(Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. After he medically retired from football and left Stanford, Hoffpauir suffered from Valley fever, Meningitis and a form of Lyme disease. In a game against Hamilton, the Huskies retired Hoffpauir's number 31 jersey in an emotional ceremony. Its probably what the public will remember him for. My AP WBB ballot: Stanford-UCLA starts Cardinals huge week Hoffpauir and McCaffrey were teammates at Stanford. He went through a suicidal period but appeared to have found peace in the spring of 2020 when he accepted a position on the Northern Colorado coaching staff. At his first soccer game, Zach played like a man among kids, said Doug Hoffpauir. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). Itll be hard, but his life on Earth wasnt easy, either, and he did more good for others than many ever will. That he didnt have enough love for himself.. Hed be in your heart.. The loss of identity was hard enough, but Zach also endured his parents divorce, his grandmothers lung cancer diagnosis, and a breakup in short succession after he left Stanford. MIAMI William Henry Trotter Bush, a wealthy investor and the brother and uncle of presidents, has died. 3 Cardinal past No. Football was still relatively new to Zach, so Taylor worried the hit would scare Zach away from the sport. We were celebrating his accomplishments not knowing that it caused a lot of pressure for him to perform.. , A post shared by Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey) on May 15, 2020 at 8:07am PDT. Christian McCaffrey, a running back for the Carolina Panthers, paid tribute . Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his fathers home in Arizona. The documentary that dives into the life of the former Peoria Centennial High School and Stanford football and baseball standout will air 12 times on Bally Sports Arizona, starting Tuesday. He hit .258 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 62 at-batsbetween rookie and Single-A ball. Zach didnt shy away from showing his imperfections and struggles. The head coach was Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey one of Hoffpauirs best friends. I would tell him to breathe deep with Jesus and I would see him soon.. Normally, Doug says Zach would be able to rebound quickly from things. Recently, it was reported that Hoffpauir had CTE, and was diagnosed with the same level of CTE that former USC Trojans and San . He was the uniter in his family and in his locker rooms. 197,654 likes. Hoffpauir played safety and McCaffrey was a running back. Grabill has interned as a photographer with McGaw YMCA Camp Echo and Phoenix Magazine. A year ago, the college sports world was stunned after former Stanford defensive back Zach Hoffpauir died suddenly at the young age of 26. 6 Stanford over Oregon to reach Pac-12 semis He was 79. He loved coaching those boys, Shannon Hoffpauir said. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. Zach Hoffpauir, the former Centennial High School football and baseball star who went on to play both sports at Stanford before being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, died of a drug overdose . Zach also set an important precedent by talking about his own struggles with mental health and encouraging others to seek help in their darkest hours. Although we cannot yet accurately diagnose CTE in living people, a specialist can help treat the symptoms presenting the most challenges. Share Obituary. Praying for the Hoffpauir family during this time.. The medical examiner's report is not yet complete and does not yet list a cause of death. He had 11 rushing touchdowns and 59 tackles, eight for losses, and six interceptions, making The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona team. He was a walking example of how to care for people, a rare soul. He detailed how in spring 2019 he attempted to take his life by overdosing on Xanax and Benadryl. Arizona Cardinals facilities grade poorly in anonymous NFLPA poll, Coin collectors unite: National Money Show in Phoenix features rare currency, Desert Botanical Garden nurtures endangered monarchs and native butterflies at Majestic Mariposas exhibit, Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Kyle Lewis looks to swat injury bug and return to form with new club, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone usher in new era of Los Angeles Dodgers pitching, Tiger Woods newest business venture opens its doors in Glendale, Hobbs says state will not proceed for now with court-ordered execution, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. District co-Most Valuable Players: Holden Butler, senior, Nederland and Angel Valencia, sophomore, Port Neches . PEORIA It was a moment of celebration but also melancholy as Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir led a crowd to the middle of the Centennial High School football field. This beautiful, talented, incredibly intelligent young man dying at 26 with the ravages of this disease in his brain.. He had so much to look forward to.". (Courtesy of Shannon Hoffpauir), Zach Hoffpauir, left, poses for a photo with his cousin, Morgan Williams, at the family's 2019 Christmas Celebration. Its hard to find people who when youre around them and theyre truly present, said Thorne. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. Ben Copeland, another of Hoffpauirs many friends, may have summed it up best: There will never be another Zach Hoffpauir and thats okay. He was 26. In a practice his sophomore year, Taylor saw Zach take a hit so big his helmet rotated 90 degrees across his face. It didnt kill former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir, who died accidentally in May 2020 when he unknowing took Percocet that had been laced with fentanyl. "I am devastated by the loss," Ed began his social media post. It allowed him to focus on good things in his life, even if those things were having a family or air conditioning. He broke the mold and spent his life helping others do the same no matter what kind of mold they were supposed to fit into. It didn . July 3, 2015: OF Zach Hoffpauir assigned to Hillsboro Hops from . The father of Zach Hoffpauir, the former Stanford football player who died last week at the age of 26, said the family has donated Hoffpauir's brain to concussion research. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? As he grew up, he would hit socks across his home with a spatula. Zach Hoffpauir, left, and Hillary Hoffpauir pose for a siblings photo. Zach loved sports and the opportunities they gave him, but he loved spending time with people a lot more. 31 painted near the 31-year-line. Yet through the darkest points in his life, he still prioritized others. On a podcast hosted by former Arizona State football player Jordan Simone, Zach Hoffpaiur said he had suffered five or six concussions in his football career and had attempted suicide last year. Zach knew something was wrong. A recently-hired University of Northern Colorado assistant football coach died Thursday. His role, while short, was about so much more than just Xs and Os. This news organization has independently requested a copy of the report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office. 17 UCLA, My AP WBB ballot: Stanford-UCLA starts Cardinals huge week. But Hoffpauirs brain was not like that of a normal 20-something. Hoffpauir is hoping to regain his starting position at . Doug Hoffpauir, Zach's father, told Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic in a text message about . Zach showed me the way when I got to college. The school provided no further details. College and professional athletes, particularly football players, often get unfairly stereotyped. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. No cause of death for the former Stanford football and baseball player has been released. My sincere condolences to Zachs family and his many friends.. Zach knew something was wrong. I am devastated by the loss of Zach Hoffpauir, a friend to me and my family since his playing days with my son Christian at Stanford. Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. Several themes emerged from their tearful tributes. I mightve just fallen on my knees and cried, Doug Hoffpauir said, holding back tears. Hoffpauir left Stanford in 2015 after being taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the MLB draft and played a minor league season that summer. Are you or someone you know struggling with lingering concussion symptoms or possible CTE? He was 26. College Sports | Watch over us. I am so incredibly saddened that a bright light that could have had such a positive influence on so many lives burnt out way too soon, McCaffrey wrote in an email. I'd talk to him for three hours. Then, as Shannon says in the documentary, "He didn't sleep one night and he got a Percocet from a friend and it was laced with Fentanyl and he died instantly.". "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. Inside I was so miserable. "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. Former Peoria Centennial football/baseball star Zach Hoffpauir, one of the greatest athletes in Arizona high school history, died Thursday morning, his father Doug told The Arizona Republic. Jeb Bush confirmed Thursday ATLANTA Former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a lifelong Democrat and the father of Georgia's lottery-funded HOPE scholarship while serving as governor, died Friday. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. In high school, in addition to starring in two sportsand, of course, playing both offense (wide receiver, quarterback, running back) and defensehe became known as a charismatic leader. Details are here, and thanks for your support. We always talked about living simply when we got older: Hunting, fishing, riding bulls, RVing across the country with @beaukitson (One day we'll do that). Then came Zachs way out, in the form of the 2015 MLB Draft. Zachs father, Doug Hoffpauir, said Zach spent his life taking time to connect with others. Instead, Zach found his favorite part of football. But as much of a light as he was for others, Zach Hoffpauir struggled to find his way out of his own darkness. Hoffpauir was a two-sport athlete at Stanford: a defensive back who was named honorable-mention all-conference and an outfielder selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft. Zach Hoffpauir, the University of Northern Colorado safeties coach and former two-sport Stanford standout, was anything but a stereotype. Come (his) 40s, he probably would have had either Alzheimers, Lou Gerhigs disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Parkinsons, Shannon said, tears in her eyes. After graduating from Stanford, Hoffpauirs physical and mental health declined. Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 646th pick of the 22nd round, Zach split time between Missoula, Montana, and Hillsboro, Oregon. A mass of Christi Zach Hoffpauir was raw, passionate, outspoken, competitive. Injuries took a toll on him during his football career, causing him to retire. Theres no way to specify when the disease started. Talented young athletes often dominate several sports in elementary school and even high school. For a report to come out, Just another athlete who died of a drug overdose, Shannon said. To what degree was CTE involved in Zachs deteriorating emotional and psychological state? The son of Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir and older brother of Hillary Hoffpauir, Zachary Hoffpauir graduated from Centennial in 2012. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential. but it can also be stressful. One night of sleep was all he wanted. His mood changed. The Moving can be an exciting experience. He had to medically retire due to concussions prior to Stanfords bowl game in 2016. In the documentary, Hoffpauirs mother described a world in which her son lived into middle age. Visitation at Johnson's Funeral Home will be held at 11:00 AM until the start of the funeral service at 1:00 PM on . But on May 15, 2020, Hoffpauir died of an accidental overdose at age 26. He also starred as an outfielder on Stanfords baseball team and was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2015. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Former Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir died Thursday. That research will be valuable to future generations. He worked hard, boosted morale and was incredibly kind, said Casey Sawyer, marketing manager for the Portland, Oregon, suburb-located Hillsboro Hops. That one percocet, meant to be his release, turned out to be his end. He will be remembered for his love of God, family, and friends. Cavness, expressed the same feeling in his eulogy. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Zach Hoffpauir, who died at 26 and was perhaps the greatest football player to come out of Centennial, will have his No. Hoffpauirs career doesnt fit neatly into the model usually associated with players who display symptoms of CTE later in life. You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. He was 26 years old. Hoffpauir's father, though, stressed to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News that his son did not commit suicide. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir laughs while he holds an iPad at his family's Christmas celebration. As the calendar turned his freshman year, Hoffpauir went on to start at point guard on the schools basketball team and nearly hit .400 on the baseball team. He was just a light, said Tyler Thorne, Zachs Stanford baseball teammate, at his memorial service. It was a moment of celebration but also melancholy as Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir led a crowd to the middle of the Centennial High School football field. ", McCaffrey family hit hard by Hoffpauir's death, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Despite never having Zach as a student, she knew him well during his time there. Submit your request today and a dedicated member of the Concussion Legacy Foundation team will be happy to assist you. 1 of 2 Zach Hoffpauir (10) participates in a scrimmage with Stanford Cardinal teammates in Palo Alto, Calif. on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Cognitive deterioration is the hallmark of CTE, and you rarely see it in 20- and 30-year-olds.. But this time, Zach entered a deep funk. The family of Zach Hoffpauir is hoping some good can come out of tragedy. He wanted to help the players succeed on the field, at home, in class and in the community. Sign up for free today. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Prior to high school, Zach played one year of eight-on-eight tackle football. It didn't kill former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir, who died . Following Zachs death, Doug was contacted about donating Zachs brain to the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank for CTE research. Zach Hoffpauir, a former two-sport athlete at Stanford University, died Thursday at the age of 26. David Fernandez, Centennial High Schools school resource officer from the Peoria Police Department, tweeted a fond memory: A few years ago, Zach Hoffpauir was back at Centennial mentoringI was standing nearby watching when a young student walked up and said, Hey, whos that?, I replied, Thats who you want to grow up to be.. They cheered for her the entire match. So I went to sleep, then I woke up and I just had this weird feeling. "Hardbecause he loved coaching," Doug Hoffpauir said Thursday night in a text to The Arizona Republic. Mary Grace Grabill expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelors degree in journalism and a minor in film production. In 2016, he returned to Stanford to resume his football career at free safety. "He's like my heartbeat.". Centennial coach Richard Taylor always regarded Hoffpair as one of his favorite players to coach because of the way he impacted the team. He made a difference in the life of every person he met.. He taught me how to not give a fuck about what people think about me, and to do it my way. You dont pass up Stanford, Shannon said. The mini explosions were always followed by apologies. Zach acknowledged that he felt the weight of those who were rooting for him, those that dreamed so highly for him, and could not bear the thought of letting them down. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! He was an advocate for people dealing with setbacks. My testosterone levels were almost gone. He would talk to anyone, she said. I'll cherish all the memories we had bro. According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. Zach would come back to Arizona, medically retired from football. After Stanford and the finality of not being able to play beyond college, he struggled with what to do in life, said Doug Hoffpauir. Zach Hoffpauir Death. Zach Hoffpauir Age. The statistical production wasnt there yet, but Zach Hoffpauir didnt need to produce on the field to make an impact on his teams. At Zachs memorial service, Stanford football coach David Shaw reflected on Zachs willingness to speak up to the Stanford coaching staff when he thought change was necessary. Zach Hoffpauir was a multi-sport athlete at Centennial High School in Peoria, Arizona before becoming an all-conference defensive back and outfielder for Stanford University. This fentanyl crap is everywhere, Doug Hoffpauir said. Hoffpauir, who was from Glendale, Arizona, was close friends with McCaffreys son, Christian, whos now an All-Pro running back for the Carolina Panthers, when they both attended Stanford. Zach was the hardest hitter, most aggressive player I ever played against, said McCaffery at the memorial. He was 26. I love you and your family and I promise we'll make you proud. More:Zach Hoffpauir remembered for compassion, friendship during powerful celebration of life, "Zach Hoffpauir touched the lives of each person he met," says Claudia Faust, executive producer of the documentary. That doesnt tell the story,, Friends remembered Hoffpauir for his energy and personality. "People always thought I was the happiest guy, Hoffpauir said on Untold. Visitation will be observed on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 11:00 am until the time of services, at First Presbyterian Church, 1130 Johnston Street in Lafayette. A Mass of Christian Burial for Joel Norman Hoffpauir, 48, will be 11:00AM Wednesday December 3, 2014 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath with Rev. People from all walks of life were invited to his Peoria, Arizona, service to pay respects and remember the honor it was to have known him. January 28, 2016: OF Zach Hoffpauir retired. 3 Cardinal past No. Last Thursday morning, Zach Hoffpauir passed away at the age of 26. He survived a suicide attempt in 2019. The Coyotes went 11-2, losing to Scottsdale Chaparral 31-30 in the state semifinals. One Zach Hoffpauir was unwaveringly committed to his faith and to his family. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. zachhoff10. Back home, Zachs parents could see just how much their son was hurting underneath and after his 21st birthday, he had a failed attempt to take his own life. "He was so excited to get back to Northern Colorado and try to influence lives beyond football. Sormani, who has a self-titled YouTube channel, is working in the Phoenix News Bureau. Zach was known for encouraging friends to keep pursuing their faith and shooting the breeze with family friends. Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized zachhoff10. We are more similar than we are different, said Zach. Zach gave up basketball to focus on football and baseball. Zach went 6-12 with three home runs in the series, including an infamous post-homer stare down with a Cal pitcher who had been taunting Stanford. He would always come back to Centennial to help out the Coyotes. 6 Stanford over Oregon to reach Pac-12 semis, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Map in Murdaugh murder case: 5 deaths and a mysterious shooting, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, Miss Manners: I felt bad that they all skipped her baby shower -- and then I found out why, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. After the attempt, he began finding healing through a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. Mostly he loved sharing his life and experiences with our players, who he was born to mentor. It was compassion, Zach said. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. But on May 14, while living with his father in Phoenix during the pandemic, Hoffpauir took a Percocet to help him sleep and never woke up. View profile . Maybe not. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family). I just want to feel normal., I walked through his darkest days right by his side, said Doug. On the field, Zach excelled in baseball and football, and earned All-American honors for both. A 30-minute documentary on former Centennial football star Zach Hoffpauir, who died last year, will air Monday on Sports360az.com. Manoj, who has worked as a freelance videographer for Riccio Productions, ZAP Entertainment and Harvard University, is working in the Phoenix Sports Bureau. Hoffpauir hit .295 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs at Stanford and was a Pac-12 honorable mention pick in 2015. Zach also started coaching back at Centennial High. His same ability to connect with people that made him such an outstanding teammate made him an instant fit in coaching. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, a defender who has also been capped by Italy 14 times, has died, the club EDMONTON A Edmonton homeless man whose spontaneous piano performance was viewed on theinternetby millions ofpeople has died. Two-sport standout at Centennial High and Stanford, Zach Hoffpauir died last week. Zach could sit with the lowest of the low and knew how to show up for people. To mourn his loss, Huffy leaves behind his loving wife, Janice Smith Hoffpauir; his daughters, Janna Perret (Steve), Jodi Hoffpauir (John Rahaim), and Jeana Anderson (Chris); his grandchildren, Sara, Garrett . Now we better understand why Zach struggled so much during the last few years of his life.. He was the friend who picked up the phone. Once college was over, Zach struggled with the lack of a next.. Originally published by The Associated Press on May 16, 2020. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential.. Medical examiners will perform an autopsy on his body, and the family donated his brain to Boston University for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) research. His heart ached to care for them. I never doubted for a second whether or not he had my back. If that day marks the official start to an athlete's season then Zach Hoffpauir has been in season for 296 days. But by the time he was 26, after several concussions at Stanford, his frontal lobe was full of the lesions that are the hallmark of CTE. Zach could light up a room like it was nothing, and had this amazing, unique personality. Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his father's home in Arizona. Zach Ryan SimonGUEYDAN - It's with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Zach Ryan Simon announces his passing from this life on November 17, 2012. Like a modern-day Jim Thorpe or local Bo Jackson, Hoffpauir refused to stick to one sport: After graduating from Centennial High School, he excelled in baseball and football at Stanford University. In a September 2019 interview on Untold, a podcast hosted by fellow former Pac-12 safety Jordan Simone, Zach estimated he had five or six on the record concussions, and that at least two of them came in the 2016 season. I had a teacher come up and tell me once, said Taylor. Yep, thats 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. He made me better.. But Zach was just more susceptible it was just the way his body was.. We also knew that this research could help others, and that is exactly what Zach would want.. Zach was the type of person who you could just feel the charisma coming off of him, said Justin Sanchez, a teammate of Zachs on the Centennial football team. After the attempt on his life, Zach slowly found his footing with a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. But he never did it from a place of superiority. Zachs loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, theyll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Former Florida Gov. "For a report to come out, 'Just another athlete who died of a drug overdose,' that doesn't tell the story," Shannon says in the 30-minute documentary, "Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story," that will first air on Sports360AZ.com at 5 p.m. Monday. *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir, a life taken too soon. Two weeks earlier, Hoffpauir passed away from an accidental overdose at age 26. Once again, the sleepless nights began. They went above and beyond, even when he had concussions. Zach Hoffpauir (R) had 99 tackles in his time at Stanford. He was 26. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. While his mental state never got down to where it was before, it was enough to keep him up night after night. The medical examiners report cited fentanyl toxicity as Hoffpauirs cause of death, according to the KPNX report, noting that it was ruled an accident. He did things the right way. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. Zach Hoffpauir, Shannon's son, lived life to the fullest in his 26 years, seemingly never taking a day off from injecting joy or perspective into someone else's life. Here's everything we know, Richardson sets QB mark for vertical, broad jump, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News), That morning (May 13) I went to go fishing, said Doug in a Sports360AZ documentary, Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story. I got up at 3, we talk a little bit. 418 likes. It made so much sense. 35: Stanford. It was a tragedy, and a shock to everybody involved. He didn't play football at Stanford in 2015 and returned for his senior season in 2016. I would hope that seeing (Zachs) number, sharing those stories, keeping a record here on campus allows us the opportunity to not forget, said Adam Larsen, the athletic director at Centennial. At Stanford, Zach thrived on the football and baseball fields. Zach's loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, they'll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. (He) loved his family so much and would do anything for the people he cared about. While Hoffpauir was a star athlete on the field, no o. That was his heart.. Following tragedies, Central High School finds comfort in its football community. Zach Hoffpauir (above in 2014), who played a combined seven seasons for the Cardinal on both the football field and baseball diamond, passed away yesterday at just 26 years old. But now it makes so much sense. Fill in some information about your loved one, and we'll generate some text that you can use as a starting point for your online memorial. 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir and P . He always was looking out for the person he could tell was not accepted. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Zach Hoffpauir, a two-sport standout at Stanford who earned All-Pac 12 honors as a safety in football and played two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system, has died at age 26 . I dont want to act and feel this way. Former Stanford two-sport standout Zach Hoffpauir, an All-Pac-12 safety who also played minor league baseball for the Diamondbacks, passed away on Thursday in Arizona. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, center, shows off his well-known dance moves with his Stanford teammates before a bowl game in 2016. They offered him four amazing years., Im not anti-football, he said.