Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver is mourning the death of his two-year-old son, Ed Jr, who drowned in a Houston swimming pool on June 28.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane publicly expressed condolences on Saturday on behalf of the organization, describing the loss of the child as an unthinkable tragedy for any parent.
First responders were dispatched to Oliver's home on June 28 after his parents discovered the toddler unresponsive in an outdoor swimming pool near Houston, TMZ reported. Emergency medical services transported the child to a local hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.
The Harris County Sheriff's department released a statement on social media on the evening of the incident regarding a toddler drowning in a neighborhood north of Houston. "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the toddler's family during this incredibly difficult time. The investigation is ongoing," the sheriff's office stated at the time, without disclosing names or ages.
Bills support Oliver during training camp
The Buffalo Bills organization has been aware of the tragedy since it took place in late June, according to ESPN. Oliver has continued to participate in team activities during training camp ahead of the 2026 National Football League season.
The 28-year-old defensive tackle also featured in Buffalo's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers last weekend. Oliver has asked for privacy and prayers for his family as they grieve.
"On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we want to publicly express our condolences to Ed Oliver and his family on the devastating loss of his son," Beane said in a statement released Saturday. "It is an unthinkable tragedy for any parent. We will continue to support Ed and his family as we all grieve this tragic loss."
The Bills traveled to Cleveland on Saturday for their penultimate preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Oliver did not travel with head coach Joe Brady's squad as he recovers from a minor injury, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.
Background on Buffalo tackle Ed Oliver
Oliver grew up in Houston, Texas, and played college football for his hometown university, the University of Houston Cougars. He committed to the program after declining scholarship offers from major college football programs including the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, and the University of Oklahoma.
The defensive lineman was selected by Buffalo as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. He has played his entire professional NFL career with the Bills franchise.
Similar pool drowning involving NFL family
The tragedy marks another pool drowning involving an NFL player's child in recent years. In 2023, Arrayah Barrett, the two-year-old daughter of NFL linebacker Shaq Barrett, died after drowning in a residential swimming pool.
Officers from the Tampa Police Department responded to a distress call regarding a child who had fallen into a pool in the Beach Park area of Tampa, Florida. Arrayah Barrett, who had celebrated her second birthday weeks earlier, was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel were unable to revive her, according to reports from The Tampa Bay Times.
