Former Titans Kicker Bironas Killed In Accident
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (KDKA/AP) - Former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas died Saturday night after a car accident near his home, according to police.
Metro Nashville Police said Bironas, 36, lost control on a curve in his 2009 GMC Yukon Denali and crashed after 11 p.m. less than a mile from home. Police said in a statement on the department website that 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 Bironas had worked out earlier this week 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.
In November, Rachel sat down with Y-108's Stoney Richards to talk about her country music career.
Rachel said she would often become frustrated as she pounded the pavement in search of a recording contract.
"I would go into these places and they would only want to talk about football or my dad and I would say, 'But I sing too I can do something,'" she said, "so it took a long time to have people take me seriously."
His verified Twitter account, RobBironas, stated Sunday morning: "It's w/ heavy hearts that we confirm the passing RB # 2 We appreciate your respect for the family's privacy and your prayers at this time."
It's w/ heavy hearts that we confirm the passing RB # 2 We appreciate your respect for the family's privacy and your prayers at this time.
— Rob Bironas (@RobBironas) September 21, 2014
Bironas was the fourth most-accurate kicker in NFL history, connecting on 85.7 percent of his kicks (239 of 279). Only David Akers made more field goals (247) between 2005 and 2013 than Bironas. For kickers with 100 or more field goals since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, Bironas ranked third making 75.2 percent of his kicks from 40 yards or longer (94 of 125).
He finished as the Titans' second all-time leading scorer, and he set a franchise record scoring triple digits in seven straight seasons. He also set an NFL record in 2011 in hitting a field goal from at least 40 yards in 10 consecutive games.
Bironas made a franchise-record 11 game-winning field goals during his career, including a 60-yarder against the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 that remains the longest field goal in Oilers or Titans history. Bironas kicked an NFL single-game record eight field goals in a 2007 victory over the Houston Texans, including a 29-yard game-winner as time expired. That helped him to make his only Pro Bowl, the same year he was an Associated Press All Pro.
The former Arena Football League kicker had worked as a part-time security guard and other jobs while trying to stick with an NFL team. He signed with Green Bay in 2002 and won a roster spot with the Titans in 2005.
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