Dean Wells, former NFL linebacker and Kentucky standout, dead at 54 following cancer battle

Dean Wells, who played for astir a decennary in the NFL pursuing a standout vocation astatine the University of Kentucky, died Thursday pursuing a two-year conflict with cancer. He was 54. 

Wells spent the archetypal six years of his NFL vocation with the Seattle Seahawks aft helium was selected successful the 4th circular of the 1993 draft. He signed with the Carolina Panthers successful 1999, wherever helium played for different 3 seasons earlier officially retiring successful 2001. 

FILE - Dean Wells, #95 of the Carolina Panthers, runs connected the tract during the crippled against the Green Bay Packers astatine Lambeau Field successful Green Bay, Wisconsin connected Dec. 12, 1999. (Jonathan Daniel /Allsport)

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The Panthers announced Wells’ passing connected the squad website Friday. 

Wells archetypal opened up astir his crab diagnosis successful an interview with On3.com successful April 2024. He said helium had been diagnosed the erstwhile twelvemonth with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

"There’s intelligence toughness that comes into it. You person to person a affirmative cognition that you tin bushed it. I’ve done everything that I tin with that. It’s similar the chemo either works oregon it doesn’t. You conscionable don’t person a batch of power implicit it. You privation you had much control," helium said astatine the time. 

FILE - Linebacker Dean Wells, #95 of the Seattle Seahawks, looks connected during the crippled against the San Diego Chargers astatine the Qualcomm Stadium successful San Diego, California, connected Oct. 25, 1998.  (Todd Warshaw /Allsport)

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According to the Mayo Clinic, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is simply a crab of the humor and bony marrow successful which "the illness progresses rapidly and creates immature humor cells, alternatively than mature ones."

Wells finished his pro vocation with 529 tackles, 2.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions. It followed a standout career at Kentucky wherever Wells inactive holds the records for astir sacks successful a crippled (5) and the single-season sack grounds (10). 

"Condolences to household & friends of Dean Wells, who has passed away," the assemblage said successful a connection connected societal media. 

FILE - New England Patriots WR Terry Glenn is brought down by Carolina linebacker Dean Wells during the archetypal 4th of Thursday's crippled successful Foxborough. (John Bohn/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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"A 3-year starter, helium acceptable a UK single-game grounds with 5 sacks vs. Indiana and went connected to a 9-year NFL career. After NFL retirement, helium returned to hometown Louisville and was a staunch protagonist of the Wildcats."

Wells is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their 2 sons. 

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