Ronnie Hillman, the former NFL running back who was also a member of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 championship team in 2015, has passed away.
Earlier this week, Hillman had entered into hospice care after unsuccessful treatment for the rare form of cancer which he was diagnosed in August, the family shared in a statement posted to his Instagram account. At the time, they explained that Hillman had renal medullary carcinoma, “a rare but highly aggressive neoplasm form of cancer that primarily affects young African Americans with sickle cell trait.”
“Though this message is difficult to share, we feel it is necessary. August of this year, Ronnie was diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma. Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) is a rare but highly aggressive neoplasm form of cancer that primarily affects young African Americans with sickle cell trait,” Hillman’s family wrote in a Wednesday, December 21, Instagram statement regarding the 31-year-old athlete’s condition. “Unfortunately treatment has not been successful and our beloved RJ is currently under Hospice Care where he is being kept comfortable and out of pain.”
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The message continued: “As a family, we hope beyond hope, and we have faith that can move mountains. We also understand that God’s will is not always ours; therefore, we as a family subject ourselves to the will of our Almigty God. We need your prayers, but we also need your understanding and respect for Ronnie and our family’s privacy at this time.”
Orlando Franklin, who was an offensive lineman in Denver and a teammate of Hillman’s, also shared the news about him not doing too well.
“#BroncosCountry please pray for Ronnie Hillman he’s in hospice and not doing well,” Franklin tweeted. “Lord please have mercy, please. This ain’t fair. Please god, please.”
Hillman’s other former teammate Derek also said, “He’s got bad liver cancer and he’s in hospice now,” Wolfe said on 104.3 The Fan in Denver on Tuesday. “It’s not looking good. He has pneumonia and I’m putting it out there just to send positive vibes his way.”
In a new statement posted to his official Instagram account, his family announced Wednesday that he died at the age of 31 years old. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son, brother, and father, Ronnie K Hillman Jr. Ronnie quietly and peacefully transitioned today in the company of his family and close friends. We as the family appreciate the prayers and kind words that have already been expressed. We ask that you would give us time to process our feelings as we prepare to lay our precious RJ to rest.”
Sports fans have been sending their prayers and condolences to Hillman’s family and close friends during this difficult time.
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