Caitlin Clark’s Boyfriend Quietly Honors Former Player After Sudden Death

The college football world was rocked over the weekend by the sudden passing of former Minnesota defensive back Charles “Ace” Rogers, who collapsed during the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Rogers, just 31 years old, went into cardiac arrest near Ocean Parkway and 18th Avenue after completing roughly eight miles of the race as reported by the New York Post. Emergency medical personnel responded swiftly, but he was later pronounced dead at Maimonides Medical Center.

The news hit hard for former Iowa Hawkeye's  — including Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery.

On Sunday, McCaffery took to Instagram with a tribute to Rogers. He didn’t share a caption, emoji, or written statement. Instead, he simply reposted an image of Rogers in his Minnesota uniform, alongside the dates “1994–2025.” It was a gesture that spoke volumes without saying a word.