The Los Angeles Chargers and the National Football League are mourning the sudden passing of former offensive tackle Shane Olivea. Olivia was 40 years old when he passed away. On March 3, 2022, the Chargers were the first to post a statement on their website announcing his passing.
Olivea was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 draft by the then-San Diego Chargers. Olivea spent four seasons in the NFL, all with the Los Angeles Chargers.
His career accomplishments include being named to the All-Rookie team in 2004. He played 60 games at right tackle for the team and helped LaDainian Tomlinson have a 28-touchdown season in 2006. They concluded 2006 with an NFL-best 14-2 record.
Who was Shane Olivea?
Shanea Olivea was an American football player from Long Island, New York, who was born on October 7, 1981. Shane was first picked up by a team that used to be called the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL draft.
He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes before going pro. Before the NFL picked him up, he played for the Buckeyes from 2000 to 2003.
In 2008, Shane asked the San Diego Chargers, who are now the Los Angeles Chargers, to let him out of his deal so he could get help for his painkiller addiction. After being let go by the Chargers in February 2008, Shane went to a recovery center in the spring of that same year.
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Later, he signed with the New York Giants after spending 89 days in the center to get clean. After signing with the Giants, they let him go with an injury payment because he hurt his back. The athlete also played for the late Virginia Destroyers in 2011.
How Did Shane Olivea Die?
The cause of death has not yet been made public. The former Ohio State Buckeye was only 40 years old, but he had a history of prescription opioid addiction.
As a result of his addiction, the Chargers released him in 2008. During his first season, he developed an opioid addiction and attempted to get clean in rehab. After he was dismissed, no other NFL organization took another shot at him.
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In an interview with The Dispatch, Shane Olivea was candid about his past. He stated:
“At my height on Vicodin, I would take 125 a day.”It came to the point where I'd take 15 Vicodin and have to drink chocolate milk with them. I'd puke if I did it with water or Gatorade.”
Olivea did play two seasons in the United States Football League after his NFL career ended. He also went on to earn a degree in sports management from Ohio State in 2016. Oliviea was well-liked and respected by teammates and the University of Ohio.
