Former first-round National Football League draft pick of the Chicago Bears, John Thierry, has passed away at the age of 46.

“The Chicago Bears offer their deepest condolences on the passing of former linebacker John Thierry,” the team said in a statement released Saturday. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family.”

“When we drafted John we believed we were getting as good a person as football player,” former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said, via the Chicago Sun-Times.  “My thoughts go out to John’s family.”

Thierry was drafted in 1994 by Chicago. He would play five seasons with the Bears. In total he would play nine seasons in the National Football League.

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After leaving the Bears as a free agent after those first five years, Thierry spent one season with the Browns, two with the Packers, and one with the Falcons. He amassed 33.5 total sacks during his nine-year career. During the 2000 season with the Packers, he started all 16 games.

His rise to becoming a pro is a rather neat one, as he didn't go the traditional route of playing for a historic college football program. Instead, Thierry starred for Alcorn State. For those unaware, that isn't exactly how most future pros end up getting to that level of football.

As of this writing, the cause of death is being ruled as a heart attack. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to his friends and family.