Neiron Ball, a former Raiders linebacker who has been in a coma since December of 2018 as the result of a rare congenital brain condition, has died, the family announced.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Neiron Ball on September 10, 2019 at 4:15 am. The Ball family is forever grateful for the prayers, donations, and immense support of Neiron and his recovery. Neiron was a very special and loving father, brother, and teammate. Neiron has transitioned to a place of peace,” wrote Ball’s sister Natalie Myricks in a Facebook post.
Ball’s passing was noted in a series of tweets by Raiders tackle Trent Brown, a . The two played together in college at Florida and became even closer when Ball was a Raiders rookie in 2015 and Brown played across the Bay for the 49ers.
Some tears you just don't be prepared for… 🕊️
— Trent Brown (@Trent)
Weezy foreva
— Trent Brown (@Trent)
Suffer no more 🕊️
— Trent Brown (@Trent)
Ball was stricken by an arterviouvenous malformation in 2011 while at Florida. Itap a condition which causes blood vessels to tangle and rupture. He recovered to play, and also battled back from a serious knee injury that required microfracture knee surgery to become a fifth-round draft pick by the Raiders.
He played six games in 2015, his rookie year, starting twice and recording a sack against the Cleveland Browns.
Ball also made an impact off the field. In his year with the Raiders, Ball who also suffered an AVM, as well as his family.
Physicians thought Ball’s rare condition had been corrected after a radiation treatment, but he suffered an episode a year ago that .
He was 27 years old.
