HOLLY HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA: Adrian Dingle's fiancée shared a touching moment between him and his two young children after the former NFL player's death shocked the young family last week. Dingle, a defensive tackle with the San Diego Chargers from 2000 to 2004, died this week, on November 8, at the age of 45. The family has not disclosed the cause of death yet.
Fiancee Amy Bell has taken the lead in paying tribute to her "dude," releasing a video of the beaming ex-footballer playing with his two small children on the floor, on Instagram. In a candid moment at home, the father lets son Adrian, 4, and daughter Ava, 2, hit him on the stomach while they laugh and giggle. Amy didn't include a caption, but her friends sent a succession of comments with their good wishes and prayers, as per reports from The Daily Mail.
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"Oh Amy - I’m so glad you captured these special moments, and I’m so sorry for everything you’re going through. You are a phenomenal mother and will continue to instill the best in these sweet kiddos!" one wrote. Another commented, "😢I'm praying for you and your babies🙏 😔 this was a special moment." A third wrote, "His voice, their laughs ❤️🕊🙏🏽❤️" Fourth added, "Blessed to have these beautiful memories to share xoxo."
Dingle had a record-breaking college football career with Clemson University before getting selected in the 1999 draft and playing five seasons in the NFL. Following Dingle's death, a brief obituary was published. The post read, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Adrian K. Dingle of Winthrop, MA, formerly of Holly Hill." It added, "Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The family will be receiving condolences via telephone."
Dingle, a 1995 graduate of Holly Hill, South Carolina's Roberts High School, began his studies at Clemson University as a freshman. He assisted the Tigers in making it to three bowl games and was named the defensive MVP of the North-South High School All-Star Game in 1994. His 180 tackles still rank 11th all-time at the school. With 23 sacks, he also ranks sixth in the university. In the fifth round of the 1999 draft, the Chargers selected him. Dingle's best season was in 2003 when he started all 16 games for the Chargers and recorded 37 tackles and six sacks.
Former Charger Marcellus Wiley tweeted, “RIP to my teammate @AdrianDingle. We were just hanging, laughing, swapping war stories, and talking family. Rest easy big dog!"
He was once described as "one of the most reserved guys on the squad" by head coach Marty Schottenheimer.