NFL player Ed Oliver is dealing with a soul-crushing loss. According to several new reports, the Buffalo Bills player is mourning the loss of his 2-year-old son after he drowned in a swimming pool at his home in Texas. The reports stated that first responders and emergency personnel responded to a call at Oliver’s home back in June about a potential life in danger. Upon arrival, they were informed that the child’s parents found him unresponsive in the pool.
TMZ reported that local officials and other medical staffers responded to a call the evening of June 28. Upon arrival, they learned that the two-year-old boy’s parents had found him unresponsive in their pool.
The toddler, who the family was planning to celebrate for his upcoming birthday, was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m.
A source told ESPN that Oliver and his family have been mourning the loss of their son and are continuing to ask for “privacy and prayers at this very difficult time.”
NFL Team Issues Statement Of Support After Learning Of Oliver’s Tragic Loss
The Bills released a statement, acknowledging Oliver’s tragic loss earlier today.
“On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son,” general manager Brandon Beane said. “It’s an unthinkable tragedy for any parent. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss.”
The outlet shared that the Bills have been in contact with Oliver since the loss occurred. Oliver continued participating in team activities throughout training camp.
Another NFL Player Lost A Toddler
Unfortunately, Oliver isn’t the only NFL player who has lost a small child. According to ABC News, San Francisco 49ers player Charvarius Ward lost his 1-year-old daughter Amani in 2024. He mourned her loss with a carousel of pictures on Instagram.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” he captioned the post. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.”
According to Ward, he learned many valuable lessons from his daughter, including patience, trust, and positivity. He added: “She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”
Ward called it a “privilege” being Amani’s parent. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy,” he finished.
Much like the Bills, the 49ers issued a statement after the death of Amani, saying the team was “devastated” by the heartbreaking news. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh,” the statement read. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
Ward Opened Up About ‘Dark Cloud’ Looming Over Team After Daughter’s Death
In December 2024, Ward spoke with The Athletic after the 49ers’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams, saying the season had been difficult for him to deal with. “There’s been a dark cloud over us all season,” he said. “This will be a good offseason for this team to regroup, refocus and try to rekindle the spark.”
He also shared that showing up to work had been challenging for him due to the personal woes he and his family were dealing with. “I almost left a couple of times. Sh-t, I know fans probably hate me [for saying that], but f-ck it, it’s real life,” he said. “It’s bigger than football. This is the hardest time in my life for sure.”
Ward Remembers His Daughter With Moving Post
In June 2026, Ward remembered his daughter with another emotional Instagram post, featuring pictures and videos of his 1-year-old daughter. “Amani baby, I’m still scarred,” he captioned the post. “I’m still hurtin. I still have days where I’m too sad to do anything. Some days I wanna go & find you. I wonder if you knew how much I loved you, how blessed I was to be your father. I still have your beautiful face painted in my memory. You were my JOY, the reason I smiled. I promise to celebrate you to the day we meet again.”
