Demaryius Thomas, a Super Bowl champion and one of the franchise’s most successful pass catchers, was found dead at his Georgia home on Thursday night, according to police.
He was 33 years old, and no foul play was suspected.
“I can confirm that Demaryius Thomas was found deceased in his home this evening,” Roswell police officer and department spokesman Tim Lupo said in a statement.
“Preliminary information is that his death stems from a medical issue, and our investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise.”
Cousin LaTonya Bonseigneur said Thomas, found in a shower at his home, had been struggling with seizures recently.
“He had been suffering from seizures for over a year, and we believe he had a seizure when he was showering,” Bonseigneur said early Friday. “We’re not sure when he died. We just spoke with him yesterday.”
A personal driver of Thomas made the sad discovery, according to Bonseigneur.
“He was alone and a friend couldn’t get hold of him, so he called his driver, who has a key because of these seizures, and he went into his home and found him in the shower,” she said.
Thomas would have turned 34 on Christmas Day.
Thomas, a wide receiver who played in the Pro Bowl five times and helped the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, announced his retirement in June.
“The NFL family mourns the tragic loss of Demaryius Thomas and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” the league said on Twitter.