'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABlAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAcQAAIBAwQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECBAAREgMFBgcUIVEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMGEQABAwQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMFAAQGEhEhEzEy/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCzl/bUnYOVxoWlFdo0LBpSh7HX8hRYD5he4ra23EBiMT6NKUDREpuoq+iq3ymJj4+Ixt+2Z8bl3Y7vlsS7lqC89r19V//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When Marquis Cooper was a professional NFL player, one couldn't exactly call him a star athlete. Over the span of his limited career, Cooper played for six teams, the last of which was the Oakland Riders in 2008. Unfortunately, it was his untimely and tragic death that brought him into the limelight.
Cooper's life was lost in a fatal boating accident (2009), which also claimed the lives of another NFL player, Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida player William Bleakley. The only survivor was Nick Schuyler, who also played for the University of South Florida.
Trending
Considering the circumstances, only Schuyler was able to make it by clinging to the boat. He was found two days later. The climate was so severe that no one was even able to recover the remaining bodies.
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
The four friends were out in the Gulf of Mexico, and the boat itself wasn't properly anchored. When they did try to move ahead and fix it, the boat capsized. As per previous reports, it was Marquis Cooper who tried to thrust the boat ahead. However, it ended up submerged and the four men were thrown overboard.
The flashes they retreived also ended up being useless, as they had gotten wet.
"Overall, it's just a mistake in anchoring," agency Investigator Jim Manson said.
Marquis Cooper enjoyed a successful time at the University of Washington
Though he played for six NFL teams, he won the Rose Bowl while with the University of Washington. Apparently, Cooper worked his way to becoming an athlete and finally started playing for Highland High School as an All-State strong safety.
Born in Arizona in 1982, Marquis Cooper let go of the chance to play at Arizona State University and chose the University of Washington in 2000. It was in college that he started playing as a linebacker. As a freshman, Cooper played every game for their team (Huskies), and even helped secure the Rose Bowl.
He graduated with a degree in sociology.
Ultimately, he was selected in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft as the 79th overall pick. His career spanned over 42 regular-season games, resulting in 36 tackles. He made three postseason appearances.
Before his death, he had signed with the Oakland Raiders for the 2008 season, playing eight games for the team.
He is survived by his wife Rebekah and daughter Delaney Christine. Marquis Cooper was only 26 at the time of his death. A week after his death, Rebekah filed for a presumptive death certificate, which meant that she could collect his life insurance.
His father, Bruce, was a famous sports reporter for KPNX for around three decades.
