Dean Wells, who spent nine seasons in the NFL following an impressive collegiate career, passed away on Thursday after a two-year struggle with cancer, as confirmed by the Panthers on Friday.
He was 54.
Several sources indicate that Wells was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023 and underwent a bone marrow transplant during the previous spring.
Last year, he discussed with On3 his battle.
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Tell me who to tackle, and I can handle it, Wells told the outlet This is with the doctors and also in God's hands.
Wells, born in Louisville in 1970, played for the Kentucky Wildcats as an outstanding defensive player. He established both the team’s single-season sack record with 10 and the single-game high of five sacks.
The institution acknowledged his contributions through a post on social media.
Condolences go out to the family and friends of Dean Wells, as shared by the football team on X," they stated. "Serving as a three-year starter, he achieved an impressive feat during his time at UK when he recorded five sacks in one game against Indiana. This led him into a nine-year professional journey in the NFL. Following his retirement from professional play, Wells came back to his hometown of Louisville where he remained a dedicated advocate for the Wildcats.
In the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft, Wells was selected by the Seahawks, where he went on to play for six years.
Before emerging as a dominant player in his fourth year, he was granted an opportunity to begin during his third season. In this pivotal season, he notched a personal best of 107 tackles over 16 matches (with 15 starting assignments).
During his last six seasons, Wells achieved at least 45 tackles every year.
He spent his last three seasons with the Panthers, concluding his career with 529 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
His wife and two sons survive him.