UPDATE: 5/9/25 at 10:22 a.m. ET — UNLV football player Ben Christman died of heart disease and an irregular heartbeat, the Clark County Coroner’s Office announced on Thursday, May 8, nearly three months after his death. The manner of his death was determined to be natural.
Original story below:
College football offensive lineman Ben Christman has died at the age of 21.
Christman had recently transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who announced the student-athlete’s death on Wednesday, February 12.
According to a statement from the university, Christman was found dead in an off-campus apartment on the morning of Tuesday, February 11. No further details about the circumstances were provided.
UNLV said the cause of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office at a later time.
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“Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing,” UNLV head football coach Dan Mullen said in a statement. “Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”
Christman transferred to UNLV after beginning his collegiate career at Ohio State, where he redshirted his freshman season and appeared in one game for the Buckeyes in 2022. Christman then transferred to Kentucky, appearing in all 12 games on special teams for the Wildcats in 2024 after sitting out the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL.
“We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of Ben Christman, a new member of our football program and UNLV community,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a statement. “Ben recently joined us as a transfer student and had already made a meaningful impact on his teammates and coaches. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates during this extremely difficult time. Counseling services are being provided for anyone in need.”
UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield said, “There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him. On behalf of UNLV, our sincere condolences are with Ben’s family, friends, loved ones, and teammates during this very difficult time.”
In August 2023, Christman posted an image from his hospital bed via Instagram after his leg surgery.
“It’s only up from here, you just gotta wait…,” he wrote. “I never thought I would have to make a post like this, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Just a couple weeks ago, my season was sadly cut short as I had suffered a torn ACL. I will be back and better from this…”
