The torn mother of Louis Nix III paid tribute to the former Notre Dame star and the Giants defensive lineman, who was found dead on Saturday at the age of 29.
Stephanie Wingfield remembered the Jacksonville, Florida native as incredibly kind and always willing to help a friend.
“If he hadn’t glued his head to his body, he would have given it to you” she told Action News in Jacksonville Sunday. “People wanted autographs. He was never too busy, he always signed an autograph. I always took the time to talk to people. ”
Nix was reported missing Wednesday and his car was found three days later in a pond in Jacksonville.
Before I could pull anything out, “I’m sorry,” I started yelling, “No, no, no, no, no, no! Wingfield recalled that the police informed her of the news.
A police investigation is underway, Wingfield said.
“God took him after he took him,” Wingfield said. “I don’t understand, but at least he left here with God in his life.”
It is not yet known if Nix’s death was related to an incident in December, when he was hospitalized for 10 days after he was shot while filling his car tires at a gas station near Jacksonville airport.
Nix played in four games for the Giants in 2015. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent time with Washington and the Jaguars after a distinguished career with Notre Dame.
“He was a vibrant man who went through these halls … I lost someone early on,” said Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. told reporters Monday. “We are devastated by this.”