Sad News: Ex-NFL and College Star Dies Suddenly at Home Just 2 Days After His 47th Birthday

Former Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers player Bill Ferrario died suddenly at his home on Wednesday at the age of 47; the cause of death has not been disclosed. The news was first reported by a hometown newspaper in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Ferrario is remembered as a mainstay on Wisconsin’s offensive line from 1997–2000, where he started all 50 games of his college career—at the time becoming the third Big Ten player to reach that milestone.

Moving to the NFL, Ferrario was selected by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2001 Draft and played two seasons in Green Bay before being released. He did not play in 2003, then signed with the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) but was not activated to the game-day roster and was cut prior to the 2004 season. In November 2004, he joined the Carolina Panthers’ 53-man roster, but did not appear in a game and was released in 2005—after which he did not sign with another NFL team. (Playing size: 6'2", 314 lbs — approximately 1.88 m, 142 kg.)

After retiring, Ferrario largely kept a low profile, though he encountered legal issues in 2023: an arrest for DUI, followed by charges of stalking and intimidation of a victim in Marathon County, Wisconsin (per WXOW).

Even so, his final Instagram post, celebrating his daughter’s graduation (apparently from high school), reflected his deep love for family:

“No words can express how proud I am of my daughter on her graduation. Watching her grow, work hard, and chase her goals has been one of the greatest joys of my life. She now closes one chapter and begins another — and I’m certain she’s going to do amazing things. Congratulations. Keep shining. The world is yours.”

The passing of Bill Ferrario leaves the Badgers and Packers communities in mourning. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.