Mitch Petrus who played three seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, died Thursday of an apparent heatstroke.
Petrus, 32, felt ill after working outside all day at his family's shop in Arkansas, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
The Pulaski County coroner listed the cause of death as heatstroke.
Parts of Arkansas were under a heat advisory Thursday with temperatures reaching the mid-90s and "feels like" temperatures above 100, the Democrat-Gazette reported.
Petrus was a walk-on player at the University of Arkansas and awarded all-Southeastern Conference honors.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mitch Petrus," the Arkansas football program said on social media Friday. "He was an outstanding competitor, incredible teammate and a true Hog. He will be greatly missed by many. Rest easy Mitch."
Petrus was drafted in the fifth round in 2010 by the Giants. He won a Super Bowl with them the following season. He briefly played with the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans his last season.
He retired in 2013 and moved back to central Arkansas.
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