Celebs

Former Denver Broncos Player Demaryius Thomas Passes Away At Age 33

Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has passed away, according to AP News. Police in Roswell, Georgia found him without life in his home on Thursday night. Its unclear what caused his death, but reports speculate the reason may have been a medical issue. He was 33 years old at the time of his passing.

Demaryius first cousin LaTonya Bonseigneur told AP the family believes a seizure killed him. LaTonya told the media outlet that Demaryius has been suffering from seizures for over a year. Theyre unsure exactly when he passed, given that the family had reportedly spoken to him on Thursday.

He was alone and a friend couldnt get hold of him, so he called his driver, who has a key because of these seizures, and he went into his home and found him in the shower, LaTonya said.

The Broncos Respond

The Broncos, whom Demaryius played more than 8 NFL seasons with, released a statement early Friday.

“We are devastated and completely heartbroken by the sudden, tragic passing of Demaryius Thomas,” the Broncos wrote. “D.T. was beloved by our entire organization, his teammates and coaches, and our fans. Recently retiring as a Bronco, we were very much looking forward to celebrating Demaryius for years to come as one of the greatest players in franchise history.”

Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni responded to the news via Twitter. If you didn’t know, per ESPN, Zach coached Demaryius during his final season with the team.

“I’m so sad … I’m heartbroken. I’m at a total loss,” Zach wrote. “I’m sick … I’m crying I’m just … I don’t know. The Azzanni family will always love you DT. I’m blessed to have known you. RIP #88.”

During the 2010 NFL Draft, Broncos officials selected Demaryius as the first pick in round one. At the end of his career, he became the third in NFL history to have the most catches at 655.

This is a developing story.

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Cassandra Santiago

Cassandra Santiago is a multimedia journalist, editor, and editorial strategist with over a decade of experience shaping conversations across arts, entertainment, culture, and global news. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she has built a cross-platform career spanning newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media. She joined The Shade Room five years ago and currently serves as a Senior Editor, where she leads editorial direction, oversees exclusive coverage, and trains and edits a team of writers. Cassandra has played a key role in developing high-impact content and editorial strategies for an audience of more than 30 million, contributing to platform growth, engagement, and monetization across multiple channels. In addition to her leadership role, she remains a daily contributor, with her articles generating more than 41 million views since 2023. Beyond The Shade Room, Cassandra offers freelance social media strategy services, speaks on the influence and impact of Black media at public panels, and owns Did It For You, an event design company in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. She is Poynter Institute–certified and was named to the DMV’s 35 Under 35 list in 2024.

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