The tragic death of 13-year-old Cohen Craddock, a middle school football player in West Virginia, has sent shockwaves through the community. Cohen, an eighth-grader at Madison Middle School, sustained a fatal head injury during a practice session with his school’s football team, the Redhawks. The incident occurred just three days into the new school year, and despite being rushed to the hospital, Cohen passed away the following day.
Boone County Schools Superintendent Matthew Riggs expressed his condolences, highlighting Cohen’s role as a beloved student and a leader of his football team. He extended thoughts and prayers to Cohen’s family, friends, and the entire school community during this difficult time.
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Cohen’s father, Ryan Craddock, shared that the injury occurred after Cohen collided with teammates during practice, leading to a fall that caused severe head trauma. The resulting brain swelling led to his untimely passing.
This heartbreaking incident marks the third death of a student football player in the early weeks of the current school year, raising concerns about player safety in youth sports. In response, Ryan Craddock is advocating for the use of Guardian Caps, a type of extra-padded headgear that has been used in NFL training camps and is now permitted in regular-season NFL games. Cohen’s family hopes that by raising awareness about the importance of player safety, similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
