Tragic news for the NFL community.

Former NFL safety Keion Carpenter died Thursday morning after collapsing while on a family vacation and falling into a coma earlier in the week, a family spokesperson confirmed to TMZ Sports. He was 39.

"It is with regret that we as a family announce that at 6:47 a.m., Keion Eric Carpenter was pronounced dead at Jackson South Community Hospital in Miami, Florida," a family statement sent to the celebrity website said. "Keion collapsed while on a family vacation and remained in a coma for 24 hours. Keion's remains will be flown back to Baltimore for burial."

Although TMZ reported that Carpenter collapsed while working out, his cousin Jamila Smith described it to the Baltimore Sun as a "freak accident" while playing with his son.

"They were running to the car when [Carpenter] slipped, fell, hit his head and slipped into a coma. It was just a freak accident," she told the newspaper. "He was always healthy. He went to the doctor, ate well and worked out."

After being a standout player for Virginia Tech, Carpenter went on to play for the Buffalo Bills (1999-2001) and Atlanta Falcons (2002-05).

Carpenter's college coach Frank Beamer called the late safety "one of the rocks around which we built our program at Virginia Tech in the 1990s" and "a tenacious punt blocker and a relentless player on defense," as reported by TMZ.

Beamer added, "More importantly, he had a heart of gold. His work with the Carpenter House and other charitable organizations to help those in need truly embodied the Virginia Tech Spirit."

As of press time Thursday, the Bills also tweeted out the following in remembrance of Carpenter.

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