Chester McGlockton, former NFL defensive lineman and currently in his second year as an assistant defensive coach on Stanford’s staff, has passed away at age 42, per the school. This one hits home, because McGlockton was a constant figure in the 1990′s for me watching the NFL. He was alternatively loved and hated throughout the AFC West, as he first came in with the Raiders, then went on to Kansas City and Denver (he also played a final season in New York with the Jets).

He played college football at Clemson, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the first round in 1992. He was big and disruptive. He seemed at times to have all the talent in the world, and others to be lacking focus, as he could get a defensive offsides call from directly over the center as well as anyone. He could at times dominate a game. For younger fans, he was like Albert Haynesworth, without the completely crazy. From 1994 to 1997, he was selected to the pro bowl four times, and was named all pro twice. His tenure in Kansas City, where he signed as a free agent in 1998, was less successful, and coincided with the end of the Marty Schottenheimer era.

It’s sad to see yet another character of the game pass away far too young, particularly when things seemed to be going so well for him now. Our sincere condolences to his family and the Stanford football family. We’ll miss you, Big Guy.

[photo via Getty]