Ex-UCLA Football Star Don Rogers Dies Suddenly : Cause of NFL Player’s Death in Sacramento Is to Be Determined; He Was to Be Married Today

Former UCLA safety Don Rogers, a star of the 1983 and 1984 Rose Bowls, died suddenly Friday in Sacramento of unknown causes. He was 23 and thought to be in good health. He was to be married this morning.

Rogers was brought to Sacramento’s Community Hospital at 11:15 Friday morning and then transferred to Mercy San Juan Hospital in suburban Carmichael. He was admitted at 1:25 p.m. and pronounced dead at 4:31.

“At this time,” said Mercy San Juan spokeswoman Frances Sutz, “we don’t know what was the cause of his death.”

Loren Willeford, Sacramento County coroner’s investigator, said: “He died in the emergency room and he had no known medical history. He was in good health. He had no medical problems.”

Rogers was the No. 1 draft choice of the Cleveland Browns and had been a starter at safety for two seasons. He was the NFL Players Assn. defensive rookie of the year.

He was to be married to Leslie Nelson of Oakland today. Thursday night, several teammates and friends attended a bachelor party for him in the Presidential Suite of the Sacramento Hilton.

A bellman who asked that his name not be used told the Sacramento Bee that it had been a “tame gathering” of 25 to 30 people.

In Cleveland, Browns publicist Kevin Byrne said that Paul Warfield, a team official, had spoken to Rogers at 8:15 a.m. Friday.

“He (Warfield) said Don was fine and seemed excited about getting married,” Byrne said.

Neighbors on Pebblewood Drive said they’d seen a white chauffeur-driven limousine pull up in front of the Rogers’ home. About an hour later, several people left the house, one carrying a case of beer, and got into the car.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said that at about 10 a.m. Friday, he heard a commotion coming from Rogers’ home. The neighbor said he was about to call an ambulance when he heard the approaching siren.

Mike Meighan, emergency medical technician of the Sacramento Ambulance Service, said that Rogers, dressed in a sweat suit, “was in a coma of unknown ideology” but was still alive when he was picked up.

Mercy San Juan spokeswoman, Connie Huff said Rogers “was unconscious when he arrived and remained unconscious until he died.”

Rogers’ death came eight days after the similarly shocking death of another young athlete, Maryland basketball player Len Bias. However, in Rogers’ case no evidence has yet surfaced of any drug involvement.

Donna O’Ray-King, a spokeswoman for the coroner’s office, asked about a drug involvement, said: “That’s not what we were told. We won’t know until we do an autopsy.”

The autopsy is scheduled to be performed today. Willeford said that the results probably wouldn’t be released until Monday or Tuesday but that some preliminary findings might be released before then.

Neither UCLA Coach Terry Donahue nor Athletic Director Peter Dalis could be reached for comment, but each issued a prepared statement.

Donahue said: “This is a tragedy of unbelievable proportions. Don was one of the greatest players in UCLA history and had his whole life in front of him. This is a great loss and we feel for his family.”

Dalis said: “All of us at UCLA are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Don was a fine young man, and our hearts go out to his family in this time of sadness. We really don’t have any details at this time.”

Browns owner Art Modell said: “On behalf of the Browns, I can only express our shock and anguish at the sudden and tragic death of Don Rogers. Tonight our prayers and thoughts are with his parents and fiancee. It is difficult to say more at a time like this.”

Browns Coach Marty Schottenheimer said: “Don was an important member of our football family. He made every effort to help us the last two seasons. He was one of our hardest workers and he provided leadership by his example. I know he was proud to be a Cleveland Brown and wanted to help this community and did it with his work in the Red Cross.”

Browns nose tackle Bob Golic said: “Everybody’s going to think about the Len Bias thing, and of course you don’t know until they do an examination. It’s such a loss, it’s unbelievable. Not only was he a great player, he was a really nice guy. His personality added a lot to the team.

“This really hits home. You see this guy every day and all of a sudden, he’s not around. It’s scary in a way. Here’s a guy in top physical condition. He just had a physical in May (at a mini-camp). These are very capable exams. How can a guy like that die?”

Ex-UCLA tackle Mike Barre, also of Sacramento, said: “I was Don’s host when he took a recruiting visit to UCLA. I was kind of his mentor. I brought him into the program. We were pretty close. I’m devastated. I don’t know what to say or think.”

The 6-foot 1-inch, 206-pound Rogers attended high school in Sacramento and entered UCLA as the designated replacement to star safety Ken Easley. The two roomed together when Easley was a senior and Rogers a freshman.

Easley, who said he could not recall Easley ever being sick or injured: “I loved Don Rogers like a brother,” he added. “It’s like a part of me has died along with him. He was a part of my family and a part of my life.

“I was very deeply affected by the death of Len Bias . . . and having this happen just two weeks after the death of Len Bias is very upsetting and depressing to me.

“I was supposed to fly down tomorrow (from Seattle) to be in his wedding,” Easley said. “Don was in my wedding.”

He said he spoke with Rogers last week.

“He was just as bubbly as ever,” Easley said. “He was excited about the prospect of getting married. He said he had found a good woman, and it was time to get married.”

In the Bruins’ 1983 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan, Rogers made 11 tackles, one of which knocked Michigan quarterback Steve Smith out of the game, resulting in headlines celebrating Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. In the ’84 rout of Illinois, Rogers intercepted two passes.

He made a first-team All-American on seven teams, including The Sporting News’, and was picked second team by Associated Press and United Press International. The 18th pick overall in the 1984 draft, he went directly into the Browns’ starting lineup.

Rogers’ brother, Reggie, is a star defensive tackle at the University of Washington, and is also projected as a No. 1 draft choice. Their sister, Jackie, played basketball at Oregon State.

The brothers were close. After signing his pro contract, Don bought Reggie a new car and advised his younger brother to drop basketball and concentrate on football.