David Croudip

David Rodney Croudip (January 25, 1958 – October 10, 1988) was an American professional football defensive back. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) and the United States Football League (USFL)'s Los Angeles Express and Houston Gamblers. Croudip died on October 10, 1988, at age 30.^[1][2] It was later determined he had ingested a fatal dose of cocaine.^[3] His death would be the first of three to strike the Falcons organization in the span of two years. The next year, offensive tackle Ralph Norwood was killed in a one-car crash.^[4] Four weeks later, tight end Brad Beckman was killed in a separate automobile collision.^[5]

David Croudip

No. 28, 30
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1958-01-25)January 25, 1958 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died:	October 10, 1988(1988-10-10) (aged 30) Duluth, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:	183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:	Compton (Compton, California)
College:	San Diego State
Undrafted:	1983
Career history
Los Angeles Express (1983) Houston Gamblers (1984) Los Angeles Rams (1984) San Diego Chargers (1985) Atlanta Falcons (1985–1988)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

References

1. Falcons back Croudip dies
2. "Falcon David Croudip Dies; Cocaine Cocktail Suspected". Los Angeles Times. October 10, 1988 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Sports People; Clearly, an Overdose". The New York Times. October 13, 1988. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
4. "Car Accident Kills Tackle Norwood". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1989. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
5. "Falcons End Brad Beckman Killed". Los Angeles Times. December 18, 1989. Retrieved February 12, 2018.

External links

• Death of an N.F.L. Player: Questions Persist- New York Times, October 27, 1988
• David Croudip at Find a Grave