Former NFL player and Louisville native Rob Bironas dies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Former NFL player and Louisville native Rob Bironas, 36, died as a result of a car crash Saturday.

It's been nearly 20 years since Bironas played football at Trinity High School, but some ties to home don't fade even with time or distance. His former football coach, Dennis Lampley, has had Bironas' picture on his desk for almost a decade.

"He sent me a text message and he said, 'Coach, I want you to come to our wedding,'" Lampley said.

Lampley made the trip to Dallas back in June. Bironas was marrying Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of football legend Terry Bradshaw. She's a country singer in Nashville.

"The thing about it, I've never seen him so happy in my life. Everytime I've seen him he's always up beat, but knowing he was going to get married to her, that was a special occasion, big time, and you hate to see it end like this, so quick," Lampley told WDRB News.

Saturday night police say Bironas lost control of his SUV on a curve near his Nashville home. He hit several trees before flipping upside down. Police say the 36-year-old died at the hospital. Police say there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol at the scene.

Lampley was also in Nashville when he got the news. "It's hard when you see something like that happen to a young man, 36 years old, he's got his future in front of him."

Lampley says Bironas was recruited from the soccer team and he quickly noticed the kicker was something special. He went on to play for the Tennessee Titans for nine seasons.

"He had a heart of a champion and he never gave up and that fight obviously proved to be worth it because I consider him one of the greatest NFL kickers ever, especially of our time and our generation," said former Trinity teammate, Matt Reecer.

"Off the field he was just a very nice guy, very charismatic, always had a smile on his face and always willing to help a friend or a fellow teammate," Reecer told WDRB News.

The Tennessee Titans released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened to hear the tragic news from last night about Rob Bironas. Rob made a significant impact as a player in his nine years with the team and more importantly touched many lives in the Nashville community off the field."

It's clear he touched many lives in Louisville too.