Report: Former Alabama running back Ahmaad Galloway has passed away at 42

Former Alabama running back Ahmaad Galloway was found dead in his St. Louis apartment on Monday during a welfare, according to Rick Karle at WVTM. Galloway was 42.

A cause of death is not yet clear, but initial reports are that it appears to have been a medical emergency. The medical examiner is still conducting a death investigation, according to the principal at the middle school where Galloway worked.

“Ahmaad was always on time, very responsible, so we knew something might be wrong” Susan Reid, principal at Compton-Drew Middle School said to Karle. “There wasn’t anything disrupted at Ahmaad’s apartment, so we are thinking that it could have been a medical issue.”

Galloway played running back at Alabama from 1999-2002. In his college career, he rushed 376 times for 1,830 yards and seventeen touchdowns. Galloway’s best season came in 2001, his junior campaign, when he ran the ball 174 times for 881 yards and six touchdowns.

He wore No. 29 eventually at Alabama to honor his high school teammate who suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury.

Galloway was a seventh round NFL draft pick, selected by the Denver Broncos. He had a brief NFL career before becoming a high school football coach.

“Ahmaad was always quiet and humble,” his sister, Kimberly Slaughter, said. “My brother loved football growing up, and later loved his children Austin and Aubree.”

He was also a teacher at Compton-Drew Middle School, where Galloway taught English. According to Karle, the students are keeping the door to Galloway’s classroom closed as a mark of respect and mourning. Students are also planning to make memorial banners and signs. The school is also offering counseling resources to students following Galloway’s death.

“It’s going to take some time for the students to digest this,” Reid said. “The kids here loved Ahmaad so much.”