Thread: Former Steeler dies while lifting weights

Originally Posted by min0 lee

One-time Pro Bowl linebacker
Little, 46, suffocated by barbell
David Little played his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh after he was drafted out of Florida in the seventh round in 1981.
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:13 p.m. ET March 22, 2005PITTSBURGH - David Little, a durable linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1990, died while weightlifting at home in Miami. He was 46.



Little had heart disease, and a cardiac fluttering Thursday caused him to drop on his chest 250 pounds of weights, which rolled onto his neck and suffocated him, the coroner said Tuesday. Little was found by his sons, David Jr. and Darien.

Little played his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh after he was drafted out of Florida in the seventh round in 1981. He started 125 of the 179 games he played for the Steelers and once played in 89 in a row. His last season in the league was 1992.

His older brother, Larry Little, was an All-Pro guard for the Miami Dolphins.

Little is also survived by his wife, Denise, his mother, daughter and four sisters.

That sucks shit. How much weight you think was on the bar? I see 250 now.

Shit, that sucks man.

Not that way I'd want to die...

thats a tragedy. it should be a reminder...if you are lifting by yourself, don't use collars so in case something like that does happen you give yourself a chance to tilt the bar and dump the weights. although that said that a cardiac flutter (i don't know what this is) caused it, so i don't know if the poor guy even had a chance to do anything about it.

What a shame that is... For all those people who hate asking for spots all the time, start now.

Originally Posted by Yanick

thats a tragedy. it should be a reminder...if you are lifting by yourself, don't use collars so in case something like that does happen you give yourself a chance to tilt the bar and dump the weights. although that said that a cardiac flutter (i don't know what this is) caused it, so i don't know if the poor guy even had a chance to do anything about it.

If he were strong enough to tilt it to the side, he would have been strong enough IMO to roll himself off the bench. I'm guessing he was really in no shape to be lifting alone AT ALL. Even if it were a max attempt, if he were in good shape, he should have been able to get out from under the bar, despite it being painfull yes.

A friend of mine has a bad heart and gets a futter once in a while. When it hits him, he drops like a rock.

Anyone benching alone should have adjustable bar catches(safety spotters). I have them and the bar touches my chest, but if I can't make it the bar the catches are only a couple centimeters lower and it rolls down above my neck and I can turn my head sideways and slip out. Otherwise if there's no one to spot you, and you don't have bar catches, stick to dumbells.

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Little was found by his sons, David Jr. and Darien.

thats terrible. Thats honestly not good for the youth.