Stringer’s death helps improve NFL practices
NFL notebook
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EAGAN, Minn. -- The memory of losing her husband is so hauntingly clear 25 years later that Kelci Stringer could still draw a detailed picture of her hurried path to the hospital room where Korey Stringer died from exertional heat stroke.
Having arrived in the middle of the night, she realized she was too late once she saw Vikings teammates Cris Carter and Randy Moss sobbing on the floor.
For all that went tragically wrong at the beginning of that training camp in 2001 in Mankato, Minnesota, Kelci Stringer has since made a life mission of keeping others from such a preventable death.
"The work we're doing and the way we're doing the work is most important to me because we're giving back in a way that's very exemplary of Korey," Stringer said.
Named after the only NFL player known to have died from heat stroke, the Korey Stringer Institute opened in 2010 with three employees at the University of Connecticut and now has a 100-person staff and a satellite branch in Florida. Chief executive officer Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology who survived his own brush with death at age 16 when he collapsed while running a 10-kilometer race, has counted 463 laws and policies over all 50 states that have been changed or created by KSI's advocacy.
"Not too many medical situations are 100% preventable when you do the right things," Casa said.
Funding for KSI was part of the settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the NFL by Kelci Stringer, who with Korey Stringer's former agent, Jimmy Gould, was inspired to bring about lasting good from the regret and sadness.
"It wasn't about the money. We lived that life long enough. What is a couple million dollars going to do? That can't bring him back," Stringer said this week in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "My purpose was to find answers. It wasn't to find any blame. It was, 'Can I just know?' That was part of the closure and part of the peace."
Elsewhere:
– Tony Romo was placed on leave from his role as the lead analyst on CBS' NFL coverage following his arrest last week on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. CBS Sports announced Friday that the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was on leave "until further notice." JJ Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as CBS Sports' lead NFL team during Romo's absence. Romo, 46, was arrested July 23 after he was stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office report, Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests before getting taken into custody, booked and released. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office indicated an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage was found in the passenger's side of Romo's black Jeep.
– The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back former All-Pro Deebo Samuel for a second stint after starting receiver Ricky Pearsall got sidelined by a knee injury. A person familiar with the deal said Thursday that Samuel agreed to return to the 49ers on a one-year contract worth up to $7 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. NFL Network first reported the agreement. Samuel spent his first six seasons with the 49ers after being drafted in the second round in 2019. He was traded to Washington in 2025.
– Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is coming off the physically unable to perform list as he continues his comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The move clears Kraft to return to practice. Packers coach Matt LaFleur says Kraft won't be participating in team drills for now. Kraft caught 32 passes for 498 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season before tearing his right ACL on Nov. 2 during a 16-13 loss to Carolina. Kraft said during Green Bay's mandatory minicamp in June that he expected to be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener at Minnesota.
– The Atlanta Falcons announced the death of Cristina Ulbrich, wife of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, after a battle with cancer. She was 48. Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank expresses his condolences, highlighting Cristina's love and support for her family. Jeff Ulbrich has been absent from training camp this week. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski calls the situation heartbreaking and emphasizes the team's support for Jeff and his children. Stefanski says Jeff will speak to the media when ready and assures that the team stands by the Ulbrich family both now and in the future.
– The Kansas City Chiefs are aggressively pursuing the Super Bowl and Final Four for their $3 billion replacement for Arrowhead Stadium, which is due to open in 2031. The Super Bowl already has been awarded through 2030 and the Final Four through 2031. But the Chiefs don't want to wait until their stadium, which has yet to break ground, has been completed to get in line for the lucrative opportunities. The Chiefs already have had discussions with the NFL about the Super Bowl beginning in 2033.