Former NFL, Baylor running back Benjamin Gay dead at 44

Former Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts running back Benjamin Gay died on Monday at the age of 44 years old. He was tragically killed in a car accident in Colorado, according to a story from Noelle Haynes of Cleveland19. Gay played with the Browns during the 2001 season.

During his high school days, he was a phenom in the state of Texas, rushing for 2,217 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior. He played his high school football for Spring High School (Houston, Texas). Following his senior year, he was named a USA Today first-team All-American. He ended up choosing Baylor over offers from Florida, Florida State, and Miami.

Just five weeks into his freshman campaign in 1998, Gay was booted off the team for rules violations. He eventually ended up enrolling at Garden City Community College. In nine games in 1999, he rushed for 1,442 yards and 17 touchdowns, but was eventually booted off the team due to poor grades and rules violations.

In 2000, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, but was released after his first preseason game. All 31 teams passed on him in the supplemental draft, and the Browns decided to shock the football world by signing him as a free agent. Browns’ assistant Pete Garcia had followed Gay’s path and even tried to recruit him to Miami when he ended up at Garden City Community College.

On July 20th, 2001, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. Gay spent the 2001 campaign as the third string running back behind James Jackson and Jamel White. The best game of his career game in a 27-17 Cleveland win at Baltimore on November 18th. Gay had 18 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown in that game, the first NFL carries of his career. It was the only touchdown of his NFL career. Later that season, he was also the Browns’ leading rusher in a comeback win over the Titans. Gay also averaged 22.3 yards on 22 kickoff returns in the 2001 campaign.

He signed with the Indianapolis Colts in April of 2002, but was released on August 19th.

Following his football career, he worked as a welder.

His obituary went live on Saturday reading, “Benjamin was a stalwart Christian and a proud attendee to Platte Valley Baptist Church,” Rowanoak Mortuary & Crematory wrote of Gay. “He loved to spend time with his family, work on cars, and ensured that the yards of his family members were well cared for. Benjamin enjoyed staying busy, and was always happy when he had something to do.”

He is survived by his wife, Margarita, and three children, son of Damian Ortega and daughters Julie Ortega and Brianna Morales. Funeral arrangements are being arranged by Rowanoak Mortuary and Crematory in Fort Morgan, Colorado.