Syracuse Mourns the Passing of Chris Gedney

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse senior associate athletics director and former Orange All-America tight end Chris Gedney passed away Friday, March 9 at the age of 47.

A native of nearby Liverpool, N.Y., Gedney was a member of the Syracuse football team for five seasons. After redshirting as a true freshman in 1988, he helped lead the program to a 35-12-2 record and four bowl victories from 1989-92.

Gedney was a third-round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals before returning to his alma mater in 2008 as the Orange's Club's assistant athletics director for major gifts. He was appointed senior associate athletics director for the Orange Club in 2011.

In addition to his work in the athletics department, Gedney served as an analyst for Syracuse IMG Sports Network football broadcasts from 2007-2017.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Gedney," Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack said. "Chris was a wonderful co-worker, a friend to all and deeply loyal to Syracuse University and our community. He was a decorated football student-athlete, who served as a mentor to many who followed him.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gedney family during this difficult time."

Gedney starred at Liverpool High School for Coach George Mangicaro before matriculating to Syracuse in 1988.

During his stint as an Orange player, Gedney became the most productive pass-catching tight end in team history. In 48 career games, Gedney caught 91 passes for 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns. He holds the school records for most receiving yards by a tight end in a season (587 in 1992) and career. His 91 receptions was the standard for Syracuse tight ends for nearly 20 years until the record was broken in 2011.

As a senior in 1992, Gedney had 34 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns. He was a unanimous All-American and helped power the Orange to a 10-2 record, including a 26-22 triumph over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Syracuse captured the Lambert Trophy as the top team in the East and finished the season No. 6 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Following his collegiate career, Gedney was selected by the Bears with the 61st overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft. He played four seasons in Chicago and spent three seasons in Arizona, retiring in 2000.

In 73 NFL games, Gedney recorded 83 receptions for 914 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a finalist for the NFL Man of the Year Award in 2000, and was honored with the Ed Block and Gene Autry Courage Awards in 2001.

In 1999, Gedney was one of two tight ends named to the Syracuse Football All-Century Team. He was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and recognized as an ACC Football Legend in 2015.

Gedney was very active in the community. He served on the National Down Syndrome Society Board of Directors and the Imagine Syracuse Executive Board of Directors. While in Arizona, Gedney volunteered for the Southwest chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation as a fundraiser, spokesperson, and spent three years on the executive board of directors, including one year as president.

Gedney, who received his bachelor's degree in speech communication from the University in 1993, is survived by his wife, Seely, and four children – Annaleigh , Chase, Montanna and Ellianna.

REMEMBERING CHRIS GEDNEY
Dino Babers, Syracuse head coach:
"Chris was one of the best to wear Orange. He was an incredible resource for myself and the staff. He never hesitated to assist us in any capacity. He loved the University and this community. He will be greatly missed."

Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and former Syracuse head coach:
"He was just a great person. He was someone that loved Syracuse football, loved his children and was committed to the community, committed to his teammates and friends. I remember specific times we weren't playing well or doing well. He was the guy to pick you up and push you forward and say, 'We'll be fine.'"

Don McPherson, Syracuse quarterback (1983-87):
"He was a fixture. He was from the community. He did radio. He was steady. He was a steady guy. If I could say anything about him, it was never about Chris Gedney. It was always about Syracuse University, Coach Mac (Dick MacPherson) and the legacy of the program."

Matt Park, "Voice of the Orange" and Gedney's broadcast partner:
"I'll remember him as a guy who loved people, loved his family. First and foremost his kids, and he loved the Syracuse football family. He lit up on gameday because it was the place he most wanted to be in the world. He was much more of a football player than he was a trained broadcaster, so he loved being on the field."

Paul Pasqualoni, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and former Syracuse head coach:
"This is a very sad day for the Syracuse football family. My thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' wife, Seely, his children, his family and the entire Syracuse community.

"Chris Gedney was without question one of the finest players I ever had the opportunity to coach, but more importantly one of the finest people.

"He was among the most highly-recruited athletes in the Northeast coming out of Liverpool, N.Y. Yet he chose to stay close to home and attend Syracuse. He contributed as much to the revival of Syracuse football during that era as anyone, and I will always remember Chris as one of the best players I ever coached. He was an exceptional young man."

Syracuse University Athletics

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