- Matt Ulrich’s death was announced by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay
- The 41-year-old won the Super Bowl while playing for the Colts in 2006
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
A fundraiser was launched on Wednesday to support the wife and four children of late NFL player Matt Ulrich, raising more than $30,000 as the shocking news of his death at age 41 emerged.
A cause of death for the former Colts player and Super Bowl winner has not yet been announced, but he is survived by his wife, Alison, and four children in Gunther, Dalton, Bowden and Thoreau.
The GiveSendGo campaign is set up as friends of the family and the money raised goes 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 was created to help people get involved.
“All funds go directly to the Ulrich boys. Thank you for the continued prayers, support, love and support for their family.”
A fundraiser in support of the family’s late NFL player Matt Ulrich quickly raised more than $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 until his death – donated $20,000.
“Matt, we will miss you so much. You had the biggest heart. Love to Ali and the boys,” read the note next to Tom and Mary McMakin’s donation.
Ulrich’s passing was announced Wednesday morning by Colts owner Jim Irsay, who wrote on X: “I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich.
‘Matt was only with us for two seasons, but he left his mark on many. Great guy, I heard he was a great dad – and he was a Super Bowl champion. My prayers for his family.”
Ulrich said participating in the race 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 of the birth of four of my four children and my wedding.
“One of the best days of my life was knowing that we had punched the ticket to the Super Bowl and, of course, we had beaten our nemesis, the Patriots.”
Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the finals, allowing Ulrich to get his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Ulrich played as an offensive guard for the Colts and built a career in the fitness industry after retiring from the sport.
Regarding his transition from football, Ulrich said in the same interview with Montana Sports, “I would love to tell you that I could have played another ten years… the NFL stands for ‘Not For Long.’
“I tell the athletes I work with that they have something beyond football.”