Darren Drozdov, a former NFL football player who pursued a career as a professional wrestler but was cut off after being paralyzed in an accident in the ring, died Friday. he was 54 years old.
The death at Atlantique Regional Medical Center in Pomona, New Jersey, was confirmed by his sister Romi Drozdov and his agent and longtime friend Cliff Stein. His cause of death was not immediately revealed.
Before Drozdov rose to fame in wrestling, he was the first N.FL player to come to the public eye. Stein said he was injured after the footballer vomited during Monday night’s game. According to some reports, he vomited several times.
Drozdov grew up in Mays Landing, New Jersey, where he spent most of his adult life. He attended the University of Maryland, where he played football, and graduated in 1992 with a BA in Criminal Justice.
After graduating, he signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie. Drozdov, who stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 280 pounds during his soccer career, also played for the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Stein said he began thinking about a career in professional wrestling while playing for the Montreal Alouettes, a professional Canadian football team. It was always in the back of his mind.
“His personality was so diverse, the Mohawk, the tattoos, the way he spoke, everyone said, ‘You’re a wrestler,'” Stein recalls. “He called you ‘brother.’ He will come pick you up. His presence was huge.”
Known as Droz and Puk, Drozdov was eventually accepted into WWE’s training program. After that, he appeared in many more matches. According to WWE, he became a member of popular tag team The Road Warriors and became known for an episode of “Drowse World.”
Early in his career, he participated in WWE training programs alongside other prominent wrestlers such as Matt Bloom, aka Prince Albert, and actor Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, who mourned Drozdov’s death. was on Twitter.
“We fought together on many cards,” Johnson wrote. “What a great guy. Great personality and great wrestling talent. We always talked about football and fishing. Sending love, strength, mana and light to the family. Rest in peace brother.”
In 1999, Drozdov suffered a quadriplegic injury during a wrestling match at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, ending his wrestling career.
He botched a stunt and was thrown onto the mat by opponent Darrow Brown, landing on his head instead of his back and breaking two discs in his neck.
Drozdov was born on April 7, 1969 in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Olaf Drozdov and Cindy Drozdov. His mother was in the real estate business and ran three laundromats. His father was a professor at his community college in Atlantic Cape, New Jersey.
Survivors include Drozdov’s parents and sister. She married in 1999 but divorced in 2001.
Drozdov’s sister helped take care of him after he was injured. He spent a lot of time cheering on his four children, she said.
“He loved watching them grow,” Drozdov said. “He went to soccer games, football, tennis, whatever. I could always find him on the sidelines my kids were in.”
He also continued hunting, one of the many outdoor sports he enjoyed.
Kevin Plank, a friend of Drozdov and founder of the sportswear company Under Armor, said: wheelchair Stein said it was essentially a “wheeled tank” that allowed Drozdov to move through the forest.
Drozdov’s family said he was constantly on the positive side of the wrestling accident.
in the statementthey quoted his own words.
“There’s always the next day,” he said. “Just because I’m paralyzed and in a wheelchair doesn’t mean my life is over. I’ve learned to live again, and my life isn’t over yet.”
