Former Seahawks, Cowboys DT found dead in federal prison while awaiting trial

Former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Junior Siavii was found dead in federal prison in Kansas awaiting trial for gun and drug trafficking charges.

Former NFL player Junior Siavii was found dead in prison on Thursday afternoon in Kansas while he was awaiting his trial on federal gun and drug trafficking charges.

Siavii was unresponsive when he was found at the U.S. Leavenworth Penitentiary on Thursday. He was 43 years old. Siavii had not been at this prison for very long, as he was transported there back on Dec. 17. He was reportedly never an issue with either the prison staff or fellow inmates upon his arrival. Siavii was arrested in 2019 on these charges as a suspect of a potential meth ring.

The former defensive tackle played in the NFL from 2004 to 2010 over five seasons with three different franchises, most recently with the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.

Former NFL DT Junior Siavii found dead in federal prison awaiting trial

Siavii had been a Pac-10 star for the Oregon Ducks in 2002 to 2003 before being a second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2004 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Kansas City before a knee injury derailed his career. Siavii resurfaced with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. He played two seasons for America’s Team before finishing up his professional career with the 2010 Seahawks.

The prison has not released any additional details about Siavii’s death, other than he had not been an issue prior to his untimely demise. His Aug. 2019 arrest occurred in suburban Kansas City. He was stunned twice with a taser by local police after resisting arrest. Siavii was found with “a handgun, marijuana, meth ammunition and other drug paraphernalia” at the time of his arrest.

He was taken to a local area hospital on Thursday where he was later officially pronounced dead.