Dean Wells, a former NFL linebacker and standout college football player at the University of Kentucky, passed away Thursday following a two-year battle with cancer, the Carolina Panthers confirmed Friday. He was 54 years old.

Wells had been fighting leukemia since 2023 and underwent a bone marrow transplant last spring, according to multiple reports.

Known for his grit on the field and his humility off of it, Wells confronted his illness with the same tenacity he once brought to every tackle.

“Show me who to tackle and I can do that,” Wells told On3 last year during an interview about his cancer battle. “This is in the doctors’ hands and it’s in God’s hands.”

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Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1970, Wells made a name for himself at the University of Kentucky, where he was a three-year starter.

During his time with the Wildcats, he became one of the school's most formidable defenders, setting the program’s single-game sack record with five against Indiana, and posting a single-season record of 10 sacks.

The Kentucky football team paid tribute to Wells on social media following the news of his passing.

“Condolences to family & friends of Dean Wells, who has passed away,” the school wrote on X.

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“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 drafted in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He played six seasons with the team, gradually emerging as a key contributor.

In his fourth season, he recorded a career-best 107 tackles in 16 games, 15 of which he started. His physical style of play and consistency helped solidify his role as a defensive leader.

He spent the final three years of his career with the Carolina Panthers, where he continued to deliver steady performances.

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Over the course of his nine-season NFL career, Wells totaled 529 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three interceptions.

Beyond his stats and accolades, Wells was remembered as a man of strength, character, and faith.

After retiring from football, he returned to Louisville and remained deeply connected to his community and alma mater.

Wells is survived by his wife and two sons.

His legacy lives on not just through the numbers he posted on the field, but through the lives he touched off of it — as a teammate, husband, father, and a true Wildcat to the end.

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