Our NBC colleague and good friend Rodney Harrison, a rookie member of the Chargers’ Super Bowl team of 1994, called to advise that his former teammate, Shawn Lee, died over the weekend at the age of 44.
NBC San Diego reports that the team has confirmed Lee’s passing.
Lee is at least the sixth member of the 1994 Chargers to die entirely too young. Defensive lineman Chris Mims passed in 2008 at age 38 due to an enlarged heart. Offensive lineman Curtis Whitley died in 2008 of a drug overdose. He was 39.
Linebacker Doug Miller was struck by lightning in 1998, at age 28. Running back Rodney Culver died in a 1996 plane crash. Linebacker David Griggs perished in a 1995 car accident. He was 28.
The cause of Lee’s death has not been disclosed.
We send our condolences to Lee’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches.