‘‘On behalf of the entire Colts family, our sincerest condolences go out to Jerry’s family and friends,’’ Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said in a statement. ‘‘He was a good teammate that was well liked by all. Today’s tragic news is just another reminder of how fragile life is and how everyday given is a gift.’’
Brent and Brown played at Illinois from 2007 to 2009. Brent played as a freshman and finished his career with 71 tackles and five sacks. Shortly after his guilty plea on the DUI charge, Brent entered the supplemental draft with a year of eligibility remaining, and the Cowboys took him in the seventh round.
Brown, who took a redshirt season at Illinois the year before Brent arrived, had 13 tackles combined in 2007 and 2008 but didn’t play in 2009.
‘‘I can’t believe it,’’ Travon Bellamy, a former Illinois teammate, wrote on Twitter. ‘‘Before people pass judgment on Josh, they need to know that he is a good person that made a bad mistake.’’
Brown played for San Antonio in the Arena Football League this year. In 2011, he played for Jacksonville in the AFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.
He was born and grew up in St. Louis, attending Vashon High School.
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Associated Press writers Michael Graczyk in Houston and Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report.
