A fundraiser to support the wife and four children of late NFL player Matt Ulrich was launched Wednesday, raising over $30,000 as shock news of his death at age 41 emerged.
A cause of death for the former Colts player and Super Bowl winner has not been announced yet, but he leaves behind a wife, Alison, and four children in Gunther, Dalton, Bowden, and Thoreau.
The GiveSendGo campaign has been set up friends of the family with the money raised going directly to Alison.
The description reads: ‘As a way for the community to support Alison, Gunther, Dalton, Bowden, and Thoreau as they navigate forward, this GiveSendGo campaign has been formed to help people get involved.
‘All funds will go directly to the Ulrich boys. Thank you for the continued prayers, support, love, and lifting of their family.’
A fundraiser to support the family late NFL player Matt Ulrich quickly raised over $30,000
The GiveSendGo fundraiser was launched by friends to support Ulrich’s wife Alison and their four children – Gunther, Dalton, Bowden, and Thoreau
Tom McMakin, CEO of where Ulrich worked before his death, donated $20,000
Tom McMakin – the CEO of Profitable Ideas Exchange, where Ulrich worked up to his death – has donated $20,000.
‘Matt we will miss you so much. You had the biggest heart. Love to Ali and the boys,’ read the comment next to the donation from Tom and Mary McMakin.
Ulrich’s passing was announced by Colts owner Jim Irsay on Wednesday morning, who wrote on X: ‘I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich.
‘Matt was with us only two seasons, but left his mark on many. Great guy, I hear he was a great dad – and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family.’
Ulrich said being a part of the run with the Colts to Super Bowl glory was his proudest moment outside of his family commitments, telling Montana Sports in 2019: ‘One of the best days outside the four of my four children’s births and my wedding.
‘One of the best days of my life was just knowing we punched the ticket to the Super Bowl and we beat our arch nemesis, the Patriots, of course.’
Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the final, allowing Ulrich to get his hands on the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Ulrich played as an offensive guard for the Colts and after retiring from the sport, forged a career in the fitness industry.
Speaking about his move away from football in the same Montana Sports interview, Ulrich said: ‘I’d love to tell you that I could have played for another decade… the NFL stands for ‘Not For Long.’
‘I tell the athletes I work with, have something past football.’
