Darren Lewis Cause of Death

Darren Lewis died after battling cancer for some time. Lewis, the star athlete whose promising football career and post-football life were marred by addiction, died on Thursday night.

Lewis first made a name for himself at Carter High School in Dallas, a powerhouse in high school football. In 1987, he was one of the most sought-after prospects in the country, frequently mentioned alongside other greats like Emmitt Smith. His collegiate career at Texas A&M from 1987 to 1990 was nothing short of spectacular. Lewis rushed for a remarkable 5,012 yards, surpassing Dickerson’s previous record of 4,450 yards—a record that had been held by Earl Campbell before Dickerson.

Notably, this achievement came before bowl game statistics were counted towards career totals. By the end of his college career, Lewis ranked fifth on the NCAA career rushing list, trailing only Tony Dorsett, Charles White, Herschel Walker, and Archie Griffin.

Known affectionately as “Tank” due to his formidable running style, Lewis earned All-American honours twice during his time in College Station. His career rushing total remains 1,309 yards ahead of the next closest player in Texas A&M history, underscoring his dominance on the field.

However, Lewis’s transition to professional football was fraught with challenges. During the NFL draft process, he was introduced to cocaine at parties and by prospective agents who assured him he would pass drug tests. Unfortunately, Lewis was the only player to test positive for cocaine at the NFL Scouting Combine, causing his draft stock to plummet. The Chicago Bears selected him in the sixth round, unaware of his positive test result at the time. Lewis was subsequently sent to rehab.

Lewis’s NFL career was brief and troubled. He started only five games out of 33 appearances for the Bears, amassing 431 rushing yards. Despite never failing another drug test, he was arrested on domestic battery charges and released by the Bears in 1993.

The dramatic decline of Lewis’s career and life shocked many who knew him, including his former coaches Jackie Sherrill and R.C. Slocum, who remained in contact with him over the years.