Korey Stringer

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Korey Stringer

| image = KoreyStringer.jpg

| alt = Korey Stringer

| caption = Stringer with the Vikings

| number = 77

| position = Offensive tackle

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|05|08|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Warren, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|8|1|1974|05|08|mf=y}}

| death_place = Mankato, Minnesota, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 346

| high_school = Warren G. Harding
(Warren, Ohio)

| college = Ohio State (1992–1994)

| draftyear = 1995

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 24

| pastteams = * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|1995|2000}})

| highlights = * Pro Bowl (2000)

Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
Minnesota Vikings No. 77 retired
Consensus All-American (1994)
First-team All-American (1993)
2× Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year (1993, 1994)
Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year (1992)
2× First-team All-Big Ten (1993, 1994)
Second-team All-Big Ten (1992)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 93

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 91

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 2

| pfr = StriKo00

}}

Korey Damont Stringer (May 8, 1974 – August 1, 2001) was an American professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. On August 1, 2001, Stringer died from complications brought on by heat stroke during the Vikings' training camp in Mankato, Minnesota.

Early life

Stringer was born in Warren, Ohio.National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/player/koreystringer/2503178/profile Korey Stringer]. Retrieved February 6, 2012. He attended Warren G. Harding High School in Warren,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120324155312/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=STRINKOR01 Korey Stringer]}}. Retrieved February 6, 2012. and was a member of the Harding Raiders high school football team. The Raiders won the football state championship in 1990.

College career

Stringer decided to attend Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1992 to 1994. His Buckeyes teammates included offensive tackle Orlando Pace and running backs Eddie George and Robert Smith. As a junior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.2010 Division I Football Records Book, [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/DI/2010/Awards.pdf Award Winners and All-Americans], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 10 (2010). Retrieved February 6, 2012.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 4 1/4

| weight = 345

| arm span = 33 1/4

| hand span = 11 1/4

}}

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Stringer in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1995 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1995/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Vikings from {{NFL Year|1995}} to {{NFL Year|2000}}. He was a standout on the offensive line, earning Pro Bowl honors in what turned out to be his final season in 2000.Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StriKo00.htm Korey Stringer]. Retrieved February 6, 2012. In six NFL seasons, he played in 93 regular season games and started 91 of them. As a professional player, Stringer was well-liked inside the locker room and out; after a Vikings game, he stopped to help a fan change a flat tire, and he impulsively signed over his Pro Bowl appearance check to a youth football program in his hometown of Warren.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2001/08/13/308989/requiem-for-a-viking-it-took-his-untimely-death-for-the-world-to-learn-about-korey-stringers-gentle-soul |title=Requiem for a Viking: It took his untimely death for the world to learn about Korey Stringer's gentle soul |author=Rushin, Steve |date=August 13, 2001 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=December 4, 2018}}

=Death at training camp=

Stringer suffered from heat stroke on the second day of the Vikings 2001 preseason training camp and died on August 1, 2001, as a result of complications.{{cite news |first1=Gary |last1=Mihoces |first2=Larry |last2=Weisman |url=http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/nicher/toohotwebquest/korey.html |title=Stringer's death rocks football world |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912201226/http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/nicher/toohotwebquest/korey.html |archive-date=September 12, 2006 |newspaper=USA Today |date=August 2, 2001 |access-date=February 6, 2012}} He was unable to complete the first practice session, held the morning of July 30, due to exhaustion, and did not participate in that day's afternoon session, but he vowed to return the next day to complete the morning session, which was conducted in full pads.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/02/sports/pro-football-heat-kills-a-pro-football-player-nfl-orders-a-training-review.html |author=George, Thomas |date=August 2, 2001 |title=PRO FOOTBALL: Heat Kills a Pro Football Player; N.F.L. Orders a Training Review |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}} Although he vomited three times, he did complete the morning practice session on July 31, which lasted 2{{frac|2}} hours, but walked to an air-conditioned shelter after the session, where he became weak and dizzy. Offensive line coach Mike Tice stated that he had not witnessed Stringer vomiting, and that Stringer did not exhibit any symptoms of heat-related illness. At 11:30 am, when practice ended, the heat index had reached 99 °F; the heat index peaked later that day at {{convert|110|F|C}} with a high temperature of {{convert|90|°F}}.

When he was taken to Immanuel St. Joseph's–Mayo Health System hospital, his body temperature was {{convert|108|°F}} upon arrival. Stringer was unconscious from the time he was admitted until his death at 1:50 am on August 1. An autopsy confirmed that Stringer died from organ failure resulting from heat stroke.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/08/10/stringer-autopsy-confirms-heatstroke/27dda428-e84f-4b18-bf57-d8fd91da66f2/ |title=Stringer Autopsy Confirms Heatstroke |date=August 10, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 26, 2018}}

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) investigated Stringer's death{{cite news |url=https://www.ehstoday.com/news/ehs_imp_34646 |title=OSHA Meets With Vikings Officials |date=August 9, 2001 |work=EHS Today |access-date=November 26, 2018}} and cleared the Vikings of responsibility on November 1, 2001.{{cite news |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/OSHA-Clears-Vikings-104030206/ |title=OSHA Clears Vikings |author=Yotter, Tim |date=November 1, 2001 |work=24-7 Sports |access-date=November 26, 2018}} The Vice President of the Vikings, Mike Kelly, met with MNOSHA officials along with the team's athletic trainer and equipment manager.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-09-sp-32414-story.html |title=Stringer's Death Is Under Investigation |author=Farmer, Sam |date=August 9, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}} However, under the governing labor laws, the Vikings would only be held liable if it was proven they were negligent or had inflicted intentional harm.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-05-sp-30926-story.html |title=Minnesota Labor Laws Favorable to the Vikings |agency=Associated Press |date=August 5, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}} Although the autopsy confirmed that Stringer was not taking supplements, the Vikings began preparing a defense to a planned lawsuit in November 2001 by announcing that Stringer's locker was full of dietary supplements, including some that contained ephedra.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-17-sp-5209-story.html |title=Vikings Say Stringer Had Diet Supplements |last1=Farmer |first1=Sam |last2=Lynch |first2=Rene |date=November 17, 2001 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}

=Legacy=

The Vikings retired his jersey number 77 on November 19, 2001, during the halftime of a Monday night game with the New York Giants in the {{NFL Year|2001}} season.

Stringer's widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the team and trainers in February 2002. The athletic trainers were granted summary judgment for immunity, which was upheld on initial appeal{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. Minnesota Vikings Football Club |vol=686 |reporter=N.W.2d |opinion=545 |date=2004 |court=Court of Appeals of Minnesota |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1591262/stringer-v-minnesota-vikings-football-club/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}} as well as a second appeal to the Supreme Court of Minnesota.{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. Minnesota Vikings |vol=705 |reporter=N.W.2d |opinion=746 |date=2005 |court=Supreme Court of Minnesota |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2158073/stringer-v-minnesota-vikings/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}} Parts of her lawsuit were later thrown out; another suit against the NFL was filed in July 2003 and settled in January 2009.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/sports/football/27stringerbox.html |title=Stringer's Widow Settles Lawsuit With N.F.L. |agency=The Associated Press |date=January 26, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2018}}{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. National Football League |vol=474 |reporter=F.Supp.2d |opinion=894 |date=2007 |court=United States District Court, S.D. Ohio |url=https://casetext.com/case/stringer-v-national-football-league |access-date=November 26, 2018}}{{cite court |litigants=Stringer v. National Football League |vol=749 |reporter=F.Supp.2d |opinion=680 |date=2010 |court=United States District Court, S.D. Ohio |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2473050/stringer-v-national-football-league/ |access-date=November 26, 2018}} The only disclosed term of the settlement is that the NFL will support efforts to create a heat illness prevention program.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3861331 |title=NFL, Stringer's widow settle lawsuit |work=ESPN |date=January 26, 2009 |access-date=February 6, 2012}} His widow also brought a lawsuit against Riddell Inc., the manufacturer of Stringer's pads and helmet. In July 2009, a federal judge determined that Riddell had a duty to inform Stringer that their equipment could contribute to heat injuries. A district court judge then ordered a jury trial regarding the matter.{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Seifert |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4324917 |title=Judge orders jury trial in Stringer suit |work=ESPN |date=July 13, 2009 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}

Stringer's death brought about major changes regarding heat stroke prevention throughout the NFL. His death also addressed complications of pressuring players to "bulk up" to well over {{convert|300|lbs}}. Stringer, who at the time of his death was {{convert|6|ft|4|in}} and weighed {{convert|335|lbs}}, was at the lowest weight he had ever been in his pro career.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/news/2001/0731/1233494.html |title=Vikings tackle Stringer dies from heatstroke |work=ESPN |date=August 9, 2001 |access-date=February 6, 2012}} Many professional football teams now train in light color uniforms, water and shade are made readily available, and a team doctor is at practice sessions at all times.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Korey's wife Kelci worked to establish an exertional heat stroke prevention institute to honor her husband's legacy. On April 23, 2010, the NFL and Gatorade joined the University of Connecticut to announce the creation of the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI),{{cite news |agency=NFL |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/connecticut-announces-opening-of-korey-stringer-institute-09000d5d817ba769 |title=Connecticut announces opening of Korey Stringer Institute |work=National Football League |date=April 23, 2010 |access-date=July 22, 2021}} a not-for-profit organization housed at the University of Connecticut dedicated to the prevention of sudden death in sports, with a focus on exertional heat stroke (EHS). KSI stems from the 2009 settlement, with Kelci Stringer teaming up with EHS expert, Dr. Douglas Casa, from the University of Connecticut, and the NFL. The mission of the Korey Stringer Institute is to provide research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter and laborer.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

On the 20th anniversary of his stroke, Korey's brother, Kevin, said "Any time there is a major change in how society does things, it's typically because somebody died or got hurt in some way, shape or form. I guess Korey's death was my family's turn to pay that cost. It bothers me sometimes if I hear of somebody having a heat-related injury, but I know even if that happens, there is more awareness of what to do. It took a while to get there, but we did."{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31850139/korey-stringer-death-20-years-later-lasting-impact-how-nfl-changed|title=Korey Stringer's death, 20 years later: The lasting impact and how the NFL changed|date=July 30, 2021}}