Football Player Tyler Ulrich Dies After Severe Head Injury

A 21-year-old Southern Nazarene University safety died Thursday morning, five days after a traumatic head injury in a Division II college football game. He was hurt on Oct. 10 at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas, spent the week in a hospital, and died at 11:13 a.m. on Oct. 15.

Tyler Ulrich wore No. 30 for the Crimson Storm. He was a sophomore from Azle, Texas, and he was studying finance. The school shared the news Thursday afternoon. His father confirmed it in a Facebook post the same day. A town in North Texas and a campus in Oklahoma are now grieving the same young man.

Key Points

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• Ulrich, 21, was injured on Saturday, Oct. 10, in a road game at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
• The game stopped for a long stretch while medics worked on him. He was taken to a hospital and stayed in critical condition.
• Southern Nazarene announced his death on Thursday, Oct. 15. His father said he died at 11:13 a.m.
• The school called it a “traumatic injury.” His father said it was a head injury.
• SNU canceled its Oct. 17 road game at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
• A verified GoFundMe for the family had raised close to $14,000 by Thursday afternoon.

What Happened to Tyler Ulrich on the Field

The injury came during a 49-14 loss at Ouachita Baptist. Arkadelphia sits about 65 miles southwest of Little Rock. Ulrich went down after a play, and the officials stopped the clock. Medical staff worked on him in front of both teams.

The delay was long and quiet. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram put the stoppage at 45 minutes. Fox News described a halt of nearly an hour. Either way, both sidelines waited while trainers and paramedics treated him on the grass. He was then moved to a hospital.

A play-by-play announcer at the game called it one of the most horrifying things he had ever seen on a football field, a detail relayed by KOCO News 5. Neither the school nor the family has released the exact medical cause.

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Five Days in the Hospital

Ulrich never woke up enough to go home. He stayed in critical condition all week. Family, teammates, and friends rotated through the hospital.

SNU President Dr. Keith Newman described those days in his statement. “Tyler sustained a traumatic injury during last Saturday’s football game. Since that time, he has been in the hospital, continually surrounded by the love, prayers, and presence of his family, teammates, and dear friends.”

The campus held a prayer chapel on Tuesday. Newman said the school leaned on Psalm 62 that day. He later urged everyone to “keep Tyler’s family, teammates, coaches, and friends in your continued prayers during this unimaginably difficult time.” The school’s Renew Counselling Centre and campus pastors opened their doors to students and staff.

His Father Shared the News

Mark Ulrich posted on Facebook earlier this Thursday that the family “truly needs a miracle.” Hours later, he wrote again.

“Our family is truly blessed to receive all the love and prayers for our young Tyler, and we are ever grateful,” he posted. “But as much support and love that was given, it is with a heavy heart, I am writing to say the Lord called Tyler this morning at 11:13 a.m.”

He added a line about his son’s life. “Tyler will join many of our loved ones that have passed. Tyler led a life full of faith, passion, and being a BEAST on the football field!!! He will be remembered always.”

SNU Athletics posted its own message. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of our SNU football player, Tyler Ulrich. This loss is deeply felt across our campus. Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We ask that you join us in lifting them up in prayer during this incredibly difficult time.”

Who Tyler Ulrich Was as a Player

He stood 5-foot-10 and weighed 200 pounds. He joined the Division II program in Bethany, Oklahoma, straight out of high school. This was his third season with the team.

Across his career, he appeared in 20 games and started 16 of them. He started all six games this fall. Southern Nazarene’s own season stats credit him with 39 total tackles, 17 solo, and 22 assisted, which ranked third on the roster. Yahoo Sports carried that same number. Some earlier reports listed 36, a figure taken before the sheet was updated.

Head coach Dustin Hada posted a short tribute on X. “Man of God, ultimate example of quiet strength, loyal, worker, joyous. That’s who Tyler was!!”

Former SNU assistant Josh Stansell used one word. “No other way to describe the young man,” he wrote. “A rare breed. Up for every task, always putting his teammates before self. The 1 thing Tyler loved more than his teammates was his faith in Jesus Christ.”

Azle, Texas Remembers Its Own

Before college, Ulrich played at Azle High School. He earned second-team all-district honors and academic all-state recognition there. He also competed in powerlifting at the state level. He wore No. 30 in Azle too.

Longtime Azle coach Jason Vines spoke with NBC 5 before the family’s announcement reached Texas. “He is a very selfless man, young man, and a very, very good teammate. It’s something that you would, as a coach, if you could create the perfect teammate, it would be Tyler,” Vines said.

In a separate sit-down with WFAA, Vines went further. “When I think of good, I think of Tyler Ulrich,” he said. “One of the sweetest young men I’ve ever been around, ever known.” He also said Ulrich kept coming back to Hornet Stadium over the summer to coach up younger kids. “He loves everybody, and he never met a stranger.”

Vines wrote to his staff after the death. “This news will hit people differently. However, this news impacts you; please know you are not alone. One of the many great things about living and serving in a community like Azle is that you are always surrounded by people who are ready to support.”

Renee Frasier, who works at a café in town, summed up the mood. “It’s heart-wrenching. And my thoughts and prayers are with that family. It definitely hit home: I have three kids of my own.”

SNU Cancels Saturday’s Game

Southern Nazarene scrapped its Oct. 17 trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Crimson Storm sat at 1-5 when the season stopped for them. ESPN confirmed the cancellation alongside the school’s announcement.

Southwestern Oklahoma State Athletics responded with a statement of its own. “Our thoughts & prayers are with the Southern Nazarene football program and university community during this difficult time.”

Azle ISD’s athletic department plans to meet about honoring Ulrich at the upcoming high school homecoming game. His family has asked for privacy.

How People Can Help

Friends set up a verified GoFundMe for the Ulrich family. It described a young man with dreams, a future full of possibilities, and a heart rooted in faith. The fund had collected nearly $14,000 by Thursday afternoon and kept climbing.

Only one fundraiser has been set up in his memory: GoFundMe. Photos shared with the page show him in his SNU No. 30 jersey. That jersey now belongs to the people who loved him.

FAQs

Who was Tyler Ulrich?

Ans:Tyler Ulrich was a 21-year-old safety at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. He grew up in Azle, Texas, wore No. 30, and majored in finance.

How did Tyler Ulrich die?

Ans:He suffered what his school called a traumatic injury during a game on Oct. 10. His father said it was a head injury. The exact medical cause has not been released.

When did Tyler Ulrich die?

Ans:He died on Thursday, Oct. 15, five days after the game. His father wrote that the Lord called him at 11:13 a.m. that morning.

What game was Tyler Ulrich injured in?

Ans: He was hurt during Southern Nazarene’s 49-14 road loss at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Play was stopped for roughly 45 minutes to an hour.

Did Southern Nazarene cancel its next game?

Ans: Yes. SNU canceled its Oct. 17 road game at Southwestern Oklahoma State. The team was 1-5 at the time.

How can people support the Ulrich family?

Ans: The family has one verified fundraiser at gofund.me/e44ab94d4. It had raised close to $14,000 by Thursday afternoon and remains the only official fund.

Sources & References:

• Fox News –The match was stopped when trainers and paramedics treated him on the grass.

• ESPN –Southern Nazarene cancelled its Oct. 17 trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State.

• NBCDFW –Long-time Azle coach Jason Vines said that he is a very selfless man, young man, and a very, very good teammate.

• Yahoo! Sports –He had 39 total tackles, 17 solo, and 22 assisted, which ranked third on the roster.