Glenn Montgomery

Montgomery grew up in a poverty-stricken area and starred at West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana. His brother, Sean, a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic wrestling team, developed problems related to schizophrenia.[1] To help his brother, Montgomery accepted a scholarship to Houston, where his 12 sacks during his 1988 senior season was one short of a team record. Concerned about the welfare of his brother, he almost left the school, but he was talked out of it by the coaches.

The 6-foot (1.8 m), 283-pound Montgomery was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL Draft.[2] He became a starter by 1993. Despite his lack of height for his position, Montgomery steadily grew into a defensive force throughout his seven years with Houston.

In 1996, Montgomery was traded from the Oilers to the Seattle Seahawks.[3]

Montgomery was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease in July 1997 and died of the disease in Dallas, Texas on June 28, 1998. He was 31 years old.[4]

He founded the Glenn Montgomery Foundation, which helped patients coping with the disease.

In the months before his death, Montgomery had been working with a Houston television reporter on a series about the effects of the disease. The Houston Muscle Team Dinner, held shortly after Montgomery died, was dedicated to him. The event attracted more than 450 people and raised $107,000 to benefit MDA programs throughout the Texas Gulf Coast area.[5]

• Glenn Montgomery at Find a Grave