Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes, 33, has died after being diagnosed with liver disease two years ago.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Geno Hayes’ passing,” the Bucs said in a statement Tuesday. “During his time with the Buccaneers, Geno was a beloved teammate and often the first player to volunteer his time to our efforts in the community. He frequently visited schools and had a remarkable ability to connect with children. Losing him at such a young age is heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with his family.”
He had been placed into hospice care at his parents’ home in Georgia earlier this month.
Hayes told ESPN before entering the hospital last month that he had been placed on a waiting list for a liver transplant at the Mayo Clinic and Northwestern Medicine in December after being hospitalized over 20 times in the past year.
Hayes, who played for the Bucs from 2008 to 2011, the Chicago Bears in 2012 and Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 to 2014, was diagnosed with the condition while being treated for an unrelated medical issue.