Chicago-area native and Super Bowl champ Matt Ulrich dead at 41
CHICAGO - Matt Ulrich, a former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman who was part of the championship team in the 2006 season when they beat the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl, has died. He was 41.
Colts team owner Jim Irsay made an announcement on X.
"I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich. Matt was with us only two seasons, but left his mark on many," he wrote. "Great guy, I hear he was a great dad – and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family."
Ulrich, who is from the Chicago suburb of Streamwood, attended Northwestern and signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played five games that season and played in five games in 2006.
INDIANAPOLIS - 2006: Matt Ulrich of the Indianapolis Colts poses for his 2006 NFL headshot at photo day in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Getty Images)
In his post-NFL career, he was co-founder of DexaFit — a company that utilizes technology to give people an analysis of their bodies — and was the chief growth officer and partner of Profitable Ideas Exchange, which helps businesses accelerate their growth and navigate the landscapes of their fields.
In his Profitable Ideas Exchange profile, the Illinois native wrote about how he lived a fulfilled life.
"Keeping up with my four pre-teen sons is the highlight of my life and keeps me on my toes," the portion read. "I also invest my time in helping young athletes in our area reach their full potential through coaching and training — this is one of my true passions. I can also often be found at the gym, where I recently bench-pressed 505 pounds at the age of 40 — the goal-setting doesn’t stop!"
A cause of death was not given.