Former Detroit Lions defensive back Stanley Wilson Jr. has died after collapsing at a mental health hospital earlier this month. He was 40.
The Lions confirmed Wilson’s death to the Detroit Free Press.
According to TMZ, Wilson collapsed during the intake process at Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.
He was declared incompetent to stand trial following a vandalism arrest and was transferred from county jail to Metropolitan hospital. Wilson had been in police custody since his August arrest for breaking into a Hollywood Hills, Calif., mansion.
Wilson played in 32 games (nine starts) for the Lions after being selected in the third round of the 2005 draft out of Stanford. He had 89 tackles, eight passes defensed and a forced fumble in his career. Wilson sustained a season-ending Achilles injury during a 2008 preseason game and never played again.
Wilson is the son of Stanley Wilson Sr., who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1983-88. He missed two full seasons for substance abuse. He famously missed Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989 after he was discovered under the influence of cocaine in his hotel room the night before the game.
