Former Notre Dame star and NFL player Louis Nix III dies at 29

Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Louis Nix III, who spent three seasons in the NFL with multiple franchises from 2014 to 2016, was found dead Saturday in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., After being reported missing earlier in the week, the Fighting Irish announced on Sunday. Nix was 29 years old.

Nix’s family have confirmed his death to CBS Sports and local Jacksonville media.

Nix’s mother reported her son was missing on Friday. She said he was last seen leaving his father’s Jacksonville home on Tuesday. Nix and his mother speak frequently, so she told WJAX-TV’s Ben Becker that her son’s sudden lack of communication was out of the ordinary for him.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday night that it had “located” Nix, but did not release any additional information. The announcement came less than an hour after authorities pulled a vehicle out of a pond which closely matched Nix’s vehicle description in a call earlier in the day to help him find him.

Nix was recently shot while putting air in his tires during a theft at a gas station in December 2020. His mother said she did not believe this incident was related to his disappearance. However, she said Nix was reluctant to leave her home and was carefully monitoring her surroundings. He underwent surgery after the shooting and said on Twitter that the bullet ricocheted off his sternum and into his lung.

After leaving Notre Dame after the 2013 season, Nix jumped into the NFL with four teams in three seasons, most recently the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the NFL Draft. 2014 after notching 122 tackles and 14 TFLs during his time with the Fighting Irish.