Bears defensive end Gaines Adams has died, the Greenville (S.C.) News has reported.

The 26-year-old was reportedly taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood County where he died, County Coroner James T. Coursey told the Greenville News.

ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that the cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

Adams, a star at Clemson, was the fourth pick in the 2007 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears traded a second-round draft pick for him in October, intent on rebuilding their pass rush around him.

An autopsy will be performed later today by a forensic pathologist in Anderson County, Coursey told the Greenville News.

26, HEART ATTACK. damn.

Very shocking to hear this. He played collegiately in
my backyard at Clemson.

What a shock!!...I thought he was a bad pick for the Bucs..but that doesn't matter anymore..my prayers to his family..

I saw this on the news this morning. Such a tragedy.

phunkdaddy said:

Yeah, he's from where I'm originally from. I think someone said his funeral was Thurs.

That's sad,
saw this about a 21 year old sports player the other day that collapsed and died too.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/a..._s_indiana

So sad, so young.

drugs?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I read that it was an enlarged heart, not related to drugs. He never really struck me as the type to get into drugs of any kind.

The hits just keep on coming 4 Da Bears.