Alabama teenager dies after head injury at high school football game

A community is mourning the death of a star high school football player who suffered a brain injury during his team's season-opening game, according to statements from school officials and the teenager's family.

Caden Tellier was hospitalized in critical condition after suffering a head injury during John T. Morgan Academy's game against Southern Academy in Selma, officials said Friday.

His death was announced the next day.

Caden was 16, CNN affiliate WSFA reported. School principal Bryan Oliver confirmed that Tellier was an organ donor.

“Our boy, Caden Tellier, has come to know Jesus face to face,” Caden’s parents said in a statement Saturday.

“Everyone who knows Caden has experienced kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he gives of himself once again.”

“His way of life touched many lives and his death will now save lives,” his parents said in a statement.

“While we may not know the full story for a while, initial reports indicate that Caden likely suffered a brain hematoma after being tackled and hitting the ground during a routine play,” Michael McLendon, executive director of the Alabama Independent School Association, said in a statement to CNN.

School officials are still gathering details of the incident, McLendon said, and it could be “quite some time before we have more information about the injury and the entire incident,” he said.

Those in the crowd who watched the game “probably didn’t notice anything unusual,” he said.

According to experts, deaths at American football games are rare at all levels of the game.

Three of these deaths were due to traumatic brain injury – two in high school football and one in a youth league.

All three occurred during games.

The remaining deaths in 2023 were deaths caused by physical exertion or medical causes. These included deaths from heat stroke, sudden cardiac arrest and pulmonary embolism.

Oliver described Caden as a shining light that graced the hallways of his private school.

“He was a student, a friend, an athlete and, most importantly, a follower of Christ. There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family,” Oliver said in a statement posted on social media.

A church service will be held soon, the Tellier family said. The Morgan Academy administration has suspended all school activities for this week, according to the school board.

According to the school's Facebook page, John T. Morgan Academy held a prayer hour for students and parents on Monday to honor Caden.

“My son was an exceptional athlete. He loved playing football and baseball, and he loved leading people in each sport. But most of all, my son loved to talk about Jesus,” said Jamie Tellier, Caden's father and assistant football coach, during the event.

Oliver, who also spoke at the event, said he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't seen Caden with a smile on his face or helping someone in need.

Several local pastors, grief counselors and other community members were also at the school on Monday to assist the students, Oliver said in a statement to CNN.

As of Monday afternoon, a Go Fund Me campaign to cover the family's medical and other expenses had raised more than $US125,000 ($85,000).