Photo: Getty
Shane Olivea, a former defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers and Ohio State University Buckeyes, died this week. He was 40.
Olivea’s NFL team (now the Los Angeles Chargers) confirmed his death in anews releaseissued Thursday, writing that the organization was “saddened” to learn of Olivea’s death.
“In 2006, Olivea was an integral piece of an offensive line that helped Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson break the NFL’s single-season touchdown record,” the statement continued. “Olivea started all 16 games that season at right tackle.”
In a 2016 interview with theColumbus Dispatch, Olivea talked about his personal battle with painkillers.
“There wasn’t one day in the NFL I wasn’t high on a pill after my rookie year,” Olivea told theDispatch.
“At my height on Vicodin, I would take 125 a day,” he said. “It got to the point I would take a pile of 15 Vicodin and would have to take them with chocolate milk. If I did it with water or Gatorade, I’d throw it up.”
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On social media, former colleagues of Olivea mourned his passing.
“Very sad to hear the news of my former teammate Shane Olivea. Praying for his family today,“tweetedRoman Oben, a former San Diego Chargers offensive lineman.
“On the heels of two of my great friends (Buckeye Teammates) Birthdays…. Schlegs and Nuge Woke to the sobering news that@OhioStateFB lost a great one this morning. Shane Olivea passed last night. Shane played OT at OSU from 2000-2003. National Champ and All Big 10,” Carpentertweetedon Thursday.
“More importantly,” Carpenter added, “I’ll never forget the kindness he showed to a young freshman who was clueless and didn’t know anything about anything.#RIPShane#Thankyou.”
source: people.com
