It’s the kind of tragedy none of us can imagine, but former NFL tight end Todd Heap is living with today. Yesterday Heap accidentally hit his three-year old daughter while moving his truck forward in his own driveway at his home in Phoenix, Ariz. She died later at a local hospital.
Praying for Todd Heap and his family. One of the nicest players I've been around during my scouting career. Can't imagine the pain.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 15, 2017
Heap spent 12 years in the NFL, primarily with the Baltimore Ravens for his first 10 seasons. Heap was not impaired and authorities are already calling the death as an “accident,” though I’m sure that’s not much solace to Heap, his wife Ashley and their four other children.
“We cannot imagine the heartbreak and sorrow Todd and Ashley’s family feels right now,” The Ravens said in a statement. “This is knee-buckling news and an overwhelmingly sad tragedy. Our prayers, our thoughts and our hearts are with the Heaps, who have contributed so much to the Ravens and Baltimore community. We believe their deep faith and tremendous support from friends and family will help them through this unimaginable time.”
The Todd Heap news is just shattering. Your mind won't even let you go to that place as a parent. I pray for Todd and his family.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) April 15, 2017
Heap’s former teammate Jonathan Ogden released the following statement.
“This is so disturbing. I can’t imagine the pain he is going through right now,” Ogden said. “He has got to carry this the rest of his life, and he is going to think about it quite often. Man, there are no words. There is nothing I can say to tell you how I feel right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. He has to keep the faith, got to keep moving and somehow get on with his life. This is just terrible and I just wish there was something I could do. I’m at a loss for words. I feel for him.”
Please keep our @NFL brother Todd Heap and his family in your prayers! This is truly a tragic… https://t.co/vuywRs4lFp
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) April 15, 2017
Heap spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring in 2012. They too released a statement.
“Our hearts go out to Todd, Ashley and the Heap family,” the Cardinals said. “It is a grief that is beyond words and one in which no family should ever experience. Hopefully, the prayers, love and support of their incredible group of friends and family provide them comfort that along with their strong faith will lead them through this unspeakably difficult time.”
.@P2 shares an emotional message to his friend and former teammate Todd Heap. #12Sports pic.twitter.com/moiQjsxt6K
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 15, 2017
Heap was drafted in the first round of the 2001 draft by the then Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens as the heir apparent to NFL Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. Heap’s best season came in 2005 when he caught 73 passes for 855 yards and seven touchdowns. Injuries hampered him over his final two season with the Cardinals and he appeared in just 12 games from 2011-2012. Heap was inducted into the Ravens’ ring of honor in 2014.
“This is very sad,” Heap’s former teammate Peter Boulware said. “Todd is an incredible family man, and family has always been extremely important to him. His kids are very important, plus he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. This breaks my heart. He knows that our prayers and the prayers of the Ravens extended family go out to him. If there is anything we can do, he knows we will reach out. I have five kids myself, so I can’t imagine anything like this.”
Heap made two Pro Bowls in 2002 and 2003 and was named an All-Pro in 2003. His final career numbers were 499 catches, 5,869 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Outside of football, Heap’s charitable work helped save countless lives. In 2007 he personally donated $1 million to complete MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center’s pediatric ward, the Todd Heap Family Pediactric Center. The president of the medical center, Samuel E. Moskowitz, spoke with the Baltimore Sun today.
“We are so deeply saddened by this unspeakable tragedy facing our friend, Todd Heap, and his family,” Moskowitz said. “It was with his kind, heartfelt support in 2007 that we opened the Todd Heap Family Pediatric Center in the emergency department at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, where every child who has come through those doors since gently reminds us of the indelible legacy Todd left in our community. On behalf of all of us at MedStar Franklin Square, we offer our prayers and support to the Heap family during this difficult time.”
As with the rest of the NFL and NFL media community, our hearts here at Get More Sports go out to Todd, Ashley and their entire family.
