“It’s been really fun to be friends with him. Just because he’s such a genuine person, and he treats me and my family like they’re his own family, too, which – it’s very awesome.” That’s what Travis Kelce once said about George Kittle. And honestly, it speaks volumes. Kittle’s heart is wide open, and when he calls someone a friend, he means it. Just like he did with Charles “Ace” Rogers, his longtime buddy from the lowa days.
Even though they played for rival teams, George Kittle with lowa, Charles Rogers with Minnesota, they stayed close. That bond never faded. But this week, heartbreak hit hard, as Rogers passed away, leaving the San Francisco 49ers’ tight end crushed.
Kittle took to Instagram with two quiet but powerful tributes on his stories on Sunday. He shared photos from their college years, full of smiles, but now soaked in sadness. One story featured them after an lowa vs. Gophers game, arms around each other, smiling like life was good. But now in this situation, Kittle’s caption broke hearts: “Life sucks sometimes. Can’t believe you are gone my brother Charlie. You lit up every room you were in. (heartbreak emoji).”
On Saturday, the former football player was running the Brooklyn Half Marathon. However, he passed away after suffering a medical episode. And now that he is gone, Kittle can’t express what he has been going through. After all, he has already suffered his wife’s miscarriage. So, he knows life is really tough.
Hence, paying tribute to him in another story, he shared a picture where both Kittle and Rogers were goofing off, just being themselves.“Couldn’t help but have fun all the time,” TE wrote. And you could feel it – Rogers wasn’t just an opponent or a buddy. He was joy, energy, and laughter for the TE. And now, his memory lives on in Kittle’s heart forever.
What exactly happened on that fateful day in George Kittle’s friend’s life?
Charles Rogers was just 31 when his life suddenly ended during the Brooklyn Half Marathon. This news hit like a punch to the chest to his family and friends, including George Kittle. So, what exactly happened on Saturday?
According to the reports, Rogers collapsed around mile eight after going into cardiac arrest, and that was it, gone way too soon. Charles wasn’t just a former Gophers safety, he was the kind of guy whose smile lit up every room, as mentioned by Kittle. Even a Gophers spokesman said, “Charles was a terrific young man who had an infectious smile and personality. We will keep his family and friends in our thoughts as they mourn this tragic loss.”
George Kittle’s buddy started his college journey at lowa State, moved through lowa Western, and finally landed with the Gophers in 2015. Even though injuries kept him off the field more than he deserved, he still gave it everything, even earning Academic All-Big Ten. But after football, he built a life in Manhattan with his wife and worked for Verizon. However, now that he is gone, his friends, teammates, and the running community are left with heartbreak, memories, and a silence that feels way too loud. We all will miss you, Rogers!
The post “Life Sucks”: Grieving George Kittle Mourns Close Friend’s Tragic Loss After Collapse in Half Marathon appeared first on EssentiallySports.
