Former NFL player and Texas A&M’s all-time leading rusher Darren Lewis has died at age 55 of cancer, the university announced Friday, about a year after he was granted compassionate release following a sentence of 27 years in prison for several armed robberies.
The university did not disclose how it learned of Lewis’ death. The former two-time All-American running back, who remains the Southwestern Conference’s top running back, battled cocaine addiction after football as he, too, went through a divorce and the loss of his home in 1995.
He was sent to prison more than once, most recently in August 2014, when he pleaded guilty to three criminal charges related to armed robberies near Dallas in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was later sentenced to 27 years. in a federal prison.
He was diagnosed with cancer while in prison in Pollock, Louisiana. Lewis was allowed to leave for medical treatment.
He recently entered palliative care, according to several published reports.
Former NFL and Texas A&M running back Darren Lewis died from cancer diagnosed in prison
Despite his legal problems and addiction problem, Lewis made history while playing for A&M.
While playing four seasons with the Aggies between 1987 and 1990, Lewis rushed for 5,012 yards. His college career was highlighted by a 1,692-yard season in 1988. He also ran for 1,691 yards in 1990.
In 1988 he was the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year and was named to his first All-America team.
He was the second-leading rusher in the country that season behind Barry Sanders, who rushed for 2,628 yards.
Nicknamed ‘Tank,’ Lewis finished tied for eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1990 when he broke the Southwestern Conference rushing record previously held by SMU’s Eric Dickerson, who rushed for 4,450 yards. That season earned him his second All-America honor.
The Texas A&M Aggies shared a heartfelt post announcing Lewis’ death on Instagram on Friday.
Lewis was selected in the sixth round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears and played for them for three seasons. His stock fell in the draft after he was the only player to test positive for drugs at the league combine.
Born in Dallas, Lewis played at local powerhouse Carter High School and then went on to Texas A&M. He had the two best rushing seasons for the Aggies before Trayveon Williams broke his record, rushing for 1,760 in 2018.
His 5,012 career rushing yards ranked him fifth on the NCAA’s all-time rushing list at the end of his college career.
He never tested positive after being drafted by the Bears. He played in 33 games with five starts, rushing for 431 yards.
