View source for Korey Stringer

{{Short description|American football player (1974–2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Korey Stringer
| image       = KoreyStringer.jpg
| alt         = Korey Stringer
| caption     = Stringer with the Vikings
| number      = 77
| position    = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1974|05|08|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Warren, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2001|8|1|1974|05|08|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Mankato, Minnesota]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lb   = 346
| high_school = [[Warren G. Harding High School|Warren G. Harding]] <br> (Warren, Ohio)
| college     = [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] (1992–1994)
| draftyear   = 1995
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 24
| pastteams   = * [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|1995|2000}})
| highlights  = * [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]])
* [[Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor]]
* [[Minnesota Vikings#Retired numbers|Minnesota Vikings No. 77]] retired
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1994 College Football All-America Team|1994]])
* First-team All-American ([[1993 College Football All-America Team|1993]])
* 2× [[Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year]] (1993, 1994)
* [[Big Ten Freshman of the Year|Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year]] (1992)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1993 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1993]], [[1994 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1994]])
* Second-team All-Big Ten ([[1992 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1992]])
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 93
| statlabel2  = Games started
| statvalue2  = 91
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3  = 2
| pfr         = StriKo00
}}

'''Korey Damont Stringer''' (May 8, 1974 – August 1, 2001) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for six seasons. He played [[college football]] for the [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State Buckeyes]] and was recognized as an [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]]. He was selected in the first round of the [[1995 NFL draft]] by the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. On August 1, 2001, Stringer died from complications brought on by [[heat stroke]] during the Vikings' training camp in [[Mankato, Minnesota]].

==Early life==
Stringer was born in [[Warren, Ohio]].<ref name=nflprofile>National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/player/koreystringer/2503178/profile Korey Stringer].  Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref> He attended [[Warren G. Harding High School]] in Warren,<ref name=dbfprofile>databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120324155312/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=STRINKOR01 Korey Stringer]}}.  Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref> and was a member of the Harding Raiders [[high school football]] team.  The Raiders won the football state championship in 1990.

==College career==
Stringer decided to attend [[Ohio State University]], where he played for the [[Ohio State Buckeyes football]] team from 1992 to 1994.  His Buckeyes teammates included offensive tackle [[Orlando Pace]] and running backs [[Eddie George]] and [[Robert Smith (running back)|Robert Smith]].  As a junior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team [[All-American]].<ref>''2010 Division I Football Records Book'', [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/DI/2010/Awards.pdf Award Winners and All-Americans], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 10 (2010).  Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 4 1/4
|       weight = 345
|     arm span = 33 1/4
|    hand span = 11 1/4
}}
The [[Minnesota Vikings]] drafted Stringer in the first round (24th pick overall) of the [[1995 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1995/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played for the Vikings from {{NFL Year|1995}} to {{NFL Year|2000}}.<ref name=nflprofile/>  He was a standout on the offensive line, earning [[Pro Bowl]] honors in what turned out to be his final season in 2000.<ref name=pfrprofile>Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StriKo00.htm Korey Stringer].  Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref>  In six NFL seasons, he played in 93 regular season games and started 91 of them.<ref name=pfrprofile/> As a professional player, Stringer was well-liked inside the locker room and out; after a Vikings game, he stopped to help a fan change a flat tire, and he impulsively signed over his Pro Bowl appearance check to a youth football program in his hometown of Warren.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2001/08/13/308989/requiem-for-a-viking-it-took-his-untimely-death-for-the-world-to-learn-about-korey-stringers-gentle-soul |title=Requiem for a Viking: It took his untimely death for the world to learn about Korey Stringer's gentle soul |author=Rushin, Steve |date=August 13, 2001 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>

===Death at training camp===
Stringer suffered from [[heat stroke]] on the second day of the Vikings 2001 preseason [[training camp (NFL)|training camp]] and died on August 1, 2001, as a result of complications.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Gary |last1=Mihoces |first2=Larry |last2=Weisman |url=http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/nicher/toohotwebquest/korey.html |title=Stringer's death rocks football world |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912201226/http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/nicher/toohotwebquest/korey.html |archive-date=September 12, 2006 |newspaper=USA Today |date=August 2, 2001 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> He was unable to complete the first practice session, held the morning of July 30, due to exhaustion, and did not participate in that day's afternoon session, but he vowed to return the next day to complete the morning session, which was conducted in full pads.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/02/sports/pro-football-heat-kills-a-pro-football-player-nfl-orders-a-training-review.html |author=George, Thomas |date=August 2, 2001 |title=PRO FOOTBALL: Heat Kills a Pro Football Player; N.F.L. Orders a Training Review |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> Although he vomited three times, he did complete the morning practice session on July 31, which lasted 2{{frac|2}}&nbsp;hours, but walked to an air-conditioned shelter after the session, where he became weak and dizzy.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> Offensive line coach [[Mike Tice]] stated that he had not witnessed Stringer vomiting, and that Stringer did not exhibit any symptoms of heat-related illness.<ref name=LAT-2001-08-09 /> At 11:30&nbsp;am, when practice ended, the [[heat index]] had reached 99&nbsp;°F;<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10 /> the heat index peaked later that day at {{convert|110|F|C}} with a high temperature of {{convert|90|°F}}.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 />

When he was taken to [[Immanuel St. Joseph's|Immanuel St. Joseph's–Mayo Health System hospital]], his body temperature was {{convert|108|°F}} upon arrival.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> Stringer was unconscious from the time he was admitted until his death at 1:50&nbsp;am on August 1.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> An autopsy confirmed that Stringer died from organ failure resulting from heat stroke.<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/08/10/stringer-autopsy-confirms-heatstroke/27dda428-e84f-4b18-bf57-d8fd91da66f2/ |title=Stringer Autopsy Confirms Heatstroke |date=August 10, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) investigated Stringer's death<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_34646 |title=OSHA Meets With Vikings Officials |date=August 9, 2001 |work=EHS Today |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> and cleared the Vikings of responsibility on November 1, 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/OSHA-Clears-Vikings-104030206/ |title=OSHA Clears Vikings |author=Yotter, Tim |date=November 1, 2001 |work=24-7 Sports |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> The Vice President of the Vikings, Mike Kelly, met with MNOSHA officials along with the team's athletic trainer and equipment manager.<ref name=LAT-2001-08-09>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-09-sp-32414-story.html |title=Stringer's Death Is Under Investigation |author=Farmer, Sam |date=August 9, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> However, under the governing labor laws, the Vikings would only be held liable if it was proven they were negligent or had inflicted intentional harm.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-05-sp-30926-story.html |title=Minnesota Labor Laws Favorable to the Vikings |agency=Associated Press |date=August 5, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> Although the autopsy confirmed that Stringer was not taking supplements,<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10 /> the Vikings began preparing a defense to a planned lawsuit in November 2001 by announcing that Stringer's locker was full of dietary supplements, including some that contained [[Ephedra (medicine)|ephedra]].<ref name=LAT-2001-11-17>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-17-sp-5209-story.html |title=Vikings Say Stringer Had Diet Supplements |last1=Farmer |first1=Sam |last2=Lynch |first2=Rene |date=November 17, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref>

===Legacy===
The Vikings retired his jersey number 77 on November 19, 2001, during the halftime of a [[Monday Night Football|Monday night game]] with the [[New York Giants]] in the {{NFL Year|2001}} season.<ref name=LAT-2001-11-17 />

Stringer's widow filed a [[Wrongful death claim|wrongful death lawsuit]] against the team and trainers in February 2002. The athletic trainers were granted summary judgment for immunity, which was upheld on initial appeal<ref name=686-N.W.2d-545>{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. Minnesota Vikings Football Club |vol=686 |reporter=N.W.2d |opinion=545 |date=2004 |court=Court of Appeals of Minnesota |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1591262/stringer-v-minnesota-vikings-football-club/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> as well as a second appeal to the [[Supreme Court of Minnesota]].<ref name=705-N.W.2d-746>{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. Minnesota Vikings |vol=705 |reporter=N.W.2d |opinion=746 |date=2005 |court=Supreme Court of Minnesota |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2158073/stringer-v-minnesota-vikings/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> Parts of her lawsuit were later thrown out; another suit against the NFL was filed in July 2003 and settled in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/sports/football/27stringerbox.html |title=Stringer's Widow Settles Lawsuit With N.F.L. |agency=The Associated Press |date=January 26, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. National Football League |vol=474 |reporter=F.Supp.2d |opinion=894 |date=2007 |court=United States District Court, S.D. Ohio |url=https://casetext.com/case/stringer-v-national-football-league |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. National Football League |vol=749 |reporter=F.Supp.2d |opinion=680 |date=2010 |court=United States District Court, S.D. Ohio |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2473050/stringer-v-national-football-league/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> The only disclosed term of the settlement is that the NFL will support efforts to create a [[heat illness]] prevention program.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3861331 |title=NFL, Stringer's widow settle lawsuit |work=ESPN |date=January 26, 2009 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref>  His widow also brought a lawsuit against [[Riddell Sports Group, Inc.|Riddell Inc.]], the manufacturer of Stringer's pads and helmet.  In July 2009, a federal judge determined that Riddell had a duty to inform Stringer that their equipment could contribute to heat injuries.  A district court judge then ordered a jury trial regarding the matter.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Seifert |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4324917 |title=Judge orders jury trial in Stringer suit |work=ESPN |date=July 13, 2009 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref>

Stringer's death brought about major changes regarding heat stroke prevention throughout the NFL.  His death also addressed complications of pressuring players to "bulk up" to well over {{convert|300|lbs}}. Stringer, who at the time of his death was {{convert|6|ft|4|in}} and weighed {{convert|335|lbs}}, was at the lowest weight he had ever been in his pro career.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/news/2001/0731/1233494.html |title=Vikings tackle Stringer dies from heatstroke |work=ESPN |date=August 9, 2001 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> Many professional football teams now train in light color uniforms, water and shade are made readily available, and a team doctor is at practice sessions at all times.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Korey's wife Kelci worked to establish an exertional heat stroke prevention institute to honor her husband's legacy. On April 23, 2010, the NFL and Gatorade joined the University of Connecticut to announce the creation of the [[Korey Stringer Institute]] (KSI),<ref>{{cite news |agency=NFL |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/connecticut-announces-opening-of-korey-stringer-institute-09000d5d817ba769 |title=Connecticut announces opening of Korey Stringer Institute |work=National Football League |date=April 23, 2010 |access-date=July 22, 2021}}</ref> a [[not-for-profit]] organization housed at the [[University of Connecticut]] dedicated to the prevention of sudden death in sports, with a focus on exertional [[heat stroke]] (EHS). KSI stems from the 2009 settlement, with Kelci Stringer teaming up with EHS expert, Dr. Douglas Casa, from the University of Connecticut, and the NFL. The mission of the Korey Stringer Institute is to provide research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter and laborer.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

On the 20th anniversary of his stroke, Korey's brother, Kevin, said "Any time there is a major change in how society does things, it's typically because somebody died or got hurt in some way, shape or form. I guess Korey's death was my family's turn to pay that cost. It bothers me sometimes if I hear of somebody having a heat-related injury, but I know even if that happens, there is more awareness of what to do. It took a while to get there, but we did."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31850139/korey-stringer-death-20-years-later-lasting-impact-how-nfl-changed|title=Korey Stringer's death, 20 years later: The lasting impact and how the NFL changed|date=July 30, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of American football players who died during their careers]]
*[[Jordan McNair]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Find a Grave}}
* [https://ksi.uconn.edu/about/korey-stringer-institute/ Korey Stringer Institute]
{{Big Ten Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}{{1994 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1995 NFL Draft}}
{{Vikings1995DraftPicks}}
{{Minnesota Vikings}}
{{VikingsFirstPick}}
{{Vikings Retired Numbers}}
{{Vikings Ring Of Honor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stringer, Korey}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Deaths from hyperthermia]]
[[Category:Minnesota Vikings players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Warren, Ohio]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in Minnesota]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Warren G. Harding High School alumni]]