Former NFL Player Oliver Gibson Passes Away at 53

Oliver Gibson, a former NFL defensive lineman who played for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, has sadly passed away, as confirmed by his family and Notre Dame. He was just 53 years old.

Gibson was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 draft after a successful college career with the Fighting Irish. His draft class included notable players like Mark Bruner, Cordell Stewart, and Brenden Stuy.

His NFL career spanned nine seasons, during which he spent four years with the Steelers and five with the Bengals.

Notre Dame expressed their sorrow in a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Oliver Gibson. We express our sadness to his family and friends.”

Over his career, Gibson played in 133 games, achieving 17.5 sacks and recording 243 tackles. One of his standout seasons was in 1999 when he notched 4.5 sacks and 41 tackles, playing all 16 games with the Bengals that year.

He played professionally from 1995 to 2003. Several former players, including Chad Ochocinco, took to social media to share their condolences.

Gibson was recognized for his talent even in high school, earning the title of USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year in Lomeville, Illinois.

In 2014, he returned to Notre Dame, where he took on the role of head soccer coach and was also involved as an assistant basketball coach.