Former kicker Bironas dies in car accident

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, TEnn.

Rob Bironas, who worked his way through odd jobs and the Arena Football League before becoming one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers, died in a car crash. He was 36.

The former Tennessee Titans player died Saturday night when he lost control on a curve in his 2009 GMC Yukon Denali and crashed after 11 p.m. less than a mile from home, Metro Nashville Police said.

In a statement on the department website, police said his SUV was speeding when it went off the road and hit a line of trees before coming to a stop upside down in a culvert.

Bironas was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs at the scene.

The Titans released Bironas in March after nine seasons. The Tennessean reported that Bironas worked out for the Detroit Lions and for Tampa Bay during the offseason.

Bironas married Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in June. Police spokesman Don Aaron said a police chaplain was with her after the crash. Bradshaw did not appear on the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show and was going to Nashville to be with his daughter.

A post on his verified Twitter account, (at)RobBironas, stated Sunday morning: “It’s w/ heavy hearts that we confirm the passing RB (hash) 2 We appreciate your respect for the family’s privacy and your prayers at this time.”

The Titans extended their condolences while it prepared to play a game at Cincinnati.

“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,” the team said in a statement.

Playing a few hours after they received the sad news, the Titans lost to the Bengals 33-7 on Sunday, falling to 1-2 with their worst performance of the season.

“It was real tough, with him being on the team all those years,” running back Shonn Greene said. “We had some of our motivation and energy to play for him. It didn’t work out.”

Quarterback Jake Locker had a particularly rough time, going 17 of 34 for 185 yards with two sacks and two interceptions, one of them thrown into a crowd in the end zone.

“It’s one of those things that give you perspective,” Locker said. “It reminds you to be thankful for the people in your life. Rob was a charismatic guy that always brought smiles to people’s faces around the building. It’s tough to see it happen to someone so young, who was just recently married. You feel for him and his loved ones that are left behind.”

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean noted that Bironas was a favorite of the fans.

“I got to know Rob through the many community events he supported in our city,” Dean said in a statement. “He was down to earth, and it was clear he loved Nashville. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”

Bironas was the fourth most-accurate kicker in NFL history, connecting on 85.7 percent of his kicks (239 of 279).