Former Giants QB Jared Lorenzen Dies At 38

Jared Lorenzen #13 of the New York Giants high fives his teammates during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Giants Stadium on November 11, 2007 in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Photo credit Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

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Former Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen has died at the age of 38, his family announced on Wednesday.

Lorenzen had been admitted to the hospital at the end of June due to issues with his heart, his kidney and with an infection. Lorenzen’s family released a statement confirming the sad news.

"It is with heavy hearts that the family of Jared Lorenzen, would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for all of your support and prayers over the past six days. We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Jared today, July 3, 2019. Again, we appreciate all of the warm wishes and prayers but as a family we would request your respect and privacy."

Lorenzen spent three years as a member of the Giants after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2004. At first, he was the third string quarterback, then after a year he became the main backup to Eli Manning. He earned a ring for being a part of the New York team that pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

The Giants also released a statement following the news of his passing.

Statement from #NYGiants:Jared was a special person, and a beloved Giant. He was an important member of our 2007 team, one that created its own destiny. Our thoughts are with Jared’s family and friends who loved and appreciated him so much, just as our organization and fans did. pic.twitter.com/z6TLw8WeO2

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 3, 2019

The Covington, Kentucky native was a bit larger than most quarterbacks, and Lorenzen subsequently battled obesity for much of the rest of his life. At one point, he weighed more than 500 pounds, but he had recently lost over 100 pounds. His battle with his weight was documented by ESPN in a piece for E:60 in 2018.

Lorenzen set records during his four years at the University of Kentucky, including the school's marks for passing attempts, passing yards and completions.

In addition to his time with the Giants and Wildcats, Lorenzen also played for a few different Kentucky-based teams in various indoor football leagues.