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Brice Hunter
Brice Hunter
from Wikipedia

Brice H. Hunter (April 21, 1974 – April 18, 2004) was an American professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL draft with the 251st overall pick.[1] He played college football at Georgia.

Key Information

Death

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Hunter was shot and killed outside of his Chicago apartment in 2004.[2] The shooter, Thomas Williams, killed Hunter in self-defense during a fight over Williams's loud music. However, Williams did face a misdemeanor charge for failing to register his weapon.[3]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Brice Hunter is an American former professional football wide receiver known for his college career at the University of Georgia and his brief stint in the National Football League with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Born on April 21, 1974, in Coconut Creek, Florida, he played high school football in Valdosta, Georgia, before attending the University of Georgia. Hunter was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft but was released before the season and later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he appeared in 13 games over the 1997 and 1998 seasons, recording four receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown. His professional career was limited, with all statistical contributions coming in 1998, and he was placed on injured reserve in December 1998, after which he did not return to the league. Hunter died on April 18, 2004, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 29.

Early Life

Birth and Background

Brice Hunter was born on May 14, 1973, in Bradenton, Florida. He stood 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall.

High School and Early Football

Brice Hunter attended Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia, where he played football as a wide receiver.

College Football Career

University of Georgia

Brice Hunter played college football as a wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs at the University of Georgia from 1992 to 1995. He joined the Bulldogs after starring at Valdosta High School in Valdosta, Georgia, having relocated there from his birthplace in Coconut Creek, Florida. Hunter emerged as a standout performer during his collegiate tenure, particularly in 1993 when he led the team with 76 receptions, a single-season school record that stood until 2025. He also recorded 59 receptions in 1994, which ranked tied for fourth on Georgia's single-season list. Across his career, he amassed 182 receptions for 2,373 yards and 19 touchdowns, placing him among the program's all-time leading receivers. His production helped establish him as one of the notable wide receivers in Georgia football history during the early to mid-1990s.

Professional Football Career

1996 NFL Draft

Brice Hunter was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round with the 251st overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. This selection followed his college career as a wide receiver at the University of Georgia, where his performance made him eligible for the professional draft. Hunter appeared as himself, credited as the 251st overall pick, in the television special "1996 NFL Draft" broadcast in 1996. The draft took place on April 21, 1996.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tenure

After being released by the Miami Dolphins, Hunter signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a wide receiver. He spent time on the practice squad early in his professional career before appearing in regular-season games during the 1997 and 1998 seasons under head coach Tony Dungy. As a reserve wide receiver, Hunter saw limited playing time with the team. In 1998, he appeared as himself, credited as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, in an episode of the television series NFL Monday Night Football. During a Monday Night Football game that year against the Detroit Lions, Hunter suffered a concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit by Lions safety Mark Carrier, who was subsequently suspended for one game by the NFL. Hunter was released by the Buccaneers following the 1998 season.

Career Statistics

Brice Hunter's NFL career as a wide receiver was spent entirely with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he recorded 4 receptions for 73 yards and 1 touchdown. This resulted in an average of 18.3 yards per reception across his limited appearances. These figures represent Hunter's complete professional receiving statistics in the league.

Television Appearances

Media Features as Player

Brice Hunter's media appearances as a player were limited to a handful of television features tied directly to his professional football career, with no acting roles. He appeared as himself in the 1996 NFL Draft television special, which covered his selection as the 251st overall pick in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins. In 1998, Hunter was credited as himself—listed as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver—in one episode of the TV series NFL Monday Night Football. These appearances reflected his status as a professional football player.

Death

Shooting in Chicago

Brice Hunter was shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, on April 18, 2004, at the age of 29. The incident occurred in an apartment building after an argument with a neighbor over loud music coming from Hunter's apartment. Hunter went to the neighbor's apartment to confront him about the complaint, and the confrontation escalated into a physical fight. During the fight, the neighbor retrieved a gun and shot Hunter multiple times. Hunter was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died less than an hour later from his gunshot wounds. Cook County prosecutors declined to file murder charges against the neighbor, ruling the shooting self-defense, with statements indicating Hunter was committing a home invasion at the time. The neighbor faced only misdemeanor charges for failing to register the firearm. Some sources describe the incident as occurring in the basement of the building. Some reports listed the date as April 19, but contemporary accounts confirm the event took place early on Sunday, April 18.

Immediate Aftermath

The death of Brice Hunter prompted immediate news coverage from his alma mater and various media outlets. The University of Georgia athletics department reported on April 19, 2004, that the former Bulldog receiver had been shot and killed in a Chicago apartment building early Sunday morning. Hunter was 29 years old at the time of his death. Contemporary reports described the incident as occurring after an argument with a neighbor in the building. Initial reactions highlighted Hunter's positive character, with one account quoting a source describing him as "as fine a young man as you'd ever want to meet." Other coverage, including from local newspapers, noted his background as a standout from Valdosta High School and former NFL player. Within days, the University of Georgia announced that memorial service and funeral arrangements had been finalized for the 29-year-old former player. These early reports and statements reflected shock within the football community and emphasized Hunter's standing as a former star athlete.

Legacy

Brice Hunter is remembered as a standout wide receiver for the University of Georgia, where he excelled during the 1990s and left a mark as one of the program's notable pass-catchers. His brief professional career in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers contributed to his recognition as a former collegiate athlete who reached the professional level. Hunter's life ended at age 29 when he was shot and killed in Chicago in April 2004, an event that prompted memorial services in Chicago and a funeral in his hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. He continues to be commemorated through online memorials and tributes that reflect on his football career and death. His legacy also endures through his family, particularly his son Jaden Hunter, who has honored him by pursuing football at the University of Georgia and wearing the same jersey number 88 while publicly paying tribute to his father.
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