Springfield native and former New England Patriots defensive tackle Ron Brace has passed away at age 29.
A cousin, Shaunta Brace, confirmed the news to MassLive Sunday afternoon.
The cause of Brace's death was not suspicious, according to Police Capt. Robert Strzempek.
Police were called to Brace's home in Springfield shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday for an unattended death.
When police arrived there were no obvious signs of the cause of his death. The case has been turned over to the Hampden County Medical Examiner's Office.
A 6-foot-3, 330-pound nose tackle, Brace was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played in 39 career games with the Pats before he was released in December, 2012. He signed with Washington in 2013, but did not make it through final cuts.
Brace, who starred at Boston College from 2005-08, grew up in Springfield and attended Burncoat high school in Worcester, where he earned All-State honors in football and track and field.
A cousin, Shaunta Brace, confirmed the news to MassLive Sunday afternoon.
The cause of Brace's death was not suspicious, according to Police Capt. Robert Strzempek.
Police were called to Brace's home in Springfield shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday for an unattended death.
When police arrived there were no obvious signs of the cause of his death. The case has been turned over to the Hampden County Medical Examiner's Office.
A 6-foot-3, 330-pound nose tackle, Brace was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played in 39 career games with the Pats before he was released in December, 2012. He signed with Washington in 2013, but did not make it through final cuts.
Brace, who starred at Boston College from 2005-08, grew up in Springfield and attended Burncoat high school in Worcester, where he earned All-State honors in football and track and field.
