- A standout New Jersey high school football athlete has died at age 16 after falling into a coma from a brain injury.
Xavier McClain, a standout New Jersey high school football athlete, died at age 16, two weeks after falling into a coma after suffering an apparent traumatic brain injury during a game, authorities said.
The Linden High School sophomore’s death occurred Wednesday and was announced by Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, a close friend of the McClain family and who was present during the tragic game.
Linden Pray Warriors, we prayed for a miracle and hoped for a different outcome. I trust that God knows better. HE needed an angel and decided to call Xavier home to be with HIM. With your prayers, Xavier fought a good fight. Continue to keep the family in your prayers. #RIP pic.twitter.com/VaLGW5WYnc
— Derek Armstead (@derek_armstead) September 22, 2022
New Jersey HS football player dies after suffering head injury during game https://t.co/MrNEJSs8XG pic.twitter.com/HVoEKYpj3W
— New York Post (@nypost) September 23, 2022
“Together we prayed for a miracle and hoped for a different result. I trust God knows best” Derek Armstead, Mayor of Linden
The youngster was injured during a Sept. 9 game against Woodbridge, taking a brutal hit as he returned a kickoff to start the second half, sources told NJ.com.
McClain was in a coma for nearly two weeks at University Hospital. “Together we prayed for a miracle and hoped for a different result. I trust God knows best,” Mayor Armstead wrote on Twitter. “With his prayers, Xavier fought a good fight. Ultimately, he succumbed to the injuries he suffered a couple of weeks ago while playing football during the LHS Tigers game against Woodbridge.”
The teen was one of a select few sophomores to earn starting time on the school’s varsity team, and even played on occasion last year as a freshman.