Paul Oliver Suicide Confirmed By Medical Examiner
The Paul Oliver suicide has been confirmed.
A medical examiner in the Atlanta area (Cobb County) has determined that Oliver, 29, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The former NFL safety played for the San Diego Charges from 2007 to 2010. The New Orleans Saints released the-then free agent in 2011 after he suffered an injury during training camp. He returned to the Charges for the 2011 season.
Oliver was reportedly found dead last night at his residence in Marietta, Ga., about 20 miles outside of Atlanta.
In a statement, the Chargers had this to say about the Paul Oliver suicide: “Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul. He was part of our family for five years. At just 29 years old, he still had a lifetime in front of him. Right now all of our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this most difficult time.”
Oliver was a Chargers’ fourth-round supplemental draft pick in 2007 after being ruled academically ineligible at the University of Georgia. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said that “It’s heartbreaking for me personally, for our staff, for the Bulldog Nation I’m sure, and obviously for his family. I was crushed this morning when I heard it, quite frankly. I really haven’t been able to keep it off my mind to be honest with you. We’ve got to find a way to reach out and help in any way we can. If there’s some way that the Bulldog Nation can rally around that family, I hope everybody would be encouraged to do so.”
Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers noted that “It’s sad to lose anyone, for that matter, but a guy that you played with — I can remember interactions with him like it was yesterday.”
According to Sports Illustrated, Oliver’s “most productive season came in 2010, when he started eight games at safety. He finished the year with 44 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.” For his 57-game Chargers career, Paul Oliver recorded four interceptions, 96 tackles, and 11 passes defended.
[image credit: Trueshow111]
