P.J. Blue, former Louisville linebacker, dies at 27

Former Louisville linebacker P.J. Blue, who was teammates with former Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson, died at 27, the school announced Monday. Blue’s cause of death was not immediately available.

“We are saddened by the passing of Cardinal Forever P.J. Blue,” the program’s announcement read. “Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”

Blue, originally from Jemison, Ala., played at Louisville between 2016-2020, though his career was riddled by injuries, including missing the 2017 and 2019 seasons with knee injuries. Blue redshirted in 2016, the same season Jackson won the Heisman Trophy.

We are saddened by the passing of Cardinal Forever P.J. Blue.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/SNrSrgP2k1

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) April 7, 2025

Blue appeared in 11 games during the 2018 season, making four starts, and finished with 39 total tackles and two tackles for loss.

Blue arrived at Louisville as four-star recruit, as well as an Under Armour All-American and U.S. Army All-American nominee as a Alabama first-team all-State player out of Park Cross High in Montgomery.

Former Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham expressed excitement for Blue’s signing in 2016.

“Anytime you can get big guys who can run and hit, you’re going to be good on defense. He’s a guy who has length, has size, has the ability to run,” Grantham said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. “He has position flexibility. … I think he’s got a bright future.”