Jeremiah Kelly dies at 18: Cincinnati mourns unexpected death of freshman football player

The Cincinnati Bearcats football team is mourning the unexpected passing of one of its freshman players, Jeremiah Kelly. 

On Tuesday, the team, including head coach Scott Satterfield, announced that Kelly, an offensive lineman, "unexpectedly passed" at his residence early Tuesday morning. 

Kelly was a true freshman who enrolled at Cincinnati this past spring.

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Here's everything we know about Kelly's passing, what Cincinnati has said about the news and more. 

Jeremiah Kelly death

Cincinnati released a presser on Tuesday confirming the tragic news of Kelly's death. 

"The Bearcats football family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of this outstanding young man," Bearcats coach Satterfield said in a statement. "In the short time Jeremiah has spent with our team, he has made a real impact, both on the field and in our locker room. My prayers are with the Kelly family and those who had the pleasure of knowing Jeremiah."

Kelly, who was a native of Avon, Ohio, was part of Cincy's 2025 recruiting class. He was a 3-star prospect, per 247Sports, and ranked as the No. 78 player from the state of Ohio.

The Bearcats' press release added that Kelly helped lead his alma mater, Avon High School, to a 16-0 record and state championship as a senior in 2024. 

Jeremiah Kelly cause of death

At the time, Kelly's cause of death is not known. 

This is a breaking news story that will be updated.