
"His classmate, Stevens High School senior Julisa Gonzalez, described Jaren as motivated and passionate, especially when it came to football. She said he was experiencing cold-like symptoms in the days leading up to his death, but that his dedication to the sport likely outweighed his illness," My San Antonio reported.
Back in January, Ethan Walker, an offensive lineman for the Iowa Central football program, was on vacation with his girlfriend's family, when he collapsed and died.
"On January 4, 2026, our world was shattered when Ethan Walker, just 20 years old, passed away unexpectedly from a sudden medical event while on vacation in Orlando, Florida," a GoFundMe read.
"Ethan was in Florida with his longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart, Kenzie, and her parents, whom Ethan had become very close with over the years, having been such a loving and devoted partner who honored their daughter with every action."
While the causes of death remain unclear, the U.S. is "warning" all athletes, but especially football players, to undergo consistent cardiac testing.
The following questions should be asked to all young athletes:
- Have you ever had unusual symptoms during periods of exertion? (Examples include: chest pain, chest discomfort, a racing or rapid heartbeat, or palpitations.)
- Do you ever feel dizzy or lightheaded?
- Do you ever pass out during sporting activities?
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Have you had a previous abnormal cardiac exam?
- Have you ever had a pre-participation cardiac screen that was abnormal?
- Have you ever undergone any cardiac testing that would have raised suspicion?
"The best-case scenario is that a doctor won’t find anything of concern during a cardiac screening and a student athlete is given a green light to compete. However, the screening might detect something that warrants a referral to a cardiologist for further evaluation," the alert reads.
Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of all three players.
In regards to testing, it's always better to be safe than sorry.