CINCINNATI — Korey Cunningham, who was a former University of Cincinnati football team captain and an NFL veteran, died at 28 years old this week. 

"The Cincinnati Athletics Department and football family are heartbroken at the news of the passing of Korey Cunningham. Korey was a team captain with an incredible work ethic and an infectious personality. He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates during this time," Cincinnati Athletics and Bearcats Football said in a statement. 

Originally from Montevallo, Ala., Cunningham was on the UC football team between 2013 to 2017. During his time, he collected all-ACC Second Team accolades in 2017, and he played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl postseaon all-star game. 

He graduated in 2017 with a degree in health education with a concentration in exercise fitness. After college, he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He played for five seasons, 31 games total, with the Cardinals, New England Patriots and New York Giants.