The San Francisco 49ers family is mourning the loss of former offensive lineman Jordan Devey, who passed away Thursday at the age of 38.
Devey, a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, spent the 2015 season in the Bay Area after being acquired in a trade and contributed as a versatile member of the offensive line during a transitional year for the franchise.
Devey’s wife, Linsey Hodgkiss Devey, shared the news in an emotional Facebook post on Friday, which would have marked the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary. “Today would have been our 15th year anniversary,” she wrote. “You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you.”
For 49ers fans, Devey’s time in scarlet and gold was relatively brief but notable. Acquired from the Patriots in August 2015, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound guard quickly earned a starting role. Under head coach Jim Tomsula, he opened the season as the first-team right guard and went on to appear in 15 games that year, starting nine.
He provided needed depth and flexibility along an offensive line that was navigating injuries and change during Colin Kaepernick’s final full season as the primary starter.
The 49ers tendered him a one-year contract the following March before waiving him in May 2016. From there, Devey continued his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills, finishing with 44 regular-season games played and 21 starts across seven NFL seasons.
Devey’s path to the NFL was anything but conventional—a story that resonated during his short stint in Santa Clara. Knee issues from Osgood-Schlatter disease kept him from playing high school football.
Instead, he thrived as a tuba player in the nationally recognized American Fork High School marching band (including a performance at President George W. Bush’s 2005 inaugural parade) and later served a two-year Latter-day Saint mission in Costa Rica.
He walked on at Snow College, transferred to Memphis, started every game over two seasons, and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2012 before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.
After retiring, Devey settled in Eagle, Idaho, where he remained deeply involved in football as a youth and high school coach and mentor. Those who knew him described a devoted husband, father, and community member whose influence extended well beyond the field.
Devey’s time with the 49ers may have been short, but he will certainly be remember in the Bay Area.
Condolences go out to Devey’s family in this difficult time.
