Jovan Belcher

Jovan Belcher

Belcher with the Chiefs in November 2010
No. 59
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1987-07-24)July 24, 1987
Place of birth:	West Babylon, New York
Date of death:	December 1, 2012(2012-12-01) (aged 25)
Place of death:	Kansas City, Missouri
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:	West Babylon (NY)
College:	Maine
Undrafted:	2009
Career history
Kansas City Chiefs (2009–2012)
Career highlights and awards
First-team FCS All-American (2008)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 257 Sacks: 1.0 Interceptions: 0 Forced fumbles: 1 Player stats at NFL.com

Jovan Henry Allen Belcher (July 24, 1987 – December 1, 2012) was an American football linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He grew up in West Babylon, New York and was a standout high school athlete before attending and graduating from the University of Maine, where he played for the Maine Black Bears football team. Belcher was named an All-American twice in college after switching in his junior year from linebacker to defensive end.

Belcher was considered a strong small-school NFL prospect, but was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was later signed as a free agent by the Chiefs and became a regular starter at inside linebacker in 2010. His most productive season was in 2011, when he had 61 tackles and 26 assists. He was re-signed by Kansas City before the 2012 season and played in the team's first 11 games.

Belcher died on December 1, 2012, in a murder-suicide, murdering his girlfriend, 22-year-old Kasandra Perkins, before driving to the Chiefs' training facility and shooting himself in the head with a handgun.

The son of John Belcher and Cheryl Shepard, Belcher grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended West Babylon High School in West Babylon, New York. He wrestled and played football there under head coach Albert Ritacco between 2001 and 2004. He was a three-time All-American as a wrestler, and played as a linebacker, offensive tackle, nose guard and fullback on the football team. He was captain of the football team for two seasons and led West Babylon to two Long Island Football Championships playoff appearances, although the team did not reach the title game. The team had its first-ever undefeated regular season in 2004, when Belcher was a senior, but lost in the Suffolk County Championship game. The school retired his number 52 jersey, and he returned to the school frequently later in his career to give pregame speeches to the team.