Listed by the NFL at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Lemonier was undrafted in 2020 out of Liberty before signing with the Chargers. He appeared in six games that year for Los Angeles, then signed with Detroit in 2021 and appeared in seven games, with two starts. Lemonier was released by the Lions last May and landed with the Arizona Cardinals, who released him in training camp.
«Jessie was a model teammate and a wonderful young man who left far too soon,» the Lions said. said. «Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.»
In November, Lemonier was drafted by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL, but opted to join the USFL instead. That league’s Houston Renegades traded him on New Year’s Eve to the Birmingham Stallions.
The USFL echoed the Lions saying (via WBRC) that it was «shocked and saddened» by Lemonier’s death.
«He was a talented football player and, in every way, a wonderful person,» the Birmingham-based league said. «Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.»
Lemonier’s agent told ESPN that the player and his girlfriend are expecting a child. He is also survived by an older brother, Corey Lemonier, who won a national championship with the Auburn Tigers in 2010 before a four-year NFL career took him to the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and at the New York Jets.
A native of Hialeah, Florida, Jessie Lemonier transferred to Liberty after spending a season at Ventura (Calif.) College. During his two seasons with the Flames, during which they transitioned from the football championship subdivision to the football bowl subdivision, Lemonier helped the program reach its first bowl game. He was named MVP of that contest, the 2019 Cure Bowl, after recording eight tackles and two sacks in a win over Georgia Southern.
“The Liberty Athletics family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Flames football great Jessie Lemonier,” the school in Lynchburg, Va. said. said in a report. «Jessie was loved by Flames Nation for being a fierce competitor on the grill and cherished by her coaches and teammates in the locker room.»