Former Central Michigan Chippewas quarterback Tommy Lazzaro has tragically died at the age of 27.
Reports claim the Colorado native was killed in a fatal hunting accident on December 22 in Destin, Florida.
According to News 10, the incident happened at the Eglin Air Force Base and Lazzaro was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office described the incident as a ‘tragic hunting accident’.
Known as ‘Touchdown Tommy’, Lazzaro played 20 times for the Chippewas and helped them reach the MAC Championship Game in 2019 after going 8-6 for the season.
The quarterback racked up 758 yards and five touchdowns in the air during his time at Central Michigan. He added 542 yards and 11 scores on the ground.
Former Central Michigan Chippewas quarterback Tommy Lazzaro has died at the age of 27
After graduating with a degree in entrepreneurship, Lazzaro enlisted in the Army and made it to sergeant.
Lazzaro’s former coach, Jim McElwain, paid a heartbreaking tribute. He said: ‘When we took over the program, Tommy was truly our leader in so many ways.
‘CMU Football was blessed to have him and will always remember him for all he did for many of us. He will be missed by all of the Chippewas.’
‘He was a great soul,’ former CMU athletic director Michael Alford told The Detroit News. ‘Couldn’t have met a better person who cared about others.’
In 2019, Lazzaro opened up on his experience at CMU, both on and off the field.
‘This place has given me a home, an education, a place to meet some of my best friends ― guys I’ll know for the rest of my life,’ he told student newspaper CM Life.
