Former NFL player Keion Carpenter dies at 39

Former NFL player Keion Carpenter died Thursday at the age of 39, according to a family spokesperson.

Carpenter, who made his NFL debut with the Buffalo Bills in 1999, played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2002 to 2005. He had 14 interceptions in six NFL seasons.

According to the Bills' official website, Carpenter collapsed and suffered a brain aneurysm while he was running. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but fell into a coma. It happened while Carpenter was on vacation with his family.

Carpenter, a Baltimore native, played college football at Virginia Tech.

"He had a heart of gold," former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer said. "His work with The Carpenter House and other charitable organizations to help those in need truly embodied the Virginia Tech spirit."

The Carpenter House was a nonprofit organization that helped underprivileged families find homes.

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