Dean Wells, who played nine years in the NFL after a memorable college career, died on Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer, the Panthers confirmed Friday.
He was 54.
According to multiple reports, Wells was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023 and received a bone marrow transplant last spring.
Last year, he spoke with On3 about his fight.
“Show me who to tackle and I can do that,” Wells told the outlet. “This is in the doctors’ hands and it’s in God’s hands.”
Born in Louisville in 1970, Wells suited up for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he was a standout defender and set the team’s single-season sacks record (10) and single-game mark (five).
The school remembered his contributions in a statement on social media.
“Condolences to family & friends of Dean Wells, who has pᴀssed away,” the football team wrote on X. “A 3-year starter, he set a UK single-game record with 5 sacks vs. Indiana and went on to a 9-year NFL career. After NFL retirement, he returned to hometown Louisville and was a staunch supporter of the Wildcats.”
Wells was taken in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, a team he played with for six seasons.
He got the chance to start during his third season before blossoming into a force in his fourth season, recording a career-high 107 tackles across 16 games (15 starts).
For each of his final six seasons, Wells recorded at least 45 tackles.
He played his final three seasons with the Panthers, finishing his career with 529 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions.
He’s survived by his wife and two sons.
