Former Saint DE, Jimmy Wilkerson, dies from heart attack at 43

Former NFL defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, whose nine-year career included the 2010 season with the New Orleans Saints, died on Dec. 13 in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was 43.

Wilkerson played collegiately at Oklahoma and was a sixth-round pick (No. 189 overall) in 2003. He played with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2003-07 and spent two seasons with Tampa Bay before joining New Orleans in 2010 – the season after Super Bowl XLIV – and then finishing his career with Seattle in 2011.

"He was a great teammate," said former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle (2006-12). "He fit into our locker room perfect. He was only here for a year but we were talking about it on our group chat, and everybody remembered Jimmy. He was just a standup dude."

In 21 starts and 119 career games, Wilkerson totaled 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, eight passes defensed, 23 tackles for loss and 179 tackles. With the Saints in '10, he had two sacks, two tackles for loss and 16 tackles. He was credited with a tackle in New Orleans' Wild Card playoff loss to Seattle.

https://www.neworleanssaints.com/ne...ints-defensive-end-jimmy-wilkerson-dies-at-43