Jeremiah Kelly GoFundMe raises over $71,000 as authorities reveal University of Cincinnati football player’s cause of death

Freshman Jeremiah Kelly passed away unexpectedly at his home earlier this year. According to a GoFundMe support organized on behalf of Rae Kelly, he died in his sleep on the morning of April 22, 2025.

According to a recent ESPN report published on Tuesday, the player for the University of Cincinnati was discovered lifeless at his off-campus lodging. 

The outlet also obtained the coroner's report stating that Kelly died due to cardiac hypertrophy. He succumbed to a life-threatening condition where the heart muscle thickens suddenly. 

RIP Jeremiah Kelly. Lived right and died far too young.

— Reggie Jackson (@ReggieJack72481) July 23, 2025

On July 23, Reggie Jackson (@ReggieJack72481) mourned the loss of the young talent and penned on X (formerly Twitter),

"RIP Jeremiah Kelly. Lived right and died far to young."

Everything we know about Jeremiah Kelly's untimely passing

An official autopsy revealed heart disease as the cause of his death. The news of his untimely demise came as a major shock to many. 

Recently, a University of Cincinnati spokesperson opened up about the athlete's physical updates in a conversation with ESPN. Based on the shared information, Jeremiah had successfully cleared the NCAA-required pre-participation physical exam. 

Also, Kelly took part in spring training sessions with the Bearcats as an early enrollee. As per a People report, the Cincinnati Bengals confirmed him as one of the top 25 prospects of Northeast Ohio.

The spokesperson further continued,

"The Cincinnati football program and athletics department continue to mourn Jeremiah's passing. He is deeply missed by all of us."

Kelly is an Avon High School graduate. While playing for his school's team, he scored an impressive record of 16-0. His immense contribution helped his team to lift the first-ever state championship title last year. 

University of Cincinnati's football head coach, Scott Satterfield, mourned the loss of Jeremiah Kelly, as People cited. He released an official statement on the tragedy, noting,

"The Bearcats football family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of this outstanding young man. In the short time Jeremiah has spent with our team, he has made a real impact, both on the field and in our locker room."

He sent condolences, adding,

"My prayers are with the Kelly family and those who had the pleasure of knowing Jeremiah."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Cincinnati Bearcats (@gobearcats)

On April 22, Cincinnati Bearcats released an official statement and expressed their grief at losing the young footballer, sharing,

"We are mourning the loss of @gobearcatsfb freshman Jeremiah Kelly, who passed unexpectedly at his residence early Tuesday morning.  Our hearts are with the Kelly family as well as Jeremiah's friends and teammates."

Jeremiah Kelly's mother commented on the autopsy report

On July 22, 2025, his mother, Chiniqua Kelly, discussed Jeremiah's health status with ESPN. She revealed his late son was her "healthiest" kid. Also, he "never had any issues" in his short life.

During the conversation, Chiniqua also confessed that the recently revealed autopsy reports provided her "some closure." However, she keeps wondering if the unfortunate incident might have been avoided.

Looking back at the day before his passing, his mother shared that he spent that day resting at his house. Meanwhile, he also did some workout, but he wore his heart monitor throughout the time. As reported by ESPN, Jeremiah's mom conveyed,

"It just makes you want to be more aware, like if there's something that you can possibly save your child from."

Now, she is more careful about her other kids' health. She spoke about taking her sons to consult with a sports cardiologist.

A loved one organized a GoFundMe support for Jeremiah Kelly

As written on the fundraising website, Ashley Stephens, "a fellow Avon football mom and parent," launched the donation drive for "Jeremiah's Family After Loss." Expressing her affection for the football player, Stephens remarked,

"Jeremiah Kelly was an amazing kid and football player to the Avon High school community, soon to be 2025 Avon graduate and new to the Cincinnati Bearcat community. Early Tuesday Morning, April 22,25, Jeremiah sadly passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. Due to the unexpectedness of this, I am trying to help the family in this awful hard time!"

At the time of publishing, the campaign has raised $71,211. 

The tragic loss of Jeremiah Kelly, an 18-year-old Cincinnati freshman offensive lineman, to cardiac hypertrophy has left his mother, Chiniqua, grappling with grief and questions about whether his death could have been prevented.
She described him as her "healthiest child" with…

— Harishwar Pratap singh (@Pratap4916) July 23, 2025

X user @Pratap4916 reflected on the tragic death of Jeremiah Kelly and wrote an elaborate post on the X platform. He explained,

"The tragic loss of Jeremiah Kelly, an 18-year-old Cincinnati freshman offensive lineman, to cardiac hypertrophy has left his mother, Chiniqua, grappling with grief and questions about whether his death could have been prevented. She described him as her 'healthiest child' with no prior issues, making his sudden passing in April even more shocking."

Discussing the coroner's report, he also added,

"The coroner's report provided some closure, but Chiniqua is now focused on ensuring her other sons see a sports cardiologist to catch any silent heart conditions. This case underscores the importance of cardiac screenings for young athletes, as conditions like cardiac hypertrophy can go undetected without proper testing."

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